The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1856-01-17

representatives. of the people, is thus, in
great part, practically nullifed. A pro-
found writer has well observed that every
departure from annual Legislative sessions
is an approach towards irresponsible gov
ernment and despotism.
Numerous occasions must necessarily
arise, in State so large as ours, from past
Legislative acts or omissions as well as
from various contingencies of other de-
scriptions, which in the aggregate, will
imperatively require the attention of the
Legislature, although no one of them may
constitute such all extraordinary occasion
as will warrant the execise of the special
power vested in the Governor. Expedien-
cy, therefore, no less than principle, seems
to recommend annual rather than biennial
sessions.
There are some collateral considerations,
tending to the same conclusion, which
should not he overlooked.
The present Constitution allows no a
mendment of its provisions, except such
as may be agreed to by three tifths Of the
members of each House, and by majority
Of the electors voting at the next election
for Senators and Representatives. 1t fol-
lows that no amendment Of the Constitu-
ton can be made, however unanimously y
sanctioned by the Legislature or deman-
ded by the people, until two years after ii
shall have been proposed. The substitu.
ton of annual for biennial sessions will
necessarily require annual elections fol
Senators and representatives, and will thus
remove this needless and disparaging re.
striction upon the exercise Of the popular
sovereignty, .-.l a.... .. -
1t so happens also, that the terms o
Senators from this State in the Congress
of the United States, expire during thu
second years of the biennial periods. Eve
ry election of Senator, therefore, while ou
Estate Constitution shall remain unamen
ded, must, under ordinary circumstances
take place more than year before the ex
piration of the current term, and nearly
two years before the Senator elect will tax,
his seat 1t may sometimes occur that
Senator thus chosen, SO long in advance
of the commencement of his term, will b,
no means represent the sentiments or th,
will of the people, when he actually enters
upon the performance Of his official du
ties.
Those who are accustomed to look t
the State Governments for the maintenance
Of State Rights and the security of per
sonal rights, will find another reason 70
a preference of annual to biennial sessions
in the obvious consideration that while tn,
sessions of Congress are annual, and thos
of the State Legislature are only biennial
the regards Of the people will be more ant
more absorbed by the former, and les
and less attracted by the latter. No wei
wisher to the permance of American insli
tutions, will desire to augment the tenden
cy, already too apparent, towards the alb
sorptlon Of the States in centralized an
consolidated Federal Government.
The crater expense of annual session
is sometimes urged as an argument in fl.
vor ofbiennial; and every argument draw
from the important principle OF publ
economy. is certainly entitled to respect
ful consideration. Butt think itmay we
be affirmed, that, in this instance, the Al
gument fromeconomy is notyaiid. With
out taking into tho account the cost to tn
State Of the mischief arising from the de
lay of needed legislation, it must be re
membered that the accumulation, throug
two years, OF business demanding the at
tention of the General Assembly, will re
quire protracted sessions for its due cor
sideration. The time needed for two an
aual sessions is not, necessarily, create
than that required for one biennial session
The argument from expense, therefore
may be readily, obyiated by proper lin
itation Of duration, and the question {
preference may be reduced to a simpl
choice, irrespective Of expense, betwee
limited annual sessions, and unlimite
biennial with occasional extra sessions
My own judgement Is 80 thoroughly salts
fed uhon the whole matter, that | cannC
hesitate TO recommend an amendment {
the Constitution, providing for limited an
nual sessions,
Your first and most earnest attentio
gentlemen, will doubtless be directed t
the important matters within the immedi
ate sphere of your Legislative powers; bu
you cannot forget thatyou represent a SOY
ereign State Of the American Union, thir,
of the thirty-onc, in wealth, and power
and population, and second to none in pa
triotic devotion to the welfare of the who'll
country, The appointment of Senator
to represent tho State in one branch of tn
American Congress deyolvcs upon you
and in making this appointment you vii
necessarily be required to consider the in
tereSts Of Ohio as a member of the Union
Foremost among these interests is tn,
preservation Of the Union itself. lIslab
lished by the wisdom Of our fathers for th,
sublimeS. anu m2blest of political ends, i
desends to us as sacred trusS Unde
It's benign influence our country has stead
lily advanced from strength to strength
and from greatness togreatness, extending
her borders, enlarging her resources, an(
augmenting her power, until the name o
American citizen has become anobler dis
tinction than was the name of Roman citi
zen in the proudcst days of the mightics
republic OF antiquity. To maintain tn,
integrity of this union to defend the Con
stitution which is its bond and to guart
amninaL I'LL inNaainn from whinh Ihn LIN