Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-04-11
The legislature.

Ii is now three full months since this body
convened in this cIy-one-fourlh Of an en-.
tire year--and the time has arrived when
their anxious friends are beginning TO look
for The return Of their Represenlives 10 the
bosom Of their constituencies, to render an
account Of their rslewardship. Indeed, faint
anemp,s have several lines been made
within that body, 10 fix upon time when
their arduous labors shall cease; but down 10
the present time all such efforts have proved
Intellectual. The probable truth in relation
10 the matter is. that very liule--next TO
no,hing--has been accomplished as the re.
suit Of these three months incubation; and
The Members do not feel exactly prepared 10
go home to the people and say TO them frank
ly and honestly how very iule has been ac-
complished. And so they stay on--hoping
and trusting that something will! turn up, they
can scarce imagine how, whereby they may
in some way compensate for this long sea-
son Of Improbable legislative session. The
error Of the thing consists In mlsapprehen.
sion Of their duties, and in adhering 10 these
erroneous misconceptions. The truth is,
that the dulles of an Ohio Legislator are now
verv few and simple. They relate chiefly
10 The financial operations of the State, and
wilh The Annual Reports Of the State Off.
GERS before them, few pracucal men in a
very few evenings, nigh, mark out the out.
lines Of all needful legislation on these
points.
The Reports having been, from some
cause, shameiuly delay ed, the Legislature
owes il to itself 10 ascertain, and TO guard
agains, It's recurrence. There are alleged
abuses in other quarters. which require care.
fu investigation by inleligen. and faithful
committees Of the Legislature, ,ha, proper
correc.ives may be applied. Particularly is
the case respecting the Penilen.iary, con.
cerning which The town is rife with gossip,
involving gross scandal and utter iHefficiency
and incompe,ency on The par! of the officers.
Everybody knows the existence Of these re.
ports; they are met at every stree. corner;
We, no one has the means of deciding as TO
their validity. Under these circumstances
how shall The public--how shall the men,
u0Is, VI CNcu SUuiiiiiboco VI thO LSblsluluic z
arrive at The true state Of the lac,s? Abuses
and outrages perpetia.ed there, are very apl
10 oe without other Witnesses than The per,
pelraiors and convic,s. !, is no, 10 be ex.
pected Of the former that they will readily
disclose upon themselves; and as the later,
they are under constant duress. Ii is The
appropriate business Of The Legislature. then,
10 devise some means for thorough, rigid,
and full investigation Of these charges, to
the END that If mol well founded, The innocen,
may go acquitted; and il true, that proper
corrective may be applied.
This, as well as oil The Charitable lnslilu.
lions Of The STATE, have been put upon foot
irg Of The most strict partisan supervision
Noone can find employment or hold a place,
in any Of them, on any other tenure. This
is an outrage on the part Of those controlling
these institutions, and is the initiative Of any
cr all The abuses that may be expected 10
follow In the train Of such policy. The
investigation Of lhese matters furnishes ample
and Legitimate business for the Legislature,
and we trust they will probe them 10 the
very boltom.-State Jour.