The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-31
Then his business was forthwith I,

mage was CONDEMNED 10 this ircessnnt
toll, in the regions below, BY Rhada.
manlhus, the memorable judge Of hell.
for sins committed in this world. If
the Buckeye taxpayers continue to sub.
nit to an unconstitutional snd usurped
authority, their sins w i'll deserve sim.
liar fate. Pay off the public debt dd.
ring the existence Of the present sys-
tenn Of proAigacy and corruption IL
The idea is bold and unique, If not orig.
inal!!! The Auditor has reported q
pay ment ofa little upwards Of four
hundred and four thousand dollars Of
public debt during the year. II be.
comes diminutive matter when we per.
ceive that almost three hundred thou.
sand dollars of this payment arose from
the sale Of land, and the calling in of
the surplus revenue from the counties.
Some new freak OF the men in author.
ity can easily retrace this puny step.
The committee will take this occa.
sion to remark on the unspeakable fol.
y Of contracting public debts, and thus
overburdening the energies Of unborn
generations. This State, ess than quar-.
ter Of century ago, commenced plung.
ing in debt, by borrowing principal sums
about half as large as those which are
now annually supplied by the taxpay-
ers to be paid away as interest. Our
present annual sacrifices would make
magnificent internal Improvement fund,
if used as principal. But by means of
the prof1igate system Of contracting
public debts, it is so contrived that
when we. pay million of dollars we
owe noto cent the less. Were the
million directly applied to the canstruc.
ton Of our canals an effort W would suffice,
but by the cunning contrIvance OF pub
lie debts, the effort is forever rene wing
and forever renewed. Yet radically
bad and impolitic as the system is, il
has not produced all the baneful effects
which we every where witness in Ohio.
without the aid Of the most gross and
scandaIous abuses. '.n.3 q s1Esg
The twenty first article ot the con.
stitulion expressly provides that "no
money shall be drawn from the treasu-
ry. but in consequences ofappropriatiops
made by Iaw.' The trainers of the
constilu,ionno doubt thought, that they
we're erecting barrier against waste.
ful prodigaity in expenditures of the
public money. But what do paper bar.
riers avail against The efforts of unscru-
pulous men, intent upon the grati6ca-
ton of their avarice, if they can impose
upon the supineness, delnde the iudg.
ment, or betray the confidence of the
members OF Assembly. Except as TO
the triAing sums raised and expended
by the Legislature. this article, for all
practical purposes, might as we'll bs
expunged from the constitution. And
it is worthy of observation that the
salaries of a few public flicers and the
sums necessary 10 support our bensv.
olent asylums are susceptible of the
easiest computation, their amount can
scarcely be mistaken, while the great
expenditures abandoned to the discre.
ton OF single man, or of junio OF
two or three men, are susceptible OF
the grossest abuses. What effectual
check can be devised TO prevent profit.
gate extravagance in the expenditures
for the repairs Of our public works, ex-
cept open investigation, examination
and discussion by The peoples repre-
Yet nothing Of the kind
takes place, neither the people nor
their representatives are consulted
about the matter. The Governor has
reported in his last annual message, an
OF more than four hundred
and seventy.two thousand dollars, made
during the past year, for the repair of
the public works. Not one dollar of
his money was appropriated by the
General Assembly. b e.s4 .ys4
But Senators on the other side ofthe
contend that the Board of
Canal Fund Commissioners consisting
Is before remarked, Of the Auditor and
Treasurer of State, and one other men,
Der make these appropriations. And
hey are clearly borne out by the As.
embly act on the subject. But meth.
r The Senator nor the Assembly act
IAN discourse inteligibly on the mar.
er without using language which pre-
opposes the repeal Of the above men.
ioned article OF the constitution.
...s [ro BE CoNrINuED1
Who is a CowARD?-The man who
ttacks another by surprise, or with
Weapon in his hand when the other ha,