The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-13
Protest

OEsfIrTEEN'SENA R6AGAlNSTi TIT
ARBITRARY Refusal OF THE SEN
ATE TO PERMIT AN ENQUIRY BY THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AS To THE
CONSTITUTIONALAU AUTHORITY OF TaI
STATE AUDITOR TO LEVY TAXES. a
We. the unders.gMed, Senators, hav
ing witnessed with surprise and regret
thsappuren,ly invinciblo dissemination
ofl.he Senate not to permit an enquiry
blythe Judiciary committee Of this body
az to tho con- nsti,u,ionality Of the enact
msn.s delega,ing the taxing apo wer to
the State Andi,or, feel it our duty 10
dissent from and protest against the ac.
iion Of the body in this behalf. We
make no imputa.ions upon the motives
az our bre,hern. Neither do We ascribe
their conduc. 10 n conviction in their
own breasts that the constitutionality
Of those enactments can not bs defend.
ed in the field Of argument, though we
are. aware that an impartial world will
jnfalIibly draw that conclusion. la o.
But we feel that the sitting Of enqui.
nv is itself invidous and odious, and
mus. prove injurious 10 the public inter-
est. Truth and right have nothing to
fsar from enquiry and investigation, and
we feel bound to protest against the
srbitrsry determinations Of this body
precIuding that enquiry and invesiiga.
iion. And in doing so we shall be
compelled to open up a pretty wide field
Of discussion conceI ming our financial
concerns. @ ,.,,.. ,'...
The taxing power, in other words,
the power of taking part Of the citizens
substance for public purposes. is regard
ed by iurists us one Of The highest exer-
tions of sovereign authority. Of the
two powers in 4 state, that Of the purse
and that ,oi The sword, Blackstone pro-
nounces the Eeriner to be the more i'm.
pormnt far, r. money constitutes the
sine ws Of war; without a plentiful sup
ply the sword would soon fill idly from
the hand thatsAolds il. Animated by
manly iealously Of power, The Commons
81 Enslandshav taken sole custody of
the purse, while they have left the
crown il. possession Of the sword. All
bills Tor raising supplies, all bills which
either levy new taxes or increase the
ar, eouat Of old ones must begin in the
House a, ,Commons. The. Peers must
either approve or reject in toto. The
slightest amendment in their House i
wholIy inadmissible, and would infalli.
bly, occasion the rejection Of the bill BY
the other House.
4, is in no spirit Of servils imitation
that similar provision is engrafted in
10 the federal constitution. IAN bills
for raising revenue shall originate in
the House Of Representatives." The
men who composed the convention Of
1877 were not imitators, but bold, orig.
nal thinkers. They reflected that the
Senators, elected not Immediately BY
the people, bu, by an iniermedlate su-
lhori.y, holding their seats for long
term, and being generally men OF con.
siderable wealth. might become too lib
sral 81 the peoples substance. They
feared that this wealthy and permanent
aody would be destitute of that warm
md ready sympathy with the people
md with their burthens and difficulties
which would be necessary TO qualify
hem for the delicate and important task
II originating money bills. From these
considerations, this trust was commit
edlioisth Peoples immediate Repre-
en,a,ive., where it was supposed to be
to abuse. Such are the safe.
.uards provided by the founders OF our
latlonai government 10 prevent waste.
ul pfodigaiity Of the peoples money;l
afeguards which have not in practice
useless Dr unnecessary. A re.
feciabIe state ot this Union has improv-
d oi, ibis idea She has made a ma
ori,y Or her House Of Representatives,
quorum in all cases, except "raising a
AZ" on which occasion, "two.thirds at
sasi must be present" ,s4 ssigt ~ I'd
but 4 most anamolous state Of things
xists al present in Ohio, No such jeal-
usy OF ihe ,abuse Of the taxing power.
10 apparent erperceptible,c To- rpre-
ent the people from being loaded with ,
no nmous and almas, insupportabls bur.
lenG No public discussions no, easy
,eans Of investigation. But the Gen.
faluAssembly, byaits annual act. is seen d
aifiAing sum Tor ordinary
expenses, and the State Auditor, by his {
naual net! csllscti6g ithana mil /
Sn. dFhissihgular stats fthings has I
'd;sonise weii meaning persons toI conI \
md that the taxing power. in this state, I
y An E merely ministerial and executive d
sJure; Tor ihs drib which iny practice. d
'Haaias, with ,hso Gspsraals rraalsiA Assembly Y
m,ost - ,vnrthv al notice. That This Hi