The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-24
Letters from the Editor.

Letters from the Editor.
HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
Columbus, March l3. 1sls:ss.'
DEAR SlR:-The House was occupied fsrls
considerable time to-day on the question Of privf-
ege, which sreported IN the Statesman Is follows:
"At this time the messengers were engaged idS
distributing tho Reports Of the Board Of Public
Works-when ~ aa
"Mr. Morris rose 10 question Of privilege
He desired 10 know by what authority these docu-
ments were printed and distributed among the
members. ~. n tt4 si53
"Mr. Norris joined 10 the question afpriviIegs;
He wished the documents returned.
"Mr Pugh moved that the Ssrgsant.at.Arns BE-
Instructed to gather up the documents and return
them to the printer. We have had taxing audi.
tor, an appropriating Board, a vsioing Secretary,
and now we have Printer wha ,oiH print against
our orders. He understood that Mr.. Scott had
said ha, as the House had now fixed the number
of the documents it should require, he would 90
on and print them, and make the State pay for
them. The House should not be so insulted.
"Mr Thompson stated that it was the intention
Of MI. Scott to 60 on and do the public printing
under his contract. He bad stated, when the ap-
preparation bill was under consideration, that IL
would take $20, 900 TO pay for the public printing,
and he thought it would be cheap at that, for al
that work would certainly be done twice over.
"Mr. Letter condemned the course of the prin-
ter as all insult to the House, and rebuked those
members who were in colusion with him 10 in.
suit the Legislature. and to rob the treasury
For his (Mr. L's) part, he would have no moro to
do with these documents. and with his consent.
not one cent should ever 60 from the treasury to
pay this man.
"Mr. Hardesty thought he could explain this
matter. The Board Of Public Works judged from
the appearance of things in the early part Of the
session, that no printing would be ordered by tho
Houses, and had these documents printed ior their
own use, as all the other officers of the State wers
in the custom of doing. They were distributetto
the members merely because the Board thought
that they could more effectually secure an exten.
siye distribution of them. sstt
"Mr. Munfort could not endure these insults
longer. What, Mr.. Speaker. shall do with these
things, (hoIding in his hand the document shall
fling them in the faces Of those menials there. or
shall cast them into the obbies and the galleries
to bs tramp ed under foot' There. sir, (dinging
them into the lobby,) and only wish had the
power to treat the authors of these things in the
same way. s.....
"Mr. Pugh re.stated his motion. II those gen.
tlemen chose to resist the Sergeant-at-Ams in the
execution of his duty under a resolution oi the
House they might do 50; for his part, he would
never receive another paper with the imprint Of
Charles Scott upon it.. He hoped the democrats
party would take such action as would forever
prevent their friends from voting any payment 10
Scott for these things.
"Mr. Norris did not intend to make q speech,
the tyrrannica action Of this actious party which,
when clothed with a little brief authority. tram
pies day by day, upon the dearest rights of the peo.
pie aud the most sacred privileges Of this House.
What right, sir, has this man to print documents
for US? Even under his contract he 10 10 do moth.
by the two Houses joint order. Who will say
that any such order has been made! Under his
contract, he has right to the printing ordered by
either House alone; and yet he does that printing
which this House has ordered to be done under
contract to be made by its Clerk. Custom, sir,
ay, custom has grown to be q monarch in this
State. 1t has become custom for our petty Off.
GERS to trammel US with contracts, 10 pay out our
money without our order, to he insolent TO the
General Assembly, and tyrannical to the people,
but that custom has not yet had long enough pre-.
scrption to save il from our indignation and that
of the people. He concluded by moving the fol.
lowing resolution:
"Resolued, That the Sergeantat-Arms bs 10.
structed tolreceive no more documents except
those ordered to be printed by this House; and
,ha. the Sergeant-at.ATms be instructed to remove
from the tables of members the Report Of tho
Board of Public Works this morning distributed"
The resolution finally passed, and the Sergeant-
at-Arms marched round the House and gathered
up the documents. THE EDITOR.
HALL OF THE HoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
Columbus, March IA, ls4s.
DEAR Sir: The Senate has passed the bill 10
submit the question Of calling a Convention to
amend the Constitution. to the people-ayes a.
nsys6. think it will yet pass ths House.
The apportionment law will pass the House, but
will fail in the Senate-at least think such 10 tha
probability. THE EDITOR.
HALL OF THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
Columbus, March Is, l649.
DEAR SIR:-To day . vote was taken on the
bill from the Senate. to submit the question Of
falling convention to form q new constitution,
n the House. The vote was 40 yeas, to 2b says
As the constitution requires a vote Of twe.shifds.
IS matter Of course, the bill was lost Aitths
,avs were cast bv the whiss But one whig, (MY.