Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-24


Yours, VERGNIAUD.
Ohio Governed by Wing Censciences.
The people Of this great State can have
but faint idea Of the alarming condition
of political affairs as now existing at the
Capitol of their State. The constitution
of Ohio is dead letter-and the whole fab
ric of our State government is at the mer-
cy ofthe conscaemces Of the whig party
And when the people reflect Of what mate
rial whig consciences are composed, we
are confident they will feel that their liber-
ties and all their dearest rights rest upon
the most fimsey foundation; and certainly
they should as soon as possible, endeavor
to become ext-icated from their present di.
lemmat The principle upon which every
department Of the State government is now
administered, is that each public officer
each member Of the Legislature, is bound
to be governed in the discharge Of his du-
ties, by his conscience, and not by the
law or constitution, as expounded by the
courts of justice. For instance, the consti.
tuition provides that the Senators and Rep
resentatives shall be apportioned eamong the
several countess but majority Of the
Geneaal Assembly, throwing themselves
upon their consciepces, assume tina, the
trainers of the constitution did not mean
that the apportionment should be among
counties but among the toaUnships-there-
fore,they apportion the state by Townships,
contrary to the express provisions of the
constitution! Here, then, the rights of the
people are entirely at the mercy of the
cousciemces of the aehigs, whenever they
obtain power! =.=.
Again.-The Constitution requires that
quorum Of each branch, shall be necessa.
ry to do business. But the consci ences of
members or Senators, interposes and sets
up the objection, that the constitution does
not mean suhat 1T says-but that they have
the conscientious power to expound the
constitution, as meaning that less than n
quorum might do business! Therefore,
bill is taken from the table Of the Senate,
and signed by the Speaker while there was
not quorum present-and, while the Sem
ate svas not tn session! Hence, the con-
science of the whig party override the
constitution, in determining how many
members are necessary to be present at the
passage Of a law! Furlher.-The law re-
quires that all returns of votes given for
Governor, shall be sent to the Speaker of
the Senate, under the seal Of the Clerk of
the court, of course nothing is return, ,un-
less having that seal! But the Speaker con
sciemt,ously thinks that the law does not
mean what it says, and decides that no seal
is necessary-hence, again the laW is over.
ruled by conscience! By means, therefore,
of the superior power Of whig conscience,
Governor is made by the declaration of
the Speaker, who has not been elected by
the people. The voters of Ohio. and the
law, declare that one man shall be Cover.
nor, and the conscience of the Speaker de.
clares another man 10 be Governor--and
the Speakers conscience becomes sove.
reign, and the people mere cyphers!
Such is the present position Of our polit-
lcal rights in Ohio! To what will it lead!
Why, it has already lead to anarchy and
confusion-and unless something is done
10 settle all these vexed questions, and re-
turn again to recognition Of the Consti.u-
ton and the laws-blood must flow! For,
if the Legislature adjourns and lets that
dangerous and alarming question 60 back
to the peopie-the excitement which now
pervades this Capitol, will be transferred
10 the people, and every county, township
and school district will be overwhelmed by
this alarming discussion-an where it will
end, no man can tell! If one county can
legally be divided into townships for Rep.
resentative purposes, the aOhole State may
be so divided! And if the people of one
county submit to be thus disfranchised-!h
next step will be to disfranchise three
fourths of the democrats in the State. II
banks can be taxed upon different prin-
ciple from that upon which taxes are i'm
fessional men may claim similar exemp..
tions, and conscientious whiggery will
grant their claims! If Legislation can be
carried out with less than quorum. it may
be done by the Speaker alone-and II oy
the Speaper-6y the Gorernor-nno the
REPRESENTATIVES Of The people may be en-.
lirely dispensed with! Indeed, since the
Legislature met here; the members have
been told 10 "Go home-the Governor,
Auditor of State, &C., can levy and collect
taxes, and transact all Legislative business
without your aid" So said John e.
Wright! If the Governor can do this for
one year-he may do it perpetualIy-and
all our constitutional rights be placed at
the mercy of one conscientious wHIG.
The days Of Crona,oeU are being revived
and conscientious whiggery is converting
the State of Ohio into the worst, the most
dangerous and detestable Monarchy! Let
The people awake to these dangers before
it is too STATESMAN.