The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-05-27

The Harrisburg Keystone, has the following
sensible remarks On very important subject :
Members of the Legislature.
Much Of the evil doing of our legislatures is
chargeable to the carelessness of the people in
the selection of members. With but comnara-
lively few exceptions the members are not COM
petent for the proper discharge of the duties
imposed upon them. Cunning corrupt men,
take advantage Of this, and with the aid of a
few shrewd men in the legislature, as dishonest
as themselves, succeed in forcing measures
through, by trick and stratagem, and other dis
creditable means, which could never pass bo-
dy composed of men competent to discharge
properly the duties of legislators. dozen able,
prominent, efficient members, thoroughly devo-
ted to the interests of the commonwealth-men
who could not be bamboozled, cheated, OF i'm
properly infiuenced-could at any time prevent
the passage of positively bad measure, and
could give shape and substance to almost every
act that would pass. They would reduce the
half the time now consumed by them, would eff
feet more good to the commonwealth than an
indefinite number of such legislatures as we
have had of late years could accomplish in q
century to come.
The political party which first takes this mat
ter in hand, and sends large number of able
men to the legislature, will be certain to gain
largely byit. Competent men as candidates al
ways run better before the people than those
who are incompetent, and they always strenth-
en- the party which nominates them. A legisla-
ture, peculiarly able and devoted to the true in
tereSts of the state, passing none but beneficial
laws, and all such as the interests of the people
demanded, doing nothing injurious, foolish or
culpable, and having but short session, would
vastly strengthen the party that had elected a
majority of its members.
These facts are self-evident. Then why does
not either political party take the advantage of
them 1t is simply because the able men of
the state viii not enter into discreditable
scramble with incompetent and dishonest men
who are constantly seeking distinctions for the
honor and profit they hope to obtain from them
The bare fact that honest men cannot and dis
honest men can make seat in the legislature
profitable, ought effectualy to cut off the latter
from any such position. 1t is an honor for q
competent man to occupy q seat in the legisla-
ture, but the incompetent become mere laugh
ing stalks and butts of ridicule. Men Who could
fill other stations in life with credit AMI dstnc-
ton, enjoying the confidence and respect of all
who know them, positively disgrace themselves
in the legislature, and through their want of
the necessary talent to perform their duties in a
manner creditable to themselves and their con-
stituents, lose the respect and regard Of all who
come in connexion with them-they dwindle
down to mere objects of pity, and. ridicule and
coarse jest. viii men never learn that posts
which they are well qualified to fill are the only
ones from which they can gather public regard
honor No mere Office can do honor to any
man unless he is able to honor the office by q
commendable discharge of its duties.
We appeal to the democratic party in every
county in the state to look to this matter Why
is it that they are content to be represented by
mere cyphers Why is it that some of them
permit men to represent them who daily DO vi
olence to their prin;i Why not prefer able
and competent men to all others-men who
would honor the position and reflect honor upon
those who elected them Such men wouli un-
doubtedly strengthen their party as candidates
strengthen their party representatives, amply
qualified to meet any emergency-do great good
to the state, save the taxes and preserve the
rights of the people, and effect vast reforms we
do not now dream of. We hope that this matter
Will not be neglected, but that We may have the
pleasure from time to time during the present
campaign of ehronicling the nomination of the
ablest, the best, and the purest democrats in the
state for seats in the legislature. Such nomina-
tions would soon render the democratic party
of the state impregnable and irresistible, and
give the old Keystone state a position which any
of her sisters might well envy
Commodore Stockton.
We are indebted to Commodore ROBERT F.
STOCKTON, U. S. Senator from New Jersey. for