Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-05-16
| From the Ohio State Journal.
"Watchman. What of the Night!

-" atCMuhdu Wmat Oh the NlS nts
We have been a constant If no, close
observer of The Legislature, and The legis.
lalion OF the past winter, and we propose 10
say what we think Of them. We shall do
il calmly, andswilhout prejudice or special
affection. We have me, with nothing bu,
fair, honorable ,rea,men, a, The hands OF The
members, and shall endeavof 10 do justice
10 all. a
The second Legislature under the new
Constitution met on the frs. Of January last,
under peculiar circumstances. With the
exception of three or four in each branch,
The members. for the first time, found Them.
selves in The legislative halls. large mass
Of them were farmers or mechanics, whose
education and business had fed Them in a
very different channel from that of law.
making. Some Of them were young law.
yers Of lair talents, and good prospects in
their profession, but they were ignorant Of
The process of legislation, and were waning
in that enlarged view, ands practical knowl-
edge OF the business affairs Of life which are
essential 10 sound, healthy legislation. The
new members were respectable men, gener-
ally well.meaning, honest, and sincere in
The desire TO discharge their duly with 6del-
Ivy. There was such decided preponder.
ance Of one party that nothing was 10 be
leared from the votes Of the opposition.
This body Vi men came 10 Columbus to
perform all The necessary Legislation OF The
Slsle,lor TWO years. Ii was an experiment
of doubtful character. Grave questions
were 10 be considered, and acled upon. Ex.
perience, under The laws of The frs, session
OF the new Constitution, had shown the ne.
cessl!y oi many notifications ant changes
The temperance question had become an
important e'emenl in The Safe, and must be
met and disposed Of SOmehow. Questions
of finance and taxation OF great importance
were TO be serled. A United Slales Sena.
tor was 10 De elected.
In the organization OF the Legislature
both Houses were reasonably fortunate
Though not profound statesman, The Lieu,
Governor has made fair presiding officer
and the uniform genllemanIy department o
Senators, has made his position an easy anC
pleasant one. WhaIover may be though, o
Flood as u politician, there is no denying
the fact that he has made an efficient ant
accommodating clerk. In the House, Mr.
Le3lond has madea very respectable speaker
We think him the best one o! The las, five
years. Some fault was found with his ap
ponlment oil commit,ees, but, taken as
whole, he has discharged his duties impair
, italy, and with more prompluess and inlelli
gence than 9 were prepared 10 expect. Tn
clerk OF The House has also been lair off
Ger. In the machinery OF Legislation lher
has been no particular hindrance. VIII
such material, and such an organization, III
Iabors Of The session began.
We ha nlreudy given our readers .b
results c lie session. A few weeks expe
: rience began 10 deveope the various capuc
. Ties and position oI members. The inev
able result Of want oil business knowleda
> was apparent FROM the beginning Week
y and months passed away, and nothing
! importance was done. The Senator que.
" ZION absorbed every Thing else ill il was SO
lied. Then came variety Of topics; raj
I'OuuS WhpVtShCOg tuAullOU, CNC
j. and, with Them, came all sor,s Of crude, ui
tdiges.ed, mischievous, and totally impracl
cable schemes. Al The head Of The FinanC
commiltec Of the House stood Mckenzie
With many good points, bold, fearless, an
honest in The avowal oI what he believes
Of be right, he lncks the essential ingredien
ID OF experience, practical common sense, OF
business tact, SO necessary for man in |,
al position. 1t soon became eyiden, lha, M
II Gesl was The Leading mind in that Commute
,e and impressed upon il and upon lhe llou
IN his views and opinions. in The Senate, M
ID Atkinson was the "Cbancellor of The E
al chequer," and, from The beginning, was Il
of exponen, Of The peculiar financial views
is Auditor Morgan. He managed 10 carry II
Senate wilh him. But, Tho result, Of the
II. labor did no, NEE. the appreciation Of |,
q, House. We have detailed The history
lie The struggle that ensued. The House Il
he umphed. The schemes Of The Auditor we
ue We have told our readers wha, imporia
n. bills have passed, and wha, ones have laie
u. We say, in oil fairness, tha, the list o( su
ui cesslul measures is not SO objectionable
m we, in common with The business and CO