The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-09

VI suUstIdCt ITotn tUeIl dS uldy De ueeIIleu
expedent! No man is hardy enough to
answer these questions in the negative
Then, if the General Assembly can exer.
else the same powers which are in fact ex-
ercised by the State Auditor, it must be-
because these powers are Of Legislative
character. Can the General Assembly
perform any functions no; essentially leg
islative--can that body send its commit
tees TO sit on the bench of justice, and
perform the functions Of judges--can il
give judgment between party and party in
questions of personal right! 1t will mo-
be pretended Every man is shocked Al
the proposition, because these functions
are essentially Of a judicial nature, and
judicial powers are not vested in the Gen.
eral Assembly. Then, we may rest as.
sured that the powers delegated in the con.
stitution to the General Assembly are of q
Legislative character, and cannot be dele.
gated over by that body 10 any other per.
son. The members Of that body cannot
say, "we are about to plunge into sys-
tenn OF enormous public debt and taxation
the exercise Of the money power is rk-
some and disagreeable. We do not wish
to be engaged in the opprobrious task of
laying on public burthens, we will bestow
that authority on single individual, who
can exercise it with less publicity, and
without inconvenient debate, discussion,
or investigation. Thus we shall avoid
disagreeable responsibility"
The other branch Of the Autocrat's
powers, is equally unwarranted by the
present constitution. That instrument pro.
vides that no money shall be drawn from
the treasury except in consequence of ap.
preparations made by law. Yet in spite
Of this plain declaration, the money.king
has long been in the habit Of appropriat-
ing the public money to all who go to him
in the guise of public creditors that is, he
determines the question Of debt or no debt,
creditor or no creditor; he determines who
shall have the public monies, and in what
amount. He settles the question as to the
validity Of all claims of this nature against
the State treasury. The General Assem-
bly, has not passed an act appropriating
one cent to pay the interest on the public
debt since 1880. Having lost all real au.
thority on the subject, their spirits could
no longer endure the humiliation of keep
ing up mere pageant-an idle mumme-
ry. For purposes such as these, the State
Auditor makes these immense appropria-
lions which annually empty our treasury.
Another large branch Of his money power,
is to be exercised in injunction with two
councillors only, to-wit: the Treasurer of
State and one acting commissioner of the
canal fund. These three worthless gener.
ally appropriate nearly five hundred thou
sand dollars annually, for the repairs of
the canals. The gross receipts average
nearly SSoO,0OO. The mill brings in 500
dollars in tolls, and it costs five hundred
collars for annual repairs, and the surplus
is about one per cent. on the capital in.
vested!!
Such is the system; but the Assembly
act which erects 1t, is plain repeal of the
constitution In two paragraphs it grants
the appropriating power, three times over.
to this little conclave-this little, misera.
BILE, Venitian council of tenor rather,
three! But the constitution itself says that
no money shall be drawn from the treasu.
ry, except in consequence of appropria.
ton made by law. Are the edicts of this
secret board, laws! If so, they can ex.
ercise the power of appropriating the pub
lie money constitution nally-otherwis not.
Gentlemen perceivng the force OF this
reasoning, contend that the General As
sembly of 1926, and the succeeding As
'emblies, who matured this system, make
hese appropriations. But how does the
General Assembly of 1926 make these
appropriations! What is an appropria-
ion but the application of specific sum
of money to specific object, and for
specific purpose! How could the Gener-
al Assembly of 1926 make the appropria.
ions for l849! What did that body know
about the person Of the recipient, the
amount of the sum, or the object OF the
grant! Just nothing at all. Then what
Kind Of an appropriation is it thus madel
Again. if appropriations may be made
| quarter of century before hand, they
nay be made half a century or whole
century before hand; or for the whole life
ime Of the commonwealth. They may
'e made in the most general and sweep.
ng manner, which amounts just exactly
o making no appropriations at ALL The
General Assembly Of 1895. and succeed
ng Assemblies, who perfected this system.
lid not make the appropriations; they only
ixed up the machinery by which these ap.
,ropriauons are made. The Constitutional
of 1909, when they framed the
present constitution. did not make all the I
Assembly acts which have been passed
mder its provisions-they only fixed up ;
he machinery by which these Assembly {
lcts might be made. do not stand alone I
n pronouncing these enactments clearly {
md unqueston ably Institutional. The I
judiciary committee Of the Senate so pro. S
,ounced them several years ago. That q
committee declared that no Judge, less :
corrupt than Jeffries, the wicked instru- |
oent of lanes tho Secopd could hv an,,l =