American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17

ca community. Inc OeSl plactlcaoie cur
rency. in my judgment, would he a cur
rency of coin, admitting the use Of large
notes only, fdr the convenience of com
merce. Such a currency, however, is on
~ attainable through the Legislation OF
Congress, and the action of the General
Government. Connected rs we are on all
sides with States in which banks of circu-
laiion ara established, our actual currency.
in the absence of adequate banking capital
within our limits, must necessarily he sup
piled, in a great measure, by institutions
beyond our control and exempt from our
taxation. Allattempts TO exclude, by pen
al legislation, the bank notes OF other States
from circulation IN this have proved inef-
%fectual; and the public sentiment demands
an increase OF banking capital, organized
under our own laws. c%onuihnling in Just
measure, to our own revenues, and sulli-
cient to furnish tho necessary facilities for
The Transaction OF business. Tie Consii-
oil tie Stale initiates the mode in
which this demand may be satisfied. 1t
provides for authorizing associations with
banking powers, by actof General Assem-
bly,. 10 he submitted to III. people AT the
next general election, and not to take effect,
unless approved by a majority of all the
voters. In framing such an act. should
you deem i! expedicnt 10 exercise the pow
Ell thus vested in you. the utmost care
should be used 10 secure the prompt and
I%cerlain conyerlibiliIy Of every note issued,
into gold or silver coin, upon demand Of
the holder; TO pro'ect the community a
sainst all abuses OF granted powers; aud to
guard agains, the evils Of monopoly by
extending the benefits of tie act to all who
viii give the ample securiji les and guaran-
les wlih You will, doubtless, require
No general objection exists TO Il mixed cur
rency of coin an! notes cx3hangoable for
coin at the will OF the holder without loss,
while all mere paper money systems preg-
nant with f,aud and fruitful OF ruin, Justly
incur universal r~cprobaiion.
For s'yerai years pUsttho law has allowed contracts
for interest," at tho rata often per centnm. There
s3emst1 be ne valid ieuson Why the capitalist should
bt en'o1rsged to demand 50 larso n portion Of the
earnings OF the producer and the profits ofihc manu-
fActursr aud ths mnrchart. | therefore respectfully
suggest a material reduction ofihe maximum ratio al
lowed.
need not commend to your JuGicinus cGnsidera.
ton tho Educational aud litncN client Institutions Gf
The state. Universal Education is our cheapest de-
fence, aud surcst safeguard, aud most eHduTng veal b.
Our common schools, which secure 10 he people this
great benefit, are hriHly established intheir affections,
and will iustIy claim The fostering care of their rem
resentativcs our benevolent Institutions are a no.
blo complement 10 our educational system. lheiTeN-
ist"ncc hoGOrsth9 state, aud cyey patriotic citizen
must feel u deep Interest in heir Improvement and
prosperity. The duty of the State will not be fully
performed until tho benefits OF these institutions shall
10 eAterdod IN all, without distinction, who need
their care.
The organilation and discipline Of the Militia will
require your carly consideration. The laws on this
sulgcot need thorough revision to adapt them 10 the
roqlirsmsnts Otths Constitution. Adequate pruvis-
lon shoald he made for the enrolment Of all citizens
liablo to military duty, in order 10 secure to the State
hscdue proportion oftho public arms. No necessity
hSweycr, ssemsto demand actual service from any
Who do not feeI disposed 10 perform 1t. Efficiency
aud energy will probably be better secured by The jm-
dicious encouragement of voluntary oTgantzHtion,-
The patriotism ofimdlvidualc citizens, properly sane
toned and supported by legislation, will doubtless
supply u military force fully competent "a all tho ex-
igsicies Of police, and to w~htteyor more serious con-
tihecncios may possibly arise.
Tho Constitution OF the state provides FOR It's own
amendments, and assigns 10 the Legislature the duty
ofproposlng such mod %nchiions as experience rug
gtsts. Changes Ia the fundamental. law should even
be mado with canton; hit amendments which com
mend Themselves by their intrinsic merits 10 the Judg'
mont of tho legislature, and ssom to be demanded
also by 4 genera opinion among the people, have q
Just claim 10 be submitted 10 1ho final test Of popular
decision atlhe polls.
sr 10 tho fUndhnentht principle OF Democratic insiitu'
tons. To secure Il true and complete expression Of
thh pOpDlar hill must therefore be n lChNliE ODJcCL IL
every system "t representative government. AnC
this object cannot be attained unless representation
bs 50 apportiuHed among tho diilersHt parts ola stat,
ne 70 give IL each Its just " eight IN legislation and nd
minlstratlon. IL Is obvious that there can DO no com
plo!e expression OF the popular viii, unless The rep
fos1ntatlvo DO broughttntp the closest possible rola
tons Of tn pathy aud responsibility with hiScOnslilu
eHts; aud shat there can he no just apPoriionmen
where the representation 81 dnS part of the State ia sc
arranged ns TO give to iti delegation IN the Legislature
II ereatar share ofpolitcal over Than - given to the
delegations orothor parts Of equal population.
IL MN Nal ba aIautAI lluI n mniInTn AZ n
single districts will best secure a proper choice of rep
re,ontaiiye,' nEd their duo rssspC,9sibilisy to Mo PEG
pie, and a fair distribution Of p"liticrl power.
Where ono representative is chosen Ia
represent one district there will neccssaTi-
ly DO the most careful scrutiny u qualiica.
lion; the least liability 10 misin(ormalioI
and mistake; the closest sympathy in opin.
) ion and purpose; tho most visilsnt Cbserva
) ton Of representative action; and the live
Hest sense Of representative responsibility
( " here more representatives than ono are
chosen from the same district, all these Sc
c%uri.ies are sonsiLly impaired. Opportuni-
iy is afforded for unwArantaD)e combina-
ion among aspiran;s and their pariizans;
the people arc disabled from informing
themselves thoroughly rs to the character
and qualifications Of candidates; and The
) decisions Of the majority of a delegation,
! conformod 10 the interests of party, are
apt to be substituted. as guides Of repre-.
; sentative action, for the will Of cousIitnen.
cy, determined by a true regard for the in.
, tsrcst Of the people.
In tho Convention which framed on
present State Constitution, the subject o
| representation was much discussed. BY
many Of the most enlightened and most re
spotted members Of that body, of all par
tics, the division Of the State into singh
i districts for the choice of Senators anC
Representatives was earnestly defende,
q and %strenuously urged. A majority o
J the Convention, however, preferred and a
doptod the existing system.
= 1t will hardly be insisted chat this sys
tenn has proved satisfactory to the pso
Il PIE,
lis founded upon no consistent princi
pie. In much the largest part of tho Stat
= it establishes single districts; while it ere
atcs dual and plural districts in the remain
5 ing parts. For the choice Of Senators, tn,
r whole State is divided into single district
n except Hamilton county. That county i
made n plural district, with three Senators
. For tho choice of Representatives, fft,
d counties are arranged MS single districts o
y one or more counties each; 80 counties ar
e made single districts for some L dual dir,rict
~ c,r rtkar arrae.ni.t;, l,,o.. f.,, oo,o