The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-03-19
Co1oMBUs March is. l65s

S The task Of legislation during the presel
f session Of the General Assembly lis one
I uncommon difficulty, Il requires a eiel
' head and close applicat ton to draft the gel
s eral laws required under the new constitl
: tion. Old materials have to be remodele,
and new ones prepared in order 10 rend,
them suitable for the work. And after The
j are, drafted and introduced, much time an
Iexplanation are necessary before the views (
s members can be assimilated and harmonizet
! Several months more nigh. be profiably EN-
ployed in the work. which, after all. cannc
+ probably be made perfect, until after subss
Iquent revision and attention. \,
The Probate bill is not yet satisfactory /
; |alls further modification is proposed, bu
think no mate rial changes will be made.
n On Saturday last, listened TO the con
Guiding arguments, before the Supreme Court
in case involving the question Of constitu
tionality. in regard 10 the issue Of county
and town bonds, 10 railroads. Messrs
Pugh and Stanberry, argued for the constitu
tionality, and Messfs Thompson and Hat
Ian, against it. The Court has not yet giver
its opinion. Itwould be truly unfortunate Il
should the decision be adverse. Railroads
though owned and msnaged by private com
panies, are, nevertheless. in their ma ture,
public Improvements, As such, they are
legitimate objects for public expenditure by
the people along their lines. The people,
l believe, have perfect right to say, wheth-
er they will, or will not, aid in their con-
struction. By the people, mean majori-
ty Of the people; for we can never expect
perfect unanimity in such matters, and
where all are benefited, all should share in
the taxation. am in favor Of good de-
gree of local legislature and local power; Of
carrying out theState right doctrine, to coun-
ties, townships and cities. 1t is true, rail-
roads should be limited in their action and
the marjority, in questions Of local tax
alton, should be larger; but power should
not be taken away from them from the
fear il will be abused. This would be carry
ing out the doctrine of despotism and deny
ing the sovereignty Of the people. never
believed the prohibition in our new consti-
tuition was correct in principle, though, as
Temporary expedient, il may be beneficial.
Some little excitement is, just now, grow
ing oat of the action Of the Board Of Public
works, in regard to railroads crossing the Ca
nal. The board have forbidden such cross
ing on the ground Of interfering with the
navigation of the canal. You vii! see the
special report OF the board on the subject in
the Statesman of the 18th inst. 1t seems
that some of the railroads are reducing their
rates much below the average, from places
where they cross the canals, thus drawing
the business away and materially injuring
the public. The whole State has an inter-
est in our canals and these corporations
should not be permitted to injure them by
unfair means. The board have shown
themselves faithful and fearless public ser
wants in Tie course thry have taken. The
probability is there will be some legislation
on the subject, to restrain the companies
and keep them within proper bounds.
There has at last been something in the
shape of social gathering here. 1t was
ladies fair for the benefit of the new Welsh
cbuich, held at :he city hall. Feeling quite
chariably disposed on that particular even
ing, was present and heard good deal OF
Welsh spoken, as we'll as some sentences Of
EDglsh that sounded very pleasantly. The
ladies OF our own goodly city excel any
have seen elsewhere in getting up an ogree-
able and profitable fair. The articles for sale
were mostly eatables; nothing, scarcely, OF
that variety Of ingenious workmanship made
by the ladies themselves. There were few
artiiicials, such as boquetts and garlands, at
one table, but the makers did not under
stand how TO ask IA price for them. paid
twenty cents for garland, which the young
Miss who made it only esked dime for,
and which our ladies would make every
body think cheap at dollar.
The decision Of the Court in the county
bond case, will be given tomorrow morning.
1t will reach Portsmouth by telegraph be-
fore this letter gets fairly sarted. G.