The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-07-02
The Whigs begging forgiveness.

1uC - AA6S S~66o
We may be pardOned says the Statesman
for allsding occasionally to neeolleetiOns Of
Che recent canvass on the great question Of
Constitutional Reform. tits an evident fact
that we have a New Constitution About
this New Constitution there has been much
diversity of opinion, and the wbigs are yet
boasting Of their opposition to its adoption,
and continuing their denuneiation Of its pro-
visions and principles. They stal express
their regret on account of its adoption, and
deolare their belief that Notwithstanding the
majority in its favor ofsixteen thousand votes,
the people are mistaken, and that under its
operation the interests Of the State will be
thrown into stagnation; that instead ofse u
ring well regulated progress by the develop
ment of popular power over public affairs,
the concerns of the State will all go at loose
ends, and lead to the alternative of general
ruin, or the utter abrogation of the new Fun
damental Law, Such are the prognostics,
such the doctrines, and such the position of
the whig party upon this question. When
the wings of Ohio voted against the New
Constitution, they yoted against il all. The
leading, most desired and most important
principle of the New Constitution is the elec=
ton of All Officers by the people. We know
that some wings profess to be in favor of this
principle; but did they not vote against it?
And if they be in favor of and assign to it,
the vital Importance ascrbed to it by its real
friends and Supporters, how can they justify
themselves for trying to vote it down? They
assured the people in the late canvass that
we needed no Constitutional reform, that all
we needed could be effected by municipal
Legislation under the Old Constitution. But
they knew at the same time, that the exten-
sion of popular suffrage, effectedby the New
Constitution, could not be approached under
the Old. They then stood on such ground
as would have rendered any ipterposition
With the question looking to the increased
liability of the new order of things, wholly
impossible; and voting against the whole in
strument of reform, any profession of favor
toward the election of Judges by the people
is necessarily and obviously false! No other
conclusion is possible, both the preaching
and practising of the wings tending resistless-
ly to it.
What reasons do the opponents ofthiS
principle of complete and universal control
by the people over all officers, urge against
lit? The leading one is their imputation of
the incapacity of the people to select the best
men. 1t has been but-.a short time compar-
lively, since the Whig central organ of Ohio
under ADLER and more responsible men far
than now hold its rudder, hesitated not to
declare their want of perfect confidence in
the capacity of the people for self-govern-
ment. And such indeed, were some of the
reasons assigned against the election of
Judges, by the Wings in the late Constltu-
tional contest. Such alone could be the con-
sistent and manly argument in the negative
of this question.
Entertaining these sentiments then, or hav'
ing voted against giving the people therlSh
to elect all officers, how can one of these
wings, without an additional insult to the
dignity and good sense of the people, go be-
fore them and ask their votes for public
office? The course of the wings on this sub
iect speaks this language to the people: I'VE,
the wings of Ohio, do not believe you, the
people, should have the Constitutional right
of voting for all public agents, and we tried
our hardest to defeat that proposition; we
think still we had the right ground on the
question of Reform; but at the same time
denying your right to vote for us, we insist
ed upon having your support for our candl
date, for supreme, common pleas, or probate
Judge" Such conduct contains both re
pudiation of the right to elect, and yet al
invitation to its exercise in behalf of the party
objecting to it. 1t declares the people inca
padle of voting for men fit to be judges, an'
in the same breath urges them to do thu
thing which they are told they are incapabl
of doing, for the best interests of the State!
Can the pepplc regard the electioneerinl
beggary Of the whig party heaeafter, witt
any other feeling than that of unspeakabl
scorn?