Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-05-10
Adjournment Extra Session.

Aajournment-Exfra Session.
Is The determination of the Legislature to
adjourn over I'LL line third Monday in Mo-
! vember next, win probably be- made the
subject Of comment in .cea tain quarters,
win view. Of dispataging the democracy
of the State in as much as that party is
largely 10 the majority 10 both Houses
That many should honestly imbibe the no.
ton thataAhe work oflegisla,ion may be
run up TO time like railroad train, is not
strange, as out a very small portion of our
+ best and most intelligent citizens have any
practical knowledge. of sthe delays which
even an Insignificant minority can occasion
without any positive breach of order or ap.
parrant breach of consistency. Il is true
that the democracy had a majority sufficient
TO carry oil party mearures their oa n way.
Butt. 10 not every measure that assumes
party shade; and in the present session but
small portion o! the legislation was capa-
.ble Of being tortured into party shape. -
Ii any body questions this statement, let
them examine the Journals and see for
themselves upon how many questions a
strict party vote has been polled. The
adoption OF the new Constitution opened q
wide field for legislative labor. By its op.
erations many laws were iannulled and
others rendered inapplicable 10 the new or.
der OF things. IA supplying new laws and
remodelling old ones 10 suit the spirit OF the
new Constitution, an unlimited range ior
discussion was laid open. Each of the
niaety.six mcmbers elected 10 the House of
Representatives. represents constituency
wlo have right TO be heard through them
on oil subjects. The perfect gag on the
minority can only be applied by moving
the previous qussrioti which cuts off debate.
This, during the present session, has seldom
7boen dune. Courtesy to the minority, and
a disposition to hear both sides, has pre-.
vented resort TO this arbitrary means OF
hurrying on the work.
The charge that the Legislature have
been idle and have effected little, is npl
true in fact. II is true that the number Of
bills passed. is by no means, MS large as usu.
al, but it should be borne in mind that all
legislation upGeF the new Constitution sho'd
be general, and that the local bills that
have heretofore swelled The number of acts
pissed are by il cut off. Bills of q purely
local nature have always been passed with
out discussion, without even a call of the
ayes and noes. and virtually with bu, one
reading. We hazard nothing 10 saying
thar more labor, more time, aud more dis.
cussion were required to get up, consider,
and pass general incorporation law, ap.
plicabie to these various local l-corporaiions,
than 10 pass in the old way, hundred bills
incorporating churches, libraries, odd.fel>
lows and masonic lodges, DC. The same
comparison in favor Of the present Legisla.
ture, NAV be made in regard tot the school
law. Heretofore The Legislature have
acts, while upon the presen, Legislature
has fallen The labor OF oyerhauling and re.
sising the entire code Of school laws go as
to embrace all the valuable features Of all
former acts in one plain general act.
We might also refer 10 the tax law, the
printing law md q number Of others that
have unavoidably consumed the time. The
difficulty and delay encountered in perfecls
ing these measures SO fa- as to accord with
the letter and spirit Of The Constitution, can
hardly be appreciated by any one not par,
licipating in The labor. s' g
A long session was expected by all. The
meeting was & xed month later Than usual
Should the adjournment take place on the
third of May. the session deducting there
from the lime lost by the destruction of the
Stale house, makes the present session just
about equal its immediate predecessor,
while we are fully convinced from actual
view that proporlionately far more hours
have been spent in actual session and the
The labors incident 10 legislation, than has
usually been the case.
Its said an address will be published by
the members, signed by all parties, giving
their reason for nn extra session. w Q have
DO doubt they can give substantial reasons
either for an adjourned session, or for ex-
lending the regular session 70 the 4th Of
July The question Of adjournment Then
turns upon policy; whether members sho'd
be compelled 10 sit during the heat Of suins
smer, or adjourn over and return in Inc fall
fresh from the people, md with renewed
vigor complete their work.
Some have questioned the Constitutional
ity of the measure. On that subject, with>
out aiming at argument, we only say, that
no one will doubt that the Legislature can,
by joint resolution adjourn for more than
two days, while we wait for the raisers Of
The constitutional question, to point 10 a
limit by which they IRE confined in their
adjournments, whether il shall be 10 three
days, three weeks or three months. The
members Of both The great parties in the
Legislature voted for The adjournment
Only one whig in the Senate opposing II.
This should certainly bar all efforts OF the
minority party to characterize il as parry
measure. We have said more Than we in.
tended when we commenced this article,
and perhaps more Than was necessary, as
the address of which we have before spoken,
will mos. likely place the whole matter in
in q full, clear light. = Ohio Republican.
WORTH. KNowlNe.-An exchange pa
| per says: 1t is a fact not generally known