The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-09-30
q From the Spirit Of the Times.
LEGISLATORS-TIIEIR QUALIFI-
CATIONS.

question Of 80 much consequence Dh0 .
The candidates are, MS what their qaaIif' =
cations may be. Among certain classes
of small politicians the only test of quail
ifica,ion is availability, or in other words,
who will to the greatest extent command |
the votes of men holding adverse opin-
ions. Such a character can only be
found in tha, class of negative men, who,
if they have any opinion of their own,
never express il. hut who are ready to
give private confidential assurance OF
their sympathy in every movenen. tbasis
going Oh. '
In The earlier history OF our governs
men,, honesty and capabili,y were
thought TO be among the necessary qial-
i6cations Of a Legislator; II is no, so
now, availability has taken the place OF
capabilily, and Of oil the other quaIlfl-
cations which our ancestors thought
necessary TO fit man for the work OF the
Legislature. sli
TO legislaic, that is 10 make, alter,
and repeal laws, forms the highest civil
business known to The institutions oI
linen. The capacities Of Legislation
should be as ample as the Interests of 'he
State are diversified. No,llihg, says
Burke, sis true and adequate represen-
Ita,ion of a state that does not represent
it's ability, that is its knowledge as well
rs lis prosperity. 1t isnot enough that
member Of a Legislative body Should
= come to his task with an up'ight inten-
tor, and a sound judgment, indispensable
as these two qualifications are, bu, he
should have knowledge of all the sub
iecis on which he is called 10 legislate,
: he must also have skill as to the best
mooe of applyingit. The State of Ohio
embraces n large territory in a rapidly
l. advancing stage of civilization, with all
n the diversified interests Of an entire
g nation. The Education Of the people,
d civil and political jurisprudence, policy
: in respect to the tenure Of lands and the
quantity tba, any individual shall ac'
n quire; laws for municipal government oI
ol towns and cities, the regulation OF ou'
q great mcsh>work of Railroads, Of taxes
t. supervision Of the canals of the schoo
lands, and of our public debt, are some
or Of the subjects Of legislative care ant
&c responsibility.
s. Now, will any contend that a MAJ
= entirely unacquain,ed with these ant
Of many other matters Of Legislation, is
10 fl person to go into the Legislature.
lie The farmer, the mechanic, the eng
i neer, The physician, and the merchant
T. must be prepared by the discipline
o. knowledge and experience before e'he
~ can perform his task in life with credit
c" himself, or utility TO community,
" o. I. docs moi follow, as m'ter {
"s course, that because mnn can fiji ga
:, ment 10 the human form, that he ca
= shoe a horse, or because he can shoe
:. horse we'll, tina, he can therefore make
~ =, watch, neither is "common sense" aI"n
-, sufficient to give man an insight OF
", y" profession requiring knowledge, skill
9 . and experience. Few indeed underlnk
w., Vs. 10 carry ont any individual onterp'i'
i. without knowing where TO begin, at
~ ~ where to end. 1t is not so with II
,ho w. business of making laws.
~ Any man that is an active parrish
-" ~ though his reading does no, extend b
i" % yond the papers of his party, is mo
"' likely to be put forward as candida
e for the Legislature, than the man who
~ IT, qualified by the discipline Of knowled
4. and experience.
h NV, The Judge whose business is mere
mn w to interpret and administer the law as
lLy is, mus, be acquainted with it, oiherw''
.ar G he would be incompe 'en', but il is Il
so with The man who is TO make the Ia
-; he mus; not be wholly ignorant OF
." constitutions he takes the oath 10 suppo
~ and of the laws which are rules pro,c
M ,hs ing the rights Of persons, and proper
,La M Pcople are won, TO complain of the CO
' do plexi, OF the statutes, Of the folly of sol
,na Of them, and Of the long sessions ot
"4 Legislature, and abuse the membo
acy who are easily filtered, and apt TO ih
ave they are fit for high civil station, ii
r of people only tell them so, and give tn
i've. their votes.
God For The last fifteen years our Gene
AXE Assembly has been chiefly composed
cess men who we're not acquainted with th
" business, who were elected on the sc'
a Of "availability," or on account OF
LA, services they had rendered their pal
,mc consequently, tho practical work OF
for. Legislature has fallen into the hands
len, ,he few who were in any tolerable
,rds gree "c?pable;" aud the mass of
aud members entirely ignorant Of the W
uad of the committee rooms, and but
the tally acquainted with the character
in. the measures on which they were cast
y their votes. SO that inexperence,
en- stead Of practical wisdom, has'y leg
the ton instead of sober deliberai'on,
bed imperfec, projects have characterised
ner, State governments. :,
king For this condition OF things we bla
lass no party. Political strife and un%or
Aus> ambition, keep eminent and nse'u'
,ove f:om the theatre Of Legislation.