Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-08-11
For tho Portage sentinel.
Rotation in Office.

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Rotation In Office.
MR. EDrroR-DEAR SIR;-If there in
one Renublican nr;ncinIa ~rl ! e.,,bl;.hea
:. IL. e p~...;. TIL -
- :. - '.e' " i'''a'oA ~ o,nee' ne De"i-
ocratic party OF thls county have adhered
to this doctrine and this has been one cause
Of the sue cess of the pariy. Every fecoes
,;a,d ,.;,o;,,a of .,nh ..l;.a :.
-, :. u q IT..
Pl"e'iee' 'Ao1iu nave 'so use inauoneo, ene
40 more, 10 me term Rotation IN othce,
there undoubtedly are several constructions,
and a corresponding variance in the appli@
cation Of the principle in eiecting 10 Offices
| asn in favor OF lhe principle ia its truo
sense and purity, and hold up both hands
for adhering to i, in nominating candidates
for Office. But how should Il be nppIied3
and how many terms should man hold
Office before he gives place to anotherI
This is q question worthy OF reflection and
investigation. II is eyiden, that there
should be difference observed with regard
TO the different offices according 10 The
length Of duration, nature, duties and sala-
ry. Some would not re elect any TO the
same office or even any otlice Until each
had an Office in Turn. OTHERS again would
re-elect the same person 10 the same Office
il it was an office requiring time and prac.
tice to become sufficiently familiar wnhiis
duties 20 be OF any real service 10 bis con-
stituents. 10 this latter class ! belong,
ana think there is reason lor Il. For in~
stance, it requires experience and practice
for Justice of the Peace 10 become &c. 3
customed to the forms OF law and the dulles
of his Office before he can even hive con-
tidence in himself sufficient TO give even
himself satisfaction. 1t is right thsrefore
in many instances for Justice to be elect.
ed the second time. But there should be- !,
limit to this; and no one should hold il
tor life. What has been the custom of The.
democratic party Of this county in regard
to this as lar as county officers are con-s
cernede The Sheriff under the old Cos.-
stitution was limited 10 four years in six.
II has however been the practice to re. elect
to the second term il possible in conse.e
quence of The nature Of the office. The
same practice holds generally in regard 10
Commissioners, though there ore oiten ex.f
ceptions 10 this. r Il
The Office OF Representative has been
changing regularly ior some years, each
year new man being elected to thar OIL
tice. Now lei US look into the expediencyi
Of this practice in regard 10 Represepln-
tive, and consider if ii is the best policy
for the promotion of the interests of the
people. The duties of this Office are Of
such a nature that il certainly requires ex.
perIence and time Tor application and reS.
search for the exercise OF its duties and OBJ.
legations to enaLle The Representatiye to
be Of any practical utility 10 the county or
State. am therefore in favor OF the Rep
resentative being reelected to the second
tern, ,instead Of beiag confined to ene- term
and lhen letting i, change to anolher indi-
vidual. If the practice obtains Of the Rep.
resentatiye serving but one term, by the
time he becomes familiar and Acquainted
with parliamentary rules and usnees and
the necessities and business Of the Sta.ethe
session closes, his term expires, and tho
people are not served on business attended
to only ominally. A few old members
dictate the business OF the session and the
new members are compelled 10 vote on ihe
recommendation and judgement Of these
men instead Of their own. Ifworihy and
honest farmers and mechanics are elected,
or professional men, in either case il re-
quires time, application and research for
them 10 act even to their own satisfaction.
This is great State, its interests are many
and often apparently conflicting. A new
constitution has been adopted. II is plain
that an old member at this juncture cho
has serred one term, and has by this
means obtained partial insight lnio the
requirements off State and his consiitu.
ents, will be preferable to new man en-
tirely unacquainted with public business.
But | would not re-elect the third time, for
if.he practice is adhered to Of elecling TO
the second term, then there will always be