Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-22


purpose-that Copying resolution passed,
| believe, by three recent county conven.
tions Of the people) provisions should be
made Tin the new Constitution) for leaving
to the people, in their township and county
organizations, as much Of the business Of
Legislation as may be compatible with
their convenience. That resolution i'm
plies all that radical democrats ask, that to
the people should be entrusted as much Of
the legislation relating to their own con-
Germs, as they may from time to time de-
mand. And as it is clearly our right to
govern ourselves in social or associated,
as in an individual capacity, so that we
encroach no: on the rights of others; and
as all powers not delegated by the people
must remain with them, we propose that
in the new Constitution, fewer powers be
delegated to The State Legislature, and
more LEFT with the people; or that the State
Legislature be made the medium through
which the powers be distributed TO the coun-
ties and townships. But there may be dan
ger that the distribution will not be fairly
made-that men entrusted with little
power over others, will cling to it with too
much pertinacty, as individuals and public
bodies have often done. If the people of
the counties and townships May have leg
:slatlve power on demand Of q majority of
votes, it will be well enough; but if it shall
be made dependent on the will, or may be
the caprice, of mcjority Of the distan.
State Legislature, it might cost altogt ther
too much.
By referring, in this article, to those res
olutions Of the conventions only relating to
home legislation, it is not intended 10 un-
derrate the many others Of much import
ance Those resolutions in favor Of the
single district system, for elections, TO the
Legislature, are lmportant-are democrat
ic, as tending to define the responsibility of
the representative TO the people, and mar.
row it down to its lowest denomination and
prevent gerremandering. A reform in
the judiciary system, to simplify it, is very
necessary, and if left to the people would
soon be accomplished. The election of
all officers by the people, is universally
called for, and will no doubt be adopted in
the new constitution. The conventions OF
all parties, in this and adjacent counties,
resolve in favor of universal suffrage, and
if it may be submitted to the people as
separate clause in the constitution, so as
not to endanger the adoption Of the whole
constitution, it will be we'll; but it is known
that the people in the south part of the
State are opposed to negro suffrage, and
would vote against the adoption of new
constitution, where that provision was con-
tanned in the body Of the constitution.
The resolution of the Portoge free DEM
ocratic convention, that adequate provis-
ion should be made for the education of all
The youth in the State,'' is right, and if left
to the people Of the counties and town
ships, it would, with the advance of liberal
sentiments, soon be adopted generally.
But there is another provision of much
importance that has been generally over.
looked in the county conventions, and
which should not be forgotten in the consti.
tutional convention. It. provision for flu
ture amendments Of The constitution, section
by section and clause by clause as the
amendments may be found necessary here
after, 70 be agreed on separately, and sub
mitted to the voters for their adoption,
without the expense Of State convention.
Had such q clause been contained in the
old constitution of Ohio, we might have
been far advanced in the road of reform
ere now. Let US impress that on our rep
resentatives with earnestness, and it will no
doubt be ADOPTED.
RADICAL DEMOCRAT.