The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-31

suppose the tables turned, and that tn,
autocrat was in possession Of the fac
nit, OF appointing the kinds Of proper
ty to support the burdens Of taxation
and the Assembly in possession of thu
faculty Of granting supplies and fixing
the rates, would not the argument b,
equally plausible in the mouths Of gen
tlemen? ... ~
1t is also urged that if the delegation
of the taxing power to the Auditor i.
unconstitutional, the statutes authoriz
ing the County Commissioners to levy
small sums for purposes Of local police
are unconstitutional. Suppose the ar.
gument is sound, how would it aid gen
tlemen? Ii would only show that 9th.
er enactmen,s are liable to the same
objection as those which we impugn.
But it is perfectly fallacious. When
the constitution provided for the organ.
ization of counties and townships, il in
effect and by unqueslionable intend
ment, provided for the exercise OF those
powers Of local police, without which
their local organization could not be
continued. Having provided the end
it provided the means. The division
OF counties and TO townships were famil.
lar with the older states beiore our con.
stitution was framed, and the presump.
ton is almost invincible, that when that
instrument adopted those divisions, it
adopted them with their usual and
known incidents. There is an ain ost
invincible necessity for the exercise ol
these powers Of this local police; there
is not the slightest necessity for the
delegation Of the taxing power, TO the
| Auditor. ,'.
Ii is urged that the duties Of the auto
era: are those Of mere computation and
detail TO determine whether eigh, hun.
dred thousand or a million Of dollars,
shall be levied from the sweat oftoiling
myrlads? Is it mere computation and
detail 10 determine whether quarter
Of milion or half million shall be
granted to the agents employed in re.
pairing our public works? As well
might it be conlended that the levying
and expenditure of .he.revenues of the
Brush empire or this great Union,
might be delegated to an individual, as
mere matter of computation and de.
tail! 1t is not supposed that The arith,
metlc necessary to be employed in
either case is very abstruse or intricate; /;
but the mischlefIies in permitting an in
dividual, who forms bis resolutions in
the reeesses Of his own breast, or de.
termine the question, how much shall
be levied from the citizens and how
much shall be granted to the assaiIants
Of the treasury. The duties of every
chairman Of a committee of Ways and
Means, in every legislative body, have
a near relation to arithmetic, and may
in some respects be said to be matters
OF computation and detail, yet the
amount that shall be granted to claim.
ants from the treasury, are justly re.
garded. every where except in Ohio, to
be matters of the incest and most i'm.
portant legislative discretion.
The battles between liberty and pre-.
rogative were, in the country of our
ancestors, formerly fought on the ap-
preparation bills. The contest has
changed its features, but no circum.
stance warrants the least relaxation of
vigilance on the part Of the peoples
representatives. The rights, happiness
and well being of the people were for.
mery invaded by force; they are now
invaded, in ten thousand insidious ways
BY FRAUD. siea. TO- .,a7t
II the legislative duties Of the money.
monarch are SO plain, SO simple, so easy,
SO unmistakable, why do Senators seem
so resoIutely determined to retain his
prerogativesa Why not restore the
people at once to their legitimate au.
thority, to be exercised in the ordinary
manner By their agents and delegates,
the members Of Assembly, Are the
people unfit TO be trustsd with their
own most important concerns? Are
they not willing and anxious to pro.
note their own happiness? And do
they not know that happiness consists
in .ectitude of conduct:. Do they not
know that vice in general and injustice,
and bad faith in particular,
are inconsistent with individual ha ppi.
ness as well as with natiopa! welfare,
greatness and gloryf In plain lam
yuage, does any man in or out of this
House, believe that the people or their
would remain one hour deaf
10 the voice Kof justice2 Has justice
to fear from the restoration OF
his Assembly to its rightlul functions?
Does any man doubt that If the mon
archy were abolished, this Assembly
would instantly begin the work otprep.