The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-01
Our Legisiators-What should they
ha3

SuOSSh ia %lNCCQ we EStUlHQ OUT lTI6uuS
throughout Ohio. of the great importance
to the party, to the districts represented.
and TO themselves, to have men Of worth,
intelligence and character put in nomina.
ton.
We know it is sometimes thought and
said, that when a man is good for nothing
else, he viii do for the Legislature. This
Is reckless thoughtlessness, and betrays
an indifference to good avs and sound
principles which cannot be too much rep
rehended.
The loafer or pettifogger, the empty
.wind.bag and grave thick skull, are who'll
~ unit for this responsibility. No n
will doubt this but why should any such
be chosen Z
Reflect a momont ! The Legislature
is not an abstract thing called wisdom
II Is made up of men-who should be
wise but who partake more or less of hu-
man falliabitty. Our aim should be to
have more Of the wise and less of the fall
lible.
In III daily business, where we are in
terested pecuniarily, we do not select an
agent because of his big words OF swelling
vanity, nor because he happens to rave
money but because he understands his
business or has capacity quickly to com.
prehcnd and the determination to do his
duty.
In choosing Jul Judges, who are to in
terpret our laws. we are wary and circum-
spect, and see to it that experience. legal
LEARNING and integrity belong to the men
selected. Ifthese attributes make up a fit
interpreter of the law. how much more inn
portant are they to the men who are the
authors of our laws?
In our private and judicial matters we
act well enough. Why not in this mos.
important legislative trust and agency.
where the dearest rights of every man, wo-
man and child are at stake, can we not
display our ordinary foresight and pru-
dence ( ?
Wealth is said 10 be power. So it is.
Carlyle hits the idea on the head, when he
says, quantity. thatthe man who has a six
pence holds the world in thrall to him to a
s~ixpence's worth. So long as money rep
resents labor, and labor furnishes necessi-
ties and comforts, so long viii wealth car
ny along with it potency. But it has lis
ia - IuAA 0Ou. Tic IFGiolotul0 10
NOT its sphere. VIZ are not yet SO cor
rupt, at least in Ohio, that venal Walpoles
buy and sell our lawmakers like sheep in
the shamhles. But let it be recollected
there is an element which has power for
the legislative sphere. 1t is knowledge.
II alone ubserves the loitiest purposes OF
legislation. Laws can no more proceed
without it, than conclusions can follow
without premises. That constituency which
has an intelligent representative holds a
larger place in the State by virtue of his
knowledge. Its importance is magniied
in proportion to the perception Of its wants.
the address TO make them known, and the
power to adoptimeans for their accomplish
inent.s Hence as a matter of interest, Of
self love of dollars md cents, the districts
should select their most intelligent men.
Asman who can give a sensible reason for
agood measure. or sput his measure in
proper form, is worth a hundred times
moro than the man who cannot write the
bills required. or who silently votes even
with q good but unexpressed reason.
& Was q remark of Burke in his reply to
Fox, upon the French Revolution, .that
he,who calls in The aid of an equal under
standing doubles his own This is not
only the principal upon which parties are
formed; but let Democrats remember, that
i, IS the principle by which parties retain
their ascendency. Men Of kindred views,
synnpathies and interests, having, as a
Democratic Legislature should have. a
profound sense Of public duty in relation
to- the practical business OF legislation.
yielding TO no mercenary lure or bullying
intimidation, depressing none in its mag
naninity, heedful ofthe constantly aggres-
sive spirit Of lordly corporations, grown
fat. sleek and inpudent with lucre and i'm
portanee; allowing the blessings of good
Legislation to descend equally upon the
poor and the rich standing steadiast in
their opinions, and not hastily giving way
to pressing emergencies, got up for the
ambition or a-ggrandizement of selfish as
piranfs and above all ,pervaded with rad
icaf notions Of the object of government
and Of its responsibility to none but the
people,-such a combination would be in
deed formidable to conservatism, inspiring
TO enterprise and labor, and highly instru-
mental in every element Of national exist
enc and glory.
No wonder that even Wings, forgetting
their own delinquencies, ask sneeringly /:
..If your principles are SO good. why not
choose better men to carry them QUIT"
To forever silence this Illicit argument
Against Democracy. we must have in our
Legislature, better men intellectually, and
better men morally, Ii we have noble
aims and good principals, why should we
commit their legal enactment TO loaing,
spreeing gambling, s%cleyer fellows with
OPT industry, influence or sobriety. We
hare men of the right stamp in our party.
Ohio is a State which has the means Of
her own happiness within her " borders.
She zires more within herself than any
commonwealth in the world. Her manu-
factures and agriculture give her an inde-
pendence which enables her to send a sur
plus TO the world without. Tier interests
are great; both domestic and foreign. Her
large debt and the necessity for q spotless
credit; her public improvements her
schools /; her institutions for the unfortu-
nate ; her seven hundred millions of taxa
BILE property /; her uncounted wealth Of in
x.u.nt nd oo,1. hor hopos and DESTINY.