The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-06-11
Wings Of Harrison County!

Read the following extract of letter,
written by DIR. A. l. Bennett, Wing MEM
ber of the Constitutional Convention, from
Tuscarawas county. If you read it care
fully, we believe that on next Tuesday you
win march up to the polls and vote "NEW
CONSTITUTION, YESr'
AS the people will hereafter thus be en-
abled to mould it to suit their wishes, / have
sufficient confidence in their intelligence and
sagacity, to believe that they viii adapt it to
their future wants and necessities. Itis true,
that such change may be attented with some
difficulty and delay, as it requires three
fifths of each branch of the General Assem-
bly, to present the subject, before the people
can act directly upon it. But while this may
somewhat embarrass such changes as may
be desirable, it will also tend to prevent dem
agogues and mere visionary theorists from
annoying the people with their wild and uto-
plan schemes.
1t has required long, arduous and ex-
pensive session, to put this instrument in as
good shape as it even now is; and / am
not inclined to oppose it merely because it
does not suit me in every particular. 1t is
not to be expected that every member of so
large a body could have their individual
wishes gratfed; but still think that it
might have been better adapted to the future
welfare of the people.
But if it had been framed so as to suit the
entire views of the Wings, it must have met
with opposition from Democrats as a party ;
and if it had contained the ultra views OF
the main body of the Democrats in the Con-
vention, we would have felt bound to give
it our united opposition-as destructive OF
the best interests of the people. So that in
either case, it would, if adopted at all, have
been a mere party Constitution, and as such
could have received but little opposing party
But in these matters time and patience will
make all things right Setting party, how
ever, entirely out of the question, individual
members must yield something to the opin
ion of others, or all their efforts to frame :
Constitution would be vain and nugatory
If the members of that Convention which
framed the Federal Constitution, had each
adhered to his individual opinions, they
would have failed in establishing that govern
ment, which has long been the pride and
boast of every American.
And as to the instrument which is now
under consideration, there was not probably
!, one member of the Convention but would
have made it different from what it is, if ht
, had possessed the power to carry out his de
( signs. So that it is neither Wing no
, Democratic Constitution. | conceive tha
: the radical Democrats had as much caus
for voting against it, as had I, or those VIII
7 acted with me politically.
But the instrument contains, on the othc
G hand, many provisions which deem wis
r and salutary in their nature such as tn
election of all officers by the people, thereb
, removing fruitful source of corruption from
the halls of egislation-biennial sessions c
: the General Assembly, and these not com
z mencing till the first Monday in January
thereby causing the commencement of tn
, session beyond the hollidays-the prohibi
ton of the Legislature from contracting fu
/, ture Indebtedness in behalf of the State, ex
cept under certain contingencies therein
named-the requiring the passage of al
laws by cages and noes" recorded on tn
journal, thereby tending to prevent hasty an
indiscreet legislation--a majority of eacl
branch Of the General Assembly forming
: quorum, thereby removing all inducement
:, to the vicious practice of disqualification
: providing for a president Of the Senate an
a temporary speaker Of the House, thereb
avoiding the disgraccful scenes incident
e disorganized General Assembly-the pre-
1t hibition against amending laws by mel
!? reference to their title, thereby enabling Il
people to understand those laws by whic
= they are to be governed-rthe wise arrang
a. ment of the Judiciary, by which it may
le adapted to almost any condition of the Sta
10 the court for the transaction of proba
r. and testamentary business, thereby permi
If ting those important matters to be attend'
to without delay--the provision for futu
> amendments without convention-the r
j. cognition of the public debt and provisi'
for its ultimate payment, thus putting it 0
K of the power of demagogues to get up Il
es monster of reputation; together with su
a dry other reforms too tedious to mention
a communication like this.
II These various provisions, when daily CO
or sidered, will be found to form combinatl
of of excellencies which should not be rash
re- disregarded and cast away by the peop
: The question, then, which presents itself
~ my mind, is not whether approve of eve
nS thing in this constitution, but whether up
IN. the whole it is better to adopt it than to
Sc back upon the old one. And in settling Il
no question, we should calmly consider
whole consequences of our decision, beft
we take a final action. We should rene
te- Der that voting down this constitution m
ity soon result in the calling Of another conv'
rec ton And it is not difficult to conceive t
]. while such body might present an inst
'n' ment no better than this, they might fra
mo one which would be infinitely worse.
- old constitution cannot be amended, even
noa the smallest particular, without the asse
bling Of convention of delegates, and
an amendment in some Gifts features has
ar come almost absolutely essential 70 the '
ose fare Of the people.
,es After having examined the new const
elf ton, in all its bearings, ! consider that
a best serve the public interests by giVin
'O' my support, which / shall do, notNdthsta
ing the Objectionable features contained th'
lit in.
Az have felt It my duty to say thus M
5;d in explanation Of my position, and pre-
w red saying It in this manner, to wasting
ent time Of the Convention, by talking into
all volume Of "Debates."
ICE ! remain your humble fellow citizen:
I'M A. I. BENNETT