The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-19
1t is understood that the Commissioners

IL 10 understood mat Inc commissioner
appointed to report . revised system Of
Practice and Pleading, will be ready to
report a. early as September or October.
The action Of the General Assembly being
necessary to make the system available,
an extra session would probably have been
demanded by the people on this account
alone, had not provision been made for the
adjourned session. And in computing the
difference in the expense between an ad.
journed session it will be found that quite
a difference exists in favor of the former.
Business a now be taken up and con-
cluded in the same manner as if no ad-
journment had taken place.
In further justification of the adjourned
session. its friends believe that it requires
but little sagacity to ~foresee that laws
passed under such extreme pressure as
many very important ones have been at the
present session, will be found when put in.
to operation and tested by experience, to
be more or less defective, and that amend.
men.s will be found necessary before the
time provided for the next regular session
under the Constitution. II would be AFRO.
eating perfection to suppose that the laws
passed by the late session Of the General
Assembly. under such circumstances, af.
fecting the diversified wants and interests
Of two millions Of people, were free from
imperfections or omissions. On the con.
trary, we are free to admit that they are
not perfect, and hope that when their de.
fects shall be discovered they may be
promptly remedied.
There is one other view Of this subject
that we shall present now. Provision was
made in the Constitution for an entirely
new system Of taxation. A law has been
passed intended to meet this requirement
of the new Constitution. Under its opera.
ton it is expected that a largely increased
amount Of property will be brought upon
the duplicate for taxation. Appropriations
ought 10 be based upon reliable estimates
of revenues. In order to determine the
revenues of the present year we have 10
conjecture what will be the valuation, and
then with a given rate per cent. of taxation
We have a co%njectured revenue. Upon
this state Of circumstances the Legislature
felt utterly unable 10 make appropriations
to carry on the government Of the State
for the mex Two years, or to levy a rate Of
taxation Tor the same time.
Were the basis OF last year unchanged,
except by the usual increase of property
in the State, a pretty safe estimate might
have been made. But. as il is, we are un.
able to approximate, until assessment.
shall have been made under the new tax
law. towards a correct estimate Of the
probable amount Of revenue it will pro-
duce. and, consequently, in determining
levy for the next two years, the Legisla'
ture were liable, on the one hand, to pro-
vide for collecting more money from the
people than the wants Of the State NIGH
require-thus having a large amount OIL
money laying idle in the treasury; and
on the other hand. they might have failed
to raise a sufficient mount to enable the
State TO meet her engagements and main
tain her faith and credit. When the new
system shall have been fairly put into ope'
ration, and its defects in whatever they
may consist corrected, this difficulty will
be 10 a great extent removed.
We might enlarge and refer TO variou.
circumstances peculiar to our present po
sition, but we submit the above. believing
that no good citizen will question the pa
triotism Of the Legislature in coming t.
their determination. 1t was a matter from
which p~artizan considerations were exclu
ded. 1t was purely a question %ofpropriety
and Of necessity. We have not,he slight
est doubt but that those who voted for thu
adjournment, were actuated by the highes
motives Of regard for public welfare. Thu
wisdom Of their action is to be determined
by results. aside from effects upon party
The people will do no injustice in thu
premises, and the members Of the Legisla
ture asks nothing in the shape of pardon
while they offer no argument Tor pallia,ion
They have acted with fearless indepen
dence, and with a single regard for TIT
good Of the people; and they are entitled
to the universal respect of tho people
while we are assured they fully retain ,hei
own.-Staiesman.