Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-02-18
Columbus Correspondence.
CoLuNpus. Feb. I2th. IL

fe0. l2th, 1857.
Dear Chronicle A bill has been in.
troduced into the Senate, and one also
into the House, (bOth by Democrats
the object of which is 10 prevent any
citizen, having one drop of African blood
in his veins, from voting at any election
in this Stale, and furnishing the offence
with Imprisonment and fine.
Your readers may see in this proceed
ing, how deep, and @fervent, is the anx-
iety Of the Democracy, to secure to every
body the right to vote-prorided ~al,Oays,
the ancestors of said voter, however re-
mote, had not been of African descent.
l need not add that there is no probabil-
lily OF any thing more being done in the
premises, than 10 get these friends of IN
usual suffrage on to the record, on The
fual vote.
The developments made by the Com
mittee, to examine into the affairs of The
Public Works, has already produced the
introduction of Mr.. Blair's bill, deelar-
ing several of the contracts void, in con
sequence of frauds; and legislation is all
that is now needed 10 rid the State of
these enormous frauds upon the Treas
ury. 1t is hoped that such legislation
will be had as soon as il can be fairly
matured.
The Standing Committee on Common
Schools, has reported a school bill Of
twelve sections, and the bill is now I'M
der discussion. 1t provides for such
changes as are needed in the estimation
of the Committee, but does not radically
change the law GOV in force. The
prominent features of the bill may be
stated as follows:
Vacancies occurring in the board of
local directors, IA be filed by the ap-
pointment CT the township clerk, but
only till the next annual election.
Reports of the township board TO the
County Auditor, are TO be made on, or
before the first day of October, instead
Of the third Monday as before; and the
meeting of the board is 10 be on the
second Monday of September.
Township Boards of Education can
keep the books and apparatus appertain-
ing to the library, in one or more places
in the township, as circumstances may
require.
The power of taxation is restricted, to
two mills on the dollar valuation, unless
the question is first submitted to a vote
of the people.
The time necessary to keep up a
school. is reduced 10 six, instead of seven
months as now required.
The School Commissioner is no. per-
mitted to make any purchase of books
for the Library, without the advice and
consent of the Governor. Auditor of
State, and State Librarian.
Provision is also made enabling town
ship boards to so distribute the funds as
to enable weak districts to keep up good
schools as long as larger ones.
What disposition will be made of the
school question is not certain. as a good
deal of opposition exists to the report.
The Democracy, in and about the
Capital, are exceedingly hard 10 please
with anything the Republicans can do,
or refuse 70 do. When the session COM
menced, the complaint was that the
Legislature lacked nerve TO do anything;
but as the session advances, and the well
directed blows Of honest Legislation begin
to fall upon the rotten acts of those whom
the people have so justly hurled from
their seats of power. the complaint is
Just as loud that too much is being done.