The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-01-26

be agreed to By three tiths of the mambres of
each house, and by majority of the cleo
tors voting at the next election for senators
and representatives. 1t follows that no
amendment of the constitution can be made,
however unanimously sanctioned By the leg
islature or demanded by the people, until
two years after it shall have been proposed.
The substitution of annual for biennial ses-
sions will necessarialy require annual cleo
tions for senators and representatives, and
will thus remove this needless and dispara-
lying restriction upon the exercise of the pop
lular sovereignty.
1t so happens, also, that the terms Of sen
ators from this state in the congress of tn.
United States, expire during the second years
Of the biennial periods. Every election Of
senator, therefore, while our state constitu-
ton shall remain unamended, must, under
ordinary circumstances, take place more than
a year before the expiration Of the current
term, and nearly two years before the sena-
tor elect will take his seat. 1t may some
times occur that senator thus chosen, so
| long in advance of the commencement OF
his term, will by no means represent the SEN
timents or the will of the people, when he
actually enters upon the performance of his
official duties.
Those who are accustomed to look TO the
state governments for the maintenance of
state rights and the security Of personal
right, will find another reason for pref
erence Of annual to biennial sessions, in
the obvious consideration that while the scs-
i siOnS Of congress are annual, end those OF
the state legislature are only biennial, the re-
CARDS of the people will be more and more
absorbed BY the former, and less and less at
tracted by the latter. No we'll wisher to the
permanence Of American institutions, will
desire to augment the tendency, already too
apparent, towards the absorption OF the
states in centralized and consolidated fed
eral government.
The greater expense Of annual sessions is
some times urged as an argument in favor OF
biennial; and every argument drawn from
: the important principle of public economy,
is certainly entitled to respectful considera
ton. But | think it may well be affirmed
that, in this instance, the argument from
econOmy is not valid. Without taking in
to the account the cost to the state of tho
mischief arising from the delay of needed leg
: lslaton, it must be remembered that the &C
Cunulation, through two years, Of business
demanding the attention of the general as
|; sembIy, viii require protracted sessions for
, its due consideration. The time needed for
Y two annual sessions is not, necessarily, grea
ter than that required for one biennial seS-
sion. The argument from expense, therefore,
may BE- readily obviated by proper limita-
, ton of duration, and the question Of pref
erenco may BE- reduced to simple choice,
k irrespective Of Gx p1nSa, batWeen limited an
nual sessions, and Unlimited biennial, with
Y occasional extra sessions. Ny own Judgment
. is so thoroughly satisfied upon the Who'll,
t. matter, that / cannot hesitate to recommend
f an am ndment Of the constitution, prov-
y ding for limited annual sessions.
Your first and most earnest attention, gen.
T. tlenen, will doubtless be directed 10 the i'm
= portant matters within the immediate sphere
of your Legislative powers; but you cannot
u forget that you represent sovereign state 0!
G the American Union, third Of the thirty one
S in wealth and power and population, anl