Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-03-21
From the Richmond J.fsrsOnian.

biennial 7 is a question often asked aud answered;
md, perhaps, the prevalence Of opinion Indicated by
the is in favor of the latter. Idoub lie cur
rectness of the opinion. think it anli-democraic,
at least, in theory. We must have government,
and there must be powers competent TO its admnstra-
iion vested somewhere. If the Legislature were all
the time In session, those powers might be exercised
by it, the executive officers dispensed with, and the
government thus administered by The immediate rep
reseniatiyes of the people, elected for short periods
This, however will not be the case, and power must
be given to executive officers 10 carry on the govern
men during the intervals between the sessions of the
Legislature Now, that power must be increased just
in proportion The frequency Of the Legislative ses-
sions is decreased else, if the power is not given
by the constitution and laws will naturally IT not
necessarily. be usurped as exigencies occur Tor Its
exercise.
In England the struggle for liberty. every read
er of her history knows, centered very much IN the
contest between the king side against and the
people or the other for frequent parliamenis. Con-
grpss meeIs annually, and who would be willing for
the President 10 govern two years without Congress,
without Parliament! Even extra session has
been called By two Presidents within our memory, and
yet they have been charged with usurpation In acts
done without the consent If Congress
In all the free States, believe. except two. the
Legislature meets annually. Some of these States
have lately re-modelIed their forms of Government.
but have retained this provision. In the slave States
| il is more frequently dispensed with; but in those
States there is little enterprises little Improvement. an
arisocrac order Of things generally, aud hence little
need and perhaps little disposition for annual Legls-
latures. $50 -rl-r..
Tue powers entrusted 10 the executive very la
bic TO abuse, and should be few aud limited pos
sble. and be subjected to frequent review and con-
troll convenient, by the representatives q" the peo'
ple This proposition will not be required to be sup
ported, at this tlme by any course OF reasoning II
will be sufficiently susta med by simple reference to
| adm rat of he
Gov. Wright, unless that administration be outrage
ously belied by public rumor. You have had ali OPP
portunity of judging of the foundation of those ru-
mOrs. have not Surprising them to be true what
might not such an executive have accomplished in an
interval of two years without Legislature!
But the cost is objected to annual sessions. The
expense of session may be put down at $50 1000
the number of voters In the Safe at 5O,OOU-that
makes 20 cents a voter-20 cents saved once in two
years. equal to ten cents year. This is upon The
superstition, however, that extra sessions CALI
ed, and that the Legislature does not SIT any longer
when meeting biennially than when it holds annual
sessions. But think it would sit twice long. and
hence effect no saving.
Again: il is said bad laws are passed. Admit il
would they be any better because enacted bennialy
than annually And is this not reason for, rather
THAI against annual meetings! If bad laws pass
ed the the power to repeal is put in opera ton.
the better. But ii is alleged, that the laws two
frequently changed. Bad laws Ough to be changed
But suppose good ones too frequently so. Does
this evil Oyer-balance the benefits of frequent
sions think not. The acts of the public officers
should be reviewed. aud their accounts investigated
as often as once year. The taxes should be laid and
appropriations made annually and adjusted to the
wants of each year.
Bad laws should be repealed before they have exist
ed longer than year aud rights become permanently
vested under them.
We are comparatively young, and are n growing
and enterprising State New interests and wants
constantly developing themselves, and territory
is being densely peopled The aid Of the Legislative
power is frequently, really demanded.
Again: the Legislature is the great political schOo
in which the people are educated and enlisted IN pot
ical and governmental affairs, and led tn watch fo
and correct abuses. The Russian serf pods from
day 10 day, Indifferent whether the Emperor Nochola
or some other monster be his master, -careless, be-
cause ignorant of. and powerless to. what may b.
passing at st. Petersburg IN relation to his own ont
the empires welfare. Change that government; lie
the serf become electur, or an elected. with tn
right go up the Capitol, and with power to in
yestigate what has been aud what shall be done 70
the government of the State and how interested doe
that person become in all that pertains to the genera
welfare. and how elevated in character himself! Th
frequent and numerous such visits are the NOR
do you engage the affections of the people in thei
government, and the more do You awake their watch
fitness to its conduct.
These and other reasons which might be nssigne
lead incline to annual meetings of the represen
tatives of The people. P.
FREE NEGROES CoMPErENr WITNESSES IN LOUIS
ANA.-We find in the New Orleans Picayune of ih
l7h ult., the report of decided in the ST
preme Court of that State. which settles the law
Louisiana in relation to the competency of free pei
sons of color to testify in cases in which the right
of white persons concerned. In that State tia
class Of population are competent witnesses in q
cases. odds who the parties. Judge KING
his opinion says
"Our legislation and Jurisprudence upon this sui