The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-06-12
LANCASTER, JUNE o, 1881.

against the adoption of the new Cous'l'
tuition. Public meetings are being held
ia different parts of the county, at which
speeches have been and are to be made
concerning this instrument, by distin
guished gentlemen, for the purpose o.
rendering it acceptable to you.
While we concede that there are some
provisions in the Constitution Of desir-
able nature, we are constrained To be.
leve that there are others OF a very OBJ
ieclionabIe character; and under these
circumstances, we have thought 1t pro
per to present for your consideration
some Of the leading objections which
have induced us to think that the instru'
ment ought not to be adopted, that your
minds may be brought to deliberate upon
its Objectionable features. at the same
time that they are rejecting upon the de-
sirabe parts Of the instrument.
lst.-It has long been the practice in
Ohio for the Legislature to pass laws, and
to provide in them that they shall not 60
into effect until sanctioned by vnte Ol
the people. This system of lessla ton
has been pursued in those cases where
the Legislature was not advised as to
what the will Of the people was and in
order that the laws might conform to that
will. The new Constitution prohibits
all this kind oc Legislation in every case
except such laws as may be passed con
corning public schools aud those creating
Bank charters.
1t is difficult t" perceive the prnprieiy
or necessity for This prohibition.
Will not the people in future be as capa
bio Of fjudsing of the kind of laws whIcI
,heir well being requires, as they have
beeu in times past? What have the peopl
done that this Constitution should so dis
trust and d:sfranchise theml
2j,-The Constitution prohibits thu
Legislature from everincurring any State
doh, for any purpose Of internal improve
mpnt. The settled policy of the Stat
for the last ten years, has been not to in
increase her public debt; aud tho exist
ing laws provide for sinking fund t"
it's gradual payment. In process "ftlme
tho existing debt will be paid by tn
operation of existing laws.
Now why tie up the hands of the Lf
eisla.ure for all future time aud prevei
any expenditure for the purpose proh
bited, if such expenditure shalI'be ,h"ugl
expedient} Why may not .future Go'
ersl Assemblys I've cuniided in by Ut
Constitution. as our prcniO~s General A
temblys have beenl Is there any Stat
in the Union which has been benrflIe
more by her Internal improvements lht
0 iul Have not her people been pa
many times over their entire st, III Il
increased value ofther lands aud the pr
ducts of their laud4i And who is So wi
as to tho future, as to say that state
things which has once existed, may II
again occur!
But let the necessity for such State il
provements be ever 50 apparent, let
come upon US as people whenever
may, the prohibitions of this Constit
lion cut off all hope of making them.
sCunstilulion forbids theGe
eral Assembly to pass. any law author
ing any county. city, town or township
take stock in any incorporated c"mpa'
crea,sd Gor the purpose of Construct
any internal improvement.
The State under this Constitution c
never make any such improvements, a
fearing as we may suppose that Someth
would be done in that way by the Gu
bined energies of communities aud in
viduals, to improve and alorn our Sta
these municipal bodies are all fnrbidt
10 aid, or lend to them helping ha
All such improvements are thereby
20 the private en,erprize of iudividu
whose means for the present and m
generations To come, are aud will
wholly inadequate to such enlerprize
Are ynu willing fe'l"w.cl'izens'
To furego all future Improvement OF
beloved Ohiol Are you willing thai
shall be thrown in the rear OF all the o
States. by stopping all improvements
selves. whilst the people in other 81
are vieing with each other to deierr
which shall advance in such impr
ments the fastestl ...
Where would our own contempt
Railroad be. to the completion OF "
we look forward with such just pri,
it we're left To the fostering care of
Constitution and was stripped of a
county and town subscriptions 1t cer
ly would not be made for generation
come; and are we prepared then to
upon other parts of the State, less {