Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1856-01-22

V4.VUI{eu ovDtevs INA luPVu InAuy V<pet qucss
tls5A, Hamilton eoauiy, with hne undivided
representation, VIII hare. pssctioallx eight
ypfes; The hfteen north western counties, their
hsprsssatative. tsing equally divided, may
hsve. prsctcsily, none.
parison to the arrangement OF the Representa-
tive Districts. Your own reflections will ex'
tene Il to the arrangement Of Districts for the
choice OF Senators. <f.
II hardly needs 10 be remarked that the ex.
isting system, while thus unjust 10 the counties
arranged In single districts. " preudicial TO the
interests OF the more populous counties them
selves. Its Necessary tendency Is 10 excite
jealous,es In portions OF the Slate against other
portions, which must prove huItful. II fails,
also to secure in the plural districts, Q satisfac.
tory reprefentation Of the various interests and
sentiments Of the people. In The county Of
Hamilton, for example, the political minority,
however considerable aud respectable, can have
no adequate representation. Townships aud
Wards, with populations which, with system
OF single districts, would enlitle them to sepa.
rate Represe entetives, are liable 10 have their
political interests and views overlooked and
under the pressure Of political exl.
gencies. Constituents cannot well know their
uuu iSpASSSHohvSS osS ~
solved, in great measure, from their Individual
responsibilities TO their constituents. The de.
mands OF the people, under such circuInstan.
ces, will necessarily be subordinated 10 the
demands Of political organizations, and the
public good must often yield 10 party neces'
sites.
That system Of single districts will prove
an absolute remedy for all these political evils,
NJ, IN
am fully persuaded, however, that it would
secure much more perfect popular represen'
tation than we have at present, and therefore
recommend that all amendment 10 the Consti.
tuition providing such system, be submitted to
the people for their adoption or rejection.
While the true principles Of popular govern.
ment thus require the most complete and per
feet representation OF the people which is at.
tainable, they require also, and no less imper.
atively, frequent meetings Of the representa-.
tive Legislature, for the thorough supervision
Of administrative action, for the prompt remedy
OF evils, and for the due provision Of neces-
sary means and measures for guarding the
public interest and promoting the public wei
fare.
The Governor Lsxt handles the "bien.
nial sessions" humbug in the following
mastery manner:
1.-THE existing Constitution authorizes only
biennial sessions except in cases when the Gov.
ernor, upon extraordinary occasions, may deem
himself warranted in specially convening the
Legislature.
Under this provision the whole admi nistra.
tive power Of the State is left for two years in
the hands Of the Executive and Judicial depart.
menls without legislative check or limitation
There can be no Impeachment or removal, dur
ing that period, Of any State officer for an!
cause. however urgent. The Constitutional re
sponsIbility Of State officials, to the immediate
Of the people, is thus, in great
part, practically nullifed. profound writer
has we'll observed that every departure from
annual legislative sessions is an appr0ach
towards irresponsible government aud despot-
ism.
Numerous occasions must necessarily arise,
in State so large as ours, from past Legislative
acts or omissions. as we'll as from various con-
tingences of other descriptions, which in the
aggregate will imperatively require the atten-
tion ofthe Legislature, although no one OF them
constitute such an extraordinary occasion
as will warrant the exercise of The special pow.
er vested in the Governor. Expediency, there.
fore, no less than principle, seems to recommend
annual rather than biennial sessions.
There are some collateral considerations,
not be overlooked.
The present Constitution allows no amend.
ment Of its provisions, except such as may be
ngreed to by three fifths Of the members OF each
House, and by majority Of the electors voting
At the next election for Senators and Repfesen.
tatives. 1t follows that no amendment o! the
Constitution can be made, however unanimous.
y sanctioned by the Legislature or demanded
BY the people, until two years after 1t shall
have been proposed. The substitution Of an.
lual for biennial sessions will necessarily re.
luire annual elections for Senators and Repre-.
and will thus remove this needless
md disparaging restriction upon the exercise Of
he popular sovereignty.
1t so happens, also, that the terms OF the
senators from this State in the Congress OF the
United States, expire during the second years
# the biennial periods. Every election Of SEN.
tor, therefore, while our State Constitution
hall remain unamended, must, under ordinary
take place more than year be-
ore the expiration Of the current term, will by
10 means represent the sentiments or the will
{ the people, when he actually enters upon
he performance Of his official duties.
Those who are accustomed to look 10 the
tate Governments for the maintenance OF State
lights and the security Of personal rights, will
ind another reason for preference OF annual
D bier nial sessions, in the obvious consi1era-
ion that while the sessions Of Congress are an
ual, and those Of the State Legislature are
My biennial, the regards Of the people will be
lore and more absorbed by the former, and less
nd less attracted by the latter. No well wish
7 10 the permanence of American institutions.
ill desire to augment the tendency, already
20 apparent, towards the absorption Of the
tates in centralized and consolidated Federal
government.
The greater expense of annual sessions is
,metimes urged as an argument in favor OF bi.
nnial; and every argument drawn from the i'm.
ortant principle Of public economy, is certain.
entitled to respectful consideration. But
link it may well be affirmed, that, in this in.
ance, the argument from economy is not valid.
Without taking into the account the cost to the
tate Of the mischief arising from the delay of
eeded legislation, it must be remembered that
le accumulation, through two years, of bus
ess demanding the attention Of the General
ssembly, will require protr acted sessions for
y due co sidera.ion. The time needed for
vo annual sessions is not, necessarily, greater
ian that requiled for one biennial session.
he argument from expense, therefore, may be
'adily obvated by a proper limitation Of dura-
on, and the question Of preference may be
:duced to simple choice, irrespective Of ex.
ense, between limited annual sessions, and
nlimted biennial with occasional extra ses.
ons. My own judgment is so thoroughly sat-
ged upon the whole matter, that cannot hes
ate to recommend an amendment Of the Con-
tuition, providing for limited annual sessions.
The remainder Of the Inaugural is de.
otad 10 the discussion Of the Eaderal