The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17
THE CONSTITUTIONS

The Cincinnati Enquirer, the organ of
locofocoism in Cincinnati, and one of the
great lights of so-called democracy in the
State, is vociferous for an immediate change
OF the Constitution, as the only salvation of
the people from the fruits of locotoco policy.
The Enquirer is new convert to the doc
trne of democratic fallibility, and is therefore
entitled to be somewhat vehement in the
propagation OF its new creed. 1t is not to be
expected of those who had never much faith
in locofoco professions, that they should be
as forward and bustling in denunciation of
lccoloco measures, when the effects OF those
measures are upon the people, and can be no
longer disguised, as are those through whose
instrumentality tho measures were devised
and brought into being. The latter make IA
| great hurlybury Of noise. and denunCiation,
for the very purpose of raising a dust and
hiding their identity with the thiAgs they de-
nounce
The Cincinnati Commercial, (an sndepsn-
dant papcr,) whose eihor has been close
observer OF the rise and progress of locofoco-
ism in Ohio, takes the matter more COO lily.
He is not in favor of hasty orprecipitate ac-
ton; but would rather tarry while, and see
the ultimarato of locofocOism. Perhaps the
people may as well grapple with the monster
now, us at any future time. Peradventure it
may be scotched if not kilLea. Its sting may
| he drawn, its claws trimmed, and it rendered
otherwise harmless. AL all events, the editor
is not to be frightened into premature action.
! Hear him: t.. .H....
! But we are in no hurry TO see an attempt
MADE to amend the Constitution of Ohio. Ii
premature, it will be unsuccessful. When
the thing is undertaken, it should be with the
right auspices. Let the matter be discussed,
and let it be understood what is needed. If
.he people of Ohio commence the business of
Constitution tinkering, there is no predicting
when or where it wilend The whole in
strument is full of trSsls, ami flaws, restric-
tiops and absurdties. 1t is an elaborate
combination of all that is unwholesome and
anti-repubican. One half that it contains
has no business in any code of organic law,
and it would be scarcely possible to put the
remainder in a worse form than the one it
now has. The reason for this is easily to be
found. 1t was called into existence for the
benefit OF men whose views were dictated by
personal ambition and avarice. There was
no popular demand for it, nor any desire for
its creation on the part oftho people of the
State.
When the members Of the convention to
revise the Constitution of Ohio assembled at
Columbus, any one conversant with human
nature could have read in their countenances
the inquiry, For what have we come together,
So far as they were aware, the Constitution
Of 1909 had done all Tor the people that
could reasonably be expected from any
code of organic law, IL had formed the basis
Of government az ohce cheap and popular.
1t had neither opened avenues to abuse, nor
interposed to prevent their correction. 1t laid
the foundation of republican institutions, made
an accurate distribution of the various legis-
lative, judicial and executive functions, and,
beyond this, left the power, where it should
DO, in the hands of the people. In every at
tribute OF true democracy it was unexcep-
tionable, Its adoption to the circumstances
of the people may be inferred from the fact
that it imposed no yoke upon them. Its bur-
den was not felt. In one or two places
where, contrary TO its general tenor, restra-
ints had been imposed upon the legislative
Junction, tho growth Of the State in popula-
ton had made it too narrow. These could