Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-04-05
NO.. 80.
Cincinnati Correspondence.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF OHIO.

cd finally on the evening Of the 10th inst, afci
session in this city of ninety y-nne days. Tho
body Arst organized at Columbus on the 9Th oI
May, and adjourned over on the sth July to
meet in this city on the I'd Of December. The
two sessions, therefore, cover period of one
hundred and sixty-three days. The vote on tho
Anal adoption Of the Constitution was Yeas 70
Nays IA. All who voted in tho negative arc
Wings, except one, who is Free Soilcr. The
Valcdictory Of the President, Hon. VIM. Mcdill,
was delivered with feeling and in good taste,
and the close Of the Convention was character
sed by calmness, delibcrotion and good order.
The Convention has been throughout digni-
hed body, much superior to the Legislatures
which annually meet at Columbus. No party
squabbles or dsgraceful personalities have oc-
cured to mar the character of the assembly.
A large number of distinguished and talented
men were members Of the Convention, and
some Of the arguments and debates were of a
high order, as any intelligent person who paid
any attention TO them can testify. The Attor-
ney General of the State, one of the Judges Of
the Supreme Court, (IItchcock) several Ex-
Judges and Ex-Congressmcn, and some Of the
most able lawyers the State can boast, were
members of the Convention. Their work is
accomplished, they have produced republican
Constitution, which though not without ts
faults, is in advance of the old one, and con-
trasts most favorably in some respects with
those formed in our sister States, Kentucky and
Indiana. The Convention had the good sense
not to incorporate in it any provisions tending
to oppress or Danish the colorcd population of
the State. An effort made to do this was voted
down by decided majority The whole docu-
mcnt. though not by any means as liberal in
some Of its provisions as the true friends Of re-
form would have desired, is still Democratic and
progressive in its general features, as brief
sketch of its main provisions will show.
know not whether you contemplate publishing
it in full in The Buglc, but even should you do
10, a reference to some Of its features may not
be inappropriate. 1 shall speak ofthosc purticu-
lars in which it differs from the old Constitution.
l. The Blu Of Rights. All that was import
ant in the old declaration of rights has been re-
tanned in the new, and ono or two netc doctrines
asserted. The second Article closes with the
declaration that no ,occiai privileges or imD,u-
mites shall eper be granted that may not be altered,
rsroked or repealed the General Assembly" This
doctrine of repeal, as you may suppose, was in
serted and urged through by tho Democratic
portion of the members. AS it is prospective,
and cannot effect charters alread granted, all will
sl,asx nt.ss,.
acts of incorporation will do so in full view Of
The possible contingencies. Another change in
this Article is the section which abolishcs i'm
prisonment for debt except in cases of fraud
Another is in section 10th, declaring private
property inviolatc in higher degree than at
present. No private property can be taken for
public use or by any Rail Road or other corpo-
ration until compensation be first made in money,
Or first secured by deposit in money, and this
Is to be assessed by jury 'oahom any deduction
for benefits conferred on the property by the i'm
provemcnt. The present practice of taking the
town lots and farms of our citizens, for streets,
canals, railroads and the like, in many cases
with 4 mere nominal compensation, will here
receive salutary check. The provisions pro-
hibiting Slavery forever in the State, and sccur-
Ing liberty of speech and the press and religious
freedom remain substantially the same.
2. Legislative. The Legislature is to meet
on the first Monday of January, instead of the
first Monday in December as heretofore. This
change is wise and economical, as much time
and money have been wasted by the General
Assembly convening just before the Christmas
holidays. Tho Legislature has heretofore met
is hehcclorth to meet bienniaiiy, or
one-haf a, often as before. This change met
with much opposition, but it has been adopted
and works well in all, not one instance having
occurred of return to annual sessions. Our
laws will not be subject to as frequent alterations
as at present, and as corporations are to be form
ed under general ia,cs, great part OF the busi-
ness which has taken up the time of this body
will be dispensed with, and a session once in
two years will be amply sufficient to enact all
general laws which the people need. The rca-
sons for biennial sessions think conclusive
A new plan of apportionmcnt, to last for ten
years, has been provided, which will remove
this exciting subject from the General Assem-
bly,, where it has been the cause of so much
embarrassment in years past. Another reform
in this body is taking from it the election and
appointment of many of the officers, now COM
mitted to it, and giving the choice to the people.
8. Erecutire. This Department has one new
officer, the Lieutenant Governor, who is to be
President Of the Senate. This provision, it is
to be hoped, will enable the Legislature to or
ganize with less delay than is often the case,
and do away with the party squObbles and bit
terness of feeling that have so often disgraeed
the character of the Legislative body. In case
of the disability of the Governor the Lieuten-