The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-09-29

anu laws securing peCulldr duf ufuhtdSoo "
particular sections or few favored indi-
viduals are at war with this maxim.
4th. The legislature should not meet
more than once in every three years, un-
less called together by the Governor in
some emergency. This would be suffi-
cient for all legislation intended for the
public good. 1t would save the State from
the annual expenditure of immense sums
of money and greatly tighten the burden
of taxation. 1t would prevent those fire.
quent, foolish, and useless changes in our
laws which tend SO much to increase leg
islation, to involve legal proceedings in
doubt and confusion, and to render the
rights of persons and property insecure
and uncertain.
9Th. All laws, except those by which the
faith of the State may be pledged in con-
tracing public debts, should be made sub
ect TO repeal. Just so far as the people
are ruled by laws which they cannot
change, they are ruled by despotic pow
er. 1t is an essential principle of Demo-
cratic governments that the will of the ma
ority should govern at all times, and the
majority of this year has no right to make
their present will omnipotent on any sub
ject OF legislation against the will Of all OPP
posing maorities for twenty or .ttty gears
to come. For, if in adopting any measure
whatever, they should be mistaken in their
views of public policy, it is manifestly un.
Just for them to place their mistakes beyond
the reach of reform. If the members of
the legislature should disregard the gener-
al welfare and pass bad laws from bad
motives, it is an outrage for such men to
have the privilege of making enactments
for any period, like the tyrannical claws
of the Medes and Persans," unalterable.
9th. Every act, authorizing money to be
borrowed on the credit of the State, or a
public debt to be contracted, should be
submitted TO direct vote of the people for
their approval, before becoming law
1t seems to be the tendency of men in
our legislative bodies, TO become dazzled
with new schemes of public improvement,
or interested in projects affording chances
for private speculation, and, at once to vote
for running the State in debt to carry them
on, without regarding, as they ought to do,
the burthen they are binding upon the
shoulders of the people. Our own public
debt now amounts to $20,O00,0 900, or ten
dollars to every man, woman and child,
within the State, and the interest, too, is
constantly accumulahng. What tax!
and party politicians on all sides acknowl-
edge and proclaim that the greatest por-
ton of this vast sum has been wasted by
extravaganza, or expended on useless pub
lie works, charging the evil, however, on
their adversaries. But let the farmers and
mechanics reflect that this money must be
paid .'by the sweat Of their brows." All
our sister States have shared the same fate
with us, and some Of them are laboring
under a more grievous oppression. In
some the public debt amounts to more
than twenty dollars for every man, woman
and child therein. All experience, then,
proves that if we desire, certainty. to avoid
the gulf of bankruptcy and reputation in
to which others have rushed, and to keep
the faith of our great State untarnished.
we must no longer trust our agents in the
Legislature to borrow money or contract
debts for us. We must take our own bu-
siness, in this matter, more Immediately
under our own control.-Cadi= Sentinel.