Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-01
Mr.. SWIFT'S REPLY.
Akron. March 9th. 1850


Gentlemen:-Your communication ef
the 18th inst, announcing my nomination
as a candidate to The Constitutional Con-
vention and asking my views Of the doe
trines and principles Of the resolutions
adopted at your Convention Of the 18th
inst, was received at Columbus on the
eve Of my departure from that place, and
SO late that an answer from thence could
not have reached you earlier than this will.
| give this explanation so that the delay
may not be- attributed to desire, on my
part, to evade an answer; for most cor.
daily assent TO every proposition expressed
in your resolutions; and if elected should
use my best endeavors to secure the adop.
tion Of the principles therein expressed, II
the new Constitution. .rrE
l have long been in favor Of . radical
change in our fundamental law, and the
two last winters experience in the Iegisla-
ture has the more impressed upon my mind
the necessity of such change And, more
fully in reply to your communication would
say, that am in favor Of taxing Bank
property as other property is taxed under
our general tax law, and believe that the
Legislature has the power at present to i'm.
pose such tax. And am opposed to grant
ing any further Banking privileges without
direct vote of the people in favor thereof.
am not in favor of incre easing eur State
debt, without the consent Of the people given
at general election, unless for repelling in-
vasion or for the payment Of existing debts.
And l am in favor Of provision, to bs iR-
serted in the new Constitution, prohibiting
the State from ever assuming the debts Of
the Counties, Cities aud Townships authori.
zed to be contracted by the Legislature by
subscribing to Rail Road and Plank Road
stock laws having passed the Legisla-
ture last winter and this, authorizing some
five millions of dollars thus to be subscribed.
am decidedly in favor Of the election Of
all State and County officers by the people,
for believe, in nine cases out often, the
people will select better men.
l am opposed to all special or class leg.
islation. Where it is necessary for any
purpose that an act of.incorporation should
be had, | am in favor Of general law al.
lowing all to have the benefit who feel dis.
posed. a
All business Of local nature should bs,
as far as practicable, left with the County
or Township authorities, which would OBJ
viate the necessity of the legislature conven-
ing oftener than once in two years or con.
tiuuing in session longer than ninety days.
A reform in the Judiciary seems to me
to be absolutely necessary. and am in "a.
vor Of SO remodeling it as to simplify legal
proceedings, to lessen the expense and exps.
diate the business of litigents and to sub
stitute in place Of Associate Judges . Pro-
bate Judge in each county. s
A law has passed the Legislature this
winter exempting the Homestead from sale
on execution, and my votes thereon show
that am in favor of the same. san
In relation to the extension Of the right os
suffrage to the colored citizens Of the State,
I believe. in the language of the Declaratioa
If Independence, that all men are bora free
and equal" and should therefore enjoy equal
rights and privileges. But, under existing
the ground taken in the res
olutions Of your convention, believe to b
the true position for tbs friends Of that
measure. 5Sa.t5s
If heretofore have had any doubts Of
the propriety or expedienoy Of dividing ths
State into singls election districts for the
election Of members to both braushes7 ef O.