The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-23

tricts, is prejudieial to the interests OF
the more populous counties themselves.
Its necessary tendency is to excite jeal-
ousies in portious Of the State against
other portions, which must prove hurtful
It fails, also, to secure in the plural dis
tricts, satisfactory representation of
the various interests and sentiments of
the people. In the county of Hamilton.
for example, the political minority, how
ever considerable and respectable, can
hare no adequate representation. Town
ships and Wards, with populations
which, with a system of single districts,
would cntitle them to separate Repre-
sentatives, are liable to have their polit-
ical interests and views overlooked and
disregarded under The pressure of polit-
ical exigencies. Constituents cannot
we'll know theirrepresentatives, and ,ep-
resentatives are absolvcd, in great meas
ure, from their individual responsible
ties TO their constituents. The demands
of the people, under such circumstances,
will necessarily be subordinate to the
demands of political organizations, and
the public good must often yield to par
ty necessities.
That system of single districts will
prove an absolute remedy for these po-
litical evils, no one, perhaps, will ven-
ture to expect. I am fully persuaded,
however, that it would secure much
more perfect popular representation
than we have at present, and there
fore recommend that an amendment to
the Constitution providing such q sys-
tenn be submitted to the people for their
adoption or rejection.
While the true principles of popular
government thus require the most COM
plete and perfect representation of the
people which is attainable, they require
also, no less imperatively, frequent
meetings of the representative Legisla-
tufe, for the thorough supervision of
administrative action, for the prompt
remedy of evils, and for the due provis-
ion of necessary means and measures for
guarding the public interest and pro-
noting the public welfare.
The existing Constitution authorizes
only biennial sessions, except in cases
when the Governor, upon extraordina-
ry occasions, may deem himself warran.
ted in specially convening the Legisla-
ture.
? Under this provision the whole ad-
ministrative power of the State is left
for two years in the hands of the Exec
utiye and Judicial departments without
legislative check or limitation There
can be no impeachment or removal, du-
ring that period, of any State officer
for any cause, however urgent. The
Constitutional responsibility of State
officials, to the immediate representa-
tives of the people, is thus, in great
part, practically nulliied. A profound
writer has we'll observed that every de-
parture from annual legislative sessions
is an approach towards irresponsible
government and despotism.
Numerous ocea sions must necessarily
arise, in State SO large as ours, from
past legislative acts or omissions, as
we'll as from various contingencies of
other descriptions, which, in the aggre-
gate, will imperatively require the at
tention of the Legislature, although no
one of them may constitute such an ex.
traordinary occasion as will warrant the
exercise of the special power vested in
tha Governor. Expediency. therefore,
no less than principle, seems to recon-
mend annual, rather than biennial ses-
sions
There are some collateral considera.
tions, tending to the same conclusion,
which should not be overlooked.
The present Constitution allows no
amendment of its provisions, except
such as may be agreed to by three-6fths
of the members oe each House, and by
q majority of the electors voting at the
next election of Senators and RepreseH.
tatives. It follows that no amendment
of the Constitution car be made, howev.
er unanimously sanctioned by the Leg.
islature or demanded by the people, IN.
til two years after it shall have been
proposed. The substitution Of annual
for biennial sessions will necessarily re.
quire annual elections for Senators and
Representatives, and will thus remove
this needless and disparaging restriction
upon the exercises Of popular sovereign.
~.
It so happens, also, that the terms Of
Senators from this State y the Con-
gress Of the United States, expire du-
ring the second years Of the biennial
periods. Every election Of Senator.
therefore, while our State Constitution
shall remain unamended, must, under
ordinary circumstances, take place more
than year before the expiration Of the
current term, and nearly two years be.
fore the Senator elect will take his seat.
y may saPstimee occur that Senator
thus chosen, SO long in advance Of the
commencement of his term. will by nc
means represent the sentiments or the
will of the people. when be actually ep,
tiers upon the performance Of bis official
duties. 80 90