The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-01-16
Nort5 yolua Gin|es.
A. p. RICHARDSON. Editor
Nc Gregor, Iosca, Friday, Jan. Is, 1857.
EF CORES OF THE TIMES, with OF
without wrappers, can be had at this office
THE CONVENTION,


without wrappers, can be had at this office
TIE CONVENTION.
The Express g. Herald is in favor Of
allowing every organized county Repre-
sentative or Senator. 1t is also arguing
the propriety of having one Legislative
Body only.
We have read the arguments IN advo-
cacy of these schemes. and up to this
time we are unable to approve the plans or
express admiration for the logic by
which they are sustained AS neither of
the suggestions is likely to occupy the
time Of the Convention, it is useless to
mention them only for condemnation
They have not the merit of novelty. hav-
ing been urged upon public attention,
years ago, in this state. Nota point is made
against the Two.House mode of Legisla-
ton that would notapply with double force
against the One House system. If cor
ruptiou exists now when one branch may
De check upon. the other, representing
different constituencies and elected at diff
terent periods, how much more likely vii
lainy would be to succeed where no check
exists. If popular passion is obliged to
compromise with the conservative ele-
ment that is now retained in one half the
Senate, where would be the security of
the thinking minority, had the Represen-
tatives Oft one-idea excitement full swing
IN their follies. If one body is safer than
two, why is not one man. like Louis Ma
poison, safer than such President as ours
surrounded as his power is, with checks
ev1y side. We think our present form
OF Legislation as good as can be made.
The Senate is elected by Aalycs and if a
wild hurrah sends up representatives and
ho!t Senate boiling over with abstract
fancies with which they would curse the
State, the "hold-over," and in some res
poets, irresponsible moiety of the Senate,
can put gentle curb upon extravaganza
by refusing acquicscence. The veto
power is as necessary to the practical
working Of the American system. as breaks
are to the safe running of our Rail Road
Trains. Checks and balances are MOI
, more necessary to machinery. than they
are to the proper working of our politica
engine. If one body refuses to act with
the other. it is an easy matter for the peo
pie to remain of one opinion until botl
! bodies are of the same political complex
ION. The country would lose less by de-
! Wy in the passage of desirable law
than it would by the hasty and inconside
rate enactment'of crudities that wouls
hardly be printed before reflection woulc
/ demand their repeal. Division of Power
r is the balance-wheel Of a Democratic Gov
0 eminent.
The plan Of allowinga Representative
. to every county is not right in any sense
]. In the American Government we have NJ
$ Representatives Of Territory" as tn,
; Express 4 Herald suggests. The Ma
|, tional Senator's represent State Sever
eighty, but counties bear no such relation
! to the State Government as States do t.
the National. Counties are not indepen
denotes, and until they are populated, tn,
! inhabitants can not suffer from the effectl
of laws made by the representations o
, population. A county may be organized
with less than SO voters. Is it right tha
,, roll of half hundred should weigh as
, much in settling rules of action for the
people, as county like Dubuque. with ,
+ population of zventy thousand! This
proposal may be liberal to minorities bu,
it's favor we never would ask, and We
are quite sure we would not grant it.
II We might as well insist that the Terri.
, tories be admitted into the Union as States
Immediately upon their organization as
Territories.
Briefly. this is the light we view these
suggestions in. AS long articles arc
scarcely ever read we stop here.
, Gutenberg.
II We find the fnllow;rp oooornt of a. .