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


lative, judicial, and executive, should be
made elective by the people, believe
that biennial instead Of annual sessio ns
lof the General Assembly, would be al
less expense, better subserve the inter.
ests ofthe Stale. believe there should
be some constitutional limitation upon
the power TO incur State debts. And
believe that our judicial system il
susceptible Of very material improve
ment.
For these prominent reasons, as
well as that the Constitution NAV in
other respects be accommodated to :he
present condition Of the state, and en-.
tertaining the utmost confidence that
the whole subject is safe in the hands
Of the people. and there only, | beg
leave to urge upon the Legislature that
"they shall recommend to the electors
at the next election for members to the
General Assembly to vote for or against
a convention" that this question may
be brought before the people in the on
y mode prescribed by the Constitu.
ton. s .aH a'I
| While the nations Of the Old World
have been, and are drenched in blood
the same period has been signalized on
this side OF the Atlantic by one of those
peaceful revolutions so characteristic OF
Americans and Of American institu.
tons. Some there may be who look
upon this revolution only as hurling
one party from power and installing
another, and as having no significancy
beyond. A more careful survey Of its
nature, its causes and probable results,
must present it to the rejecting mind,
disposed at all 10 look beyond the hol.
low triumphs Of mere party, as an
epoch in the history of our institutions
vastly more significant and stupen-
dous. Examined in this point ofview,
the observer can hardly fail to discov-
er that it has done much 10 establish
several important truths.
|. That this government not merely
in theory, but in practical opera,ion,is,
and ought 10 be, a Republic, and not an
elective Monarchy. That the Legisla.
tive and War powers are. and of right
ought 10 be, vested in Congress, and
not in the President; and that the veto
power should be confined within its le.
climate design.
2. That American labor is worthy
the regard Of American statesmen; that
the tariff of 1916 ough, to be repealed,
and something enacted in its place de-
signed TO protect the mechanic, afford
a market to the farmer, develop our un.
bounded resources, diversity our pur.
suits, prevent ruinous expectation Of
coin, replenish our exhausted treasury,
and establish an ample and secure basis
for our currency.
8. That the population Of the great
interior of the United States inhabiting
.he borders Of our lakes and rivers
which are far more extended than our
oceanic coasts, are no longer by the ar
bitrary instrumentality Of the veto 10
be treated with parsimony and scorn,
and all the revenues Of the nation Law.
ished on the seaboard.
q. That while majority Of the peo.
pie have adopted neither the doctrines
of those who declare the Ordinance Of
1887 to be unco Institutional on the one
hand, nor CT those, if any such there be,
who would interfere abroad with slave
ry in the States wherein it now un.
happily exists, on the other, they have,
both by the Presidential and Congress
sonaI elections, significantly and un-
mistakeably dec,eed that slavery shall
not be extended, and that whenever Il
law is passed for The government of
New Mexico and California, the great
ordinance Of human freedom shall form
one of its distinctive features. And
should Congress at its present session
endea. or TO forestalI this expression Of
public sentiment before it can au,hori-
tatively speak in our national councils,
by an attempt TO extend African slave.
ry into territories wherein it does not
now exist, under the specious name Of
compromise, or in any other way, il
will be found that the lightning, instead
Of having been drawn from this porten.
tous cloud by the last Presidential cleo
ton, has only been silently accumuIat.
ing to burst forth hereafter with the
more terrific and astounding effect =
These declarations are made in no spirit
of contention or of idle bravndo, but un-
der solemn conviction Of their intense
reality. " %. ..'t. te' 9.'.' a4
Finally, commencing the State of
Ohio and all her interests TO your wis.
dom and patriotism, | take leave, pray.
ing that the Great Disposer ofall events
l.~.nA kI~nlx ~cI