The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-04-23
THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS ANOTHER
GREAT CONTEST AT HAND.

|THENEw CONsTITUTION-ANO
GREAT CONTEST AT HAND.
Call Il Radicalism, Jacobinism, or what
you will, the fact nevertheless is, thai in
this country, every great political contest
conducted upon principle, has been and
ever will be a war between the rich and 1.-THE
poor; on the part of the rich war Of ag-
gression--on the part Of the poor war Of
deience. \ Phe arrogance Of wealth is al
most universal: the possessor OF riches
most naturally slides into the belief that
the property which gives him advantages
| in the procurement Of the luxuries of life
over his poor neighbor, should confer on
him additional personal importance and
superior political rights. Hence lis the
Democratic party is continually undergo.
ing process Of publication; those who
have become miserly leaving it to find
more congenial principles and associates
in the ranks of the aristocracy, while their
places under the Democratic banner are
filed with enlistfients from the young men
of our country, whose only prospects Of
success in life, whether their aim be wealth
or honor, depends upon the preservation
of the free, untrammeled, uncontrolled,
and unprejudiced rights Of each citizen.
Itis this whichhas arrayed the poor and
laboring classes against the privileged Or
ders-,he moneyed aristocracy. The
farmer has been at work, planting his corn,
dropping three kernels for himself and two
for the banks. The mechanic has been
at work in his shop, striking three blows
for himself and two for the chartered mon
opolists; for it is about in this proportion
that the exclusive system robs the producer
Of his hard earnings. How strange that
such system should be allowed to exist
among people, free and jealous OF their
rights! But such is the fact; and with it
the Democracy Of Ohio have on hand an.
other struggle. Let the contest be fair and
worthy Of the principles for which we
contend. Let Whiggery. Arstocracy,
and Bankocracy, in opposition be COM
bined. and Victory will perch on the ban
ners Of Democracy and Equal Rights.
The new Constitution, now about TO be
submitted TO the people, calls upon the
voters of Ohio to say, whether they as in
dividuals and professedly political soyer-
eigns, shall in future rule the State, or al
low corporations and other selfish money
ed associations to do it. There are now
in Ohio over fifteen thousand Independent
corporations, each having separate char.
ter, and each enjoying privileges denied
to the great mass Of the people. Every
Legislature multiplies these corporations
almost indefinitely; in fact, legislation in
this State, under the present Constitution,
amounts to a little more than continuous
grant of charters. One-third of the peo.
pie, and nearly all the wealth, is in some
shape incorporated. Power and privileges
are constantly departing from the people,
and being locked up in the hands Of the
few. Another twenty years. if this sys-
tenn remains, will see the government en-
tirely wrested from its legitimate hands,
and usurped by those who are now the
chartered recipients Of its favors. III
Our attention has been called to this
subject particularly at this time. by the
very strange attitude Of some of the Lead
ing whig journals in the state in reference
to the new constitution. At first, no oppo.
siton appeared from any quarter, The
papers in the bank and corporation inter-
est, were silent, neither approving or dis
approving. They had not then heard
from their masters. AT length the Ohio
State Journal, the great central Bank organ,
leads off in opposition, and the Cleveland
Herald, Cincinnati Gazette, and others,
"Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, sfa
ag Little dogs and all" {'g'ao lf5a
are yelping responses 10 their leader
These papers now are loud in their praises
of the old Constitution, deeply in love with
the present order of things, and are per.
fectly satisfied with an organic law which
was put in operation hall century ago,
when Ohio had but nine counties, and on.
ly some 5000 inhabitants. Other States
with half her age and population. are
changing Constitutions all around u.s.
Why not Ohiol Simply because her char.
ter mongers, her present priuiledged or.
ders, desire no change. The helm Of gov
ernment is now in their hands, and they
dare not trust the people Cleveland
Plain Deazer.H $50 p9gafno2 8oA"
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