The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-03-19
Columbus Correspondence.
COLUMBUS, MARCH l3, 1856.

COLUMBUS, MARCH 13, 1856.
To the Editor of the Spirit of Dcmocracy:'
DEAR SIE:--Thc tidings which this eve
ning's mail viii convey. are truly mournful.
All right minded men became satisfied,
long ago that the present Legislature is
controlled by a few reckless political gam
blers, and therefore nothing advantageous
to the people has, from the first, been
expected at its hands. But it was hoped
that an adjournment would soon take
place, and that we could then see the full
extent of the injury which the people have
sustained at the hands of this unholy
alliance Now, however, this hope has
vanished. Both branches of the Legis-
lature have resolved on an extra session,
Notwithstanding the loud protestations to
the contrary; and who can tell what fur
Their measures they have in store to make
the rich richer and the poor poorer, and
to injure the fair name of our great State?
The adjournment will take place on the
9th of April, and the members will re-as-
semble on the first Monday of January.
1t will be remembered that in the win
ter of 1923, the democrats held an ex-
ira session. But what were the circum-
stances? The new constitution had just
been adopted, and it required the great
body of the Statute law to be remodeled.
The general laws of that extra session
make a volume of more than 500 pages
more than four times as large as the ordina-
ry volume of general laws. But this about
completed the work, and the democratic
Legislature which was elected in Octo-
Der, 1858, met in January following, held
a session but little longer han this session
will last, and adjourned, as the constitu-
ton contemplates, without seriously think
ing of an extra session. | conclude,
therefore, that the extra session now de-
termined on is without a parallel and
without excuse, and no sophistry will
wheedle the people into the notion that
the act ought to be sustained.
But this is not the only odious measure.
After rioting in Cincinnati for several
days, at the peoples expense, they return
and present us a tax law. And such a
law! It's chief objects are, first, to exempt
banks from bearing a just amount of tax
alton, and, secondly, topermiti Indebtedness
to be deducted from moneys and credits,
in listing property for taxation, but pro-
perty. The inevitable result of these
measures will be the increase of taxes in
Monroe County and the poorer counties
generally, while it relieves Hamilton coun-
ty and the rich counties generally! But
Mr.. Kelly, the father of their measures,
was q great admirer Of Daniel Webster,
whose motto was "Take care of the rich,
and the rich will take care of the-poor."
Again, they have a bill to compelforeign-
ers who would become naturalized to
make two trips, with witnesses, to Colum-
bus or Cincinnati. Under such a law the
cost of naturalization will often amount
to more than seyenty-ive dollars, besides
loss of time, &c. This nice morsel of
legislation is not borrowed from the code
of any true republican assembly, is
taken from the acts of that body of royal
arch traitors, the Massachusetts, Know
Nothing Legislature.
Nor is this the only instance of an
attempt OF the part of this General AS
sembly to nullify the laws of Congress.
That bill which pretends to amend the
habeas co,pus law passed the House this
morning. But the sole object of the act
is to set at defiance the fugitive slave law,
and to bring about conflicts between the