Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-04-19
New Constitution.

The Cleveland Herald. after careful ex-
animation of the New Constitution, declares
its opinion Of the instrument thus;
Had the present Constitution contained the
prohibitions of the new organic law, Ono
would have been at leasta quarter OF cen
tury behind her present position IN pepuiatloh'
resources, public Improvements, 6enevoienl
institutions, comfo1ts Of life, and all that give
character and renown to the State. The pro-
hibitions too, are not in keeping with the spirit
of the age or the spirit Of the people. Rail
Roads. Plank Roads, aud other public inn
provemeuts so necessary in great Agricul-
tural Manufacturing and Commercial COM
munity, spread over a broad area, Nature has
most admirably adapted for the fullest devel-
opement Of the human race, have just become
distinctive features in the progress OF the old
er portions Of the West Mark the pregnant
fact that al the last session of the General
Assembly, multitudes OF petitions were sent
in by the people from all sections of the State
for chartered powers to construct these roads
and public improvements, in anticipation of
she paralizing provisions Of the new Constliu-
ton. and charters we're granted BY scores IN
accordance with the wishes of the soverelgns.
The prohibitions are also unjust towards the
people Of those sections Of the State. who have
paid, and have yet to pay, full share OF the
Indebtedness created under cur present Con-
.stitution and laws, but have not been directly
benefited by the public Improvements. The
restrictions toos are eminently calculated to ar
rest the improvement of the new and sparseiy
settled portions Of the State--so check in
crease of population and progress in the rural
districts land to concentrate people and
wealth in important towns and cities.
The new Constitution contains some excel
lent provisions not found in the old, and which
we should have been glad to to have voted for
as amendments. The general election OF of
ficers by The people; biennial sessions Of the
Legislature: a Judiciary system equal to the
wants Of the State codi6cation of the laws
and simpli6cation of the practice; equal taxa
tion of property. banks and corporations; and
and securing the inyiolabiity of the State
credit; are provisions which we approve.
There are other innovations too repugnant and
too anti Republican TO be overcome. Among
them sre--the Withholding the credit of the
State from any and all Public Improvements;
ahe denial 10 the citizens of any county, city,
town or township the right TO vote subscrip-
tions of stock TO public works they may deem
necessary prohibiting the General Assembly
from passing any special act comforting corPo-
rate powers; providing that corporations may
be formed under general laws. but that all
such laws may. from time to time. be altered
o. repealed, thus virtually cutting off all char
sers and corporations; requiring the concur
renee of majority ofall the members elected
&c The Legislature to enact law; requiring
shat Legislative elections shall be vira Voce;
creating new Offices and increasing the expen-
ses Of the government; neglecting to provide
for single election districts, thus securing to
political parties and populous counties undue
weight and influence ia the General Assem-
bly,: restricting many rights long enjoyed by
the speoples and tying the hands of future leg
islators as though all wisdom was embodied
in the new Constitution. These are the main
considerations which influence our opinion
As awhoie. on sober. second thought We
much prefer the Old to the New. and shall
vote toreect