Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-25
For the Portage Sentinel. - s
Legislation by the People the only Dc
IlAncracY.

3
Mr.. Editor-In former munications
on this subject, have urged the right of the
people to legislate directly for their own
Government, without employing agents to
attempt or pretend to represent them, as no
person can truly and fully represent anoth-
er, much less numerous constituency and
| think have shown that it is our interest
to assume the direction of our own le2isla-
ton. Further, have endeavored to show
the propriety and practicability of direct
legislation by the people, by counties, as
legislative districts, as it is not deemed ex-
pedient for the people at present to assume
legislation by townships as Legislative dis
tricis. Our departure from the present COM
pIicated system should be gradual. Every
step of our onward progress should be well
considered, and such as we are well euailfi-
ed to carry out in proper manner, and so
as to affect injuriously as few interests as
possible; for it is admitted that there are in
! terests antagonist:c to the general interests,
and it is essential in every step of Democrat
I ic progress TO. unite as many interests as
! possible. .se.--4 .---e
In the further discussion of this subject
we shall endeavor to suggest the most FEAST
BILE means of ef1ectlng the change we advo-
cate to the true democratic system Of gov
eminent. 1t is now deemed as certain, that
our Legislature, now in session, and just
now making some progress in the business
OF the State, will soon pass law authoris-
ing the election of men. bers Of a convention.
The time of election will probably be the
first Monday of April, and the Convention
to me probably in May; though it would
undoubtedly be better to delay the meeting
until the farmers shall have secured their
fall harvest, that farmers may be able to
participate in it without so much detriment
to that most important business, and that
by more full discussion of the subject, the
people may be better prepared to act delib-
erately, and to better instruct their Repre-
sentatives.
Direct Legislation by the people, has
been but little discussed or thought Of thro'
the State. 1t has scarcely been suggested
to the people in most parts of the State, that
they are competent to legislate, or that di-
rect legislation by the people is at all prac-
ticable, if it is desirable. if it were once
suggested, Ihold that good sense would
induce them to sanction it at once without
long debate-a long courseof agitation
In the present state of public sentiment
however, it is not probable that conven-
/ tion would be induced TO transfer all gener-
al legislation directly to the people by coun-
ties, but there exists astrong feeling through
out the State, that local legislation should
no longer be vested in a State Legislature
SO far from the people. without some check
by the people on the hasty or interested ac-
ton of the Legislature; and it has been pro
posed to submit acts of Incorporation TO the
vote of the people. The people have beer
so abused, SO sorely cursed by partial lessls
!. lation in the shape of banking and various
other corporations, that few will object tt
: arrangement for submitting acts ofIncorpo
, ration to the voters before their final enact
ment And the people of a county will al
: WAYS know much better than Leggisatur
. hundred miles distant can know, the mer
: its of parties in such county asking for cor
d porate privileges, and even their objects
= which are often hidden. The people Q
f Portage county well remember the Franh
e lin Silk Company, incorporated under tn
= pretence of making silk, but which turne
o o its attention only to banking and specul'
y ton; also, the Munroe Falls Manufacturin
10 Company, which manufactured paper prom
i. ises, some of which they fulfilled. Al
OF there have been many others Of similar Chi
or acter in various sections Of the State, al
- - in other States, which have been only
s.Lo,r>,t a., RI dra Ky y,,oney ,frorn 4