The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-05
The Governor and Legislature of Ohio.

!
The Governor and Legislature of Ohio.
| The reader may recolect that the Inaugural
ton of Governor WooD was sgnalized by loud
complaints on the part of his leading Demo-
cratic supporters in the State Legislature on
account Of the course which the newly elected
Governor had pursued on the slavery question.
The rupture possessed a passing interest from
the light it cast on the prevalence of Freesoil
influences in the ranks of the Ohio Democ-
racy, and the evidence it afforded of the fact
that Governor WooD owed his election mainly
to his declared OF supposed hostility to the Flu
gilive Slave law; both points happening at the
time to be strenuously disputed by our nelghbor
! of the Union.
1t appears that the quarrel between the
Governor and the Freesoi Denocracy-grow-
ing out of the altered position Of the former In
regard TO the Compromse-did not end with
the early debates, but, on the contrary, has
waxed more yindctve the session has add
vancsd. The following, from the Sandusky
Regisfer, shows how the Democratic Repre-
sentatives contTive to revenge themselves upon
the Democratic Governor:
"CovsaxoR WooD AND THE HousE.-Tbe bill
for the reorganization of the Ohio pcnitcniary has
been the means Of developing the latent spirit OF
distrust and jealousy existing between the Gov
ernor and his party. There and is a WING
board Of directors and a Wing warden in charge
Of that institution. Hence the necessity Of egis-
latng them out 30 TO make room for hungry
psrtisans. But the Governor has not pcen fit in
every instance TO prostitute his Office party pur
I.,. a..
Of the party leaders. Therefore the bill 90
framed as to place the appointing power under the
supervision of the Auditor and Secretary Of State,
who it supposed would be able to keep Gov
crnor Wood on the track. II there any good
connected with the public interests. and not
growing wholly out Of party considerations, why
the Auditor and Secretary should be constituted a
board Of control over the gubcrnatorial appoint.
ments, we cannot understand why they did not
exist at the commencement Of the session, nor why
they should not have bad weight in fixing the de
tails Of other laws which have been passed.
"This domestic fight, which on Friday resulted
in the total defeat Of the Pententiary bill, 10 eyi
dence that the party in power is inadequate and
incompetent to the task Of putting in operation the
new fundamental law. There seems 10 be no CO.
hcsive power; they guided by well settled
principles Of action, but every thing seems TO be
heads and points, aud the precious time Of the
session s wasted in these fru,less Efforts to reduce
the heterogeneous clements Of which the majority
IL composed TO something like effective unity.
There are men in the Legislature, members Of the
Democratic party, WHO seem 20 feel their rcspOn.
sibility and desr. 20 acquit Themselves like men
in the discharge u their duty Legislators for the
third State in The Union bot in the mere dcmn-
gogues of the party they have a dead weight which
rctards progress, and under the fco thirds ,uIs Of
the Constitution many measures which have been
matured by these leading minds lost. The
majority is ample for all purposes Of carrying out
the measures Of the party, If the party itself is
agreed upon them; and IL will be held responsible
for the legislation Of the session Nosopbi,ry can
make the people believe, next fall, that they ought
to hold the mere handful Of wings in the Logisla-
turo accountable for what ia done or left undono
"a statement was made in the debate on the
Ponitentinry bill winch ofiords a clue 70 the family
quarrel. The Governor was probably committed
TO some one ne a candidate for warden not ap-
proved by all the powers that be- If The passag
Of all general lave s to be controlled by mere per-
sonsl considerations, and If the fate Of measures
depends upon the likes or diskes Of every deputy
clerk, It is time to adjourn and give up the job
"Mr. Dale (Dem) thus explains what we have
alluded 10.
"Hc said that one Of the deputy clerks, Charlcs
TnCgart, bad come 70 him when he was framing
tins bill, and had endcavored TO induce him 20 alter
that portion sssociatina The Auditor and Secretary
with the Governor in appointing the directors
that he said he had n friend whom he wished 20
have appointed warden, and IL vss ell arranged
| 10 be done " the Governor bad the power alone
On HE refusing TO change II, Mr.. Taggsrt told him
he would defeat the bill unless that clause was
stricken out, and had said go last evening at the
supper-tabe.'
"And the bill defeated. How much MIR
Taggart may have effected by his labor. Of love-
cannot be certainly known, but may be inferred
from the fact that clerks have unusual facilities for
! electoneerinC with the members"