Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-15

Il The inadequscy of juai, ial eoupsnsatioi
Is much complained OF. High sslsries srs
inconsistent with the true idea of republi-
can government: but fair rewards for skill.
ed labor are due for public as well as for
private service. Perhaps the best test OF
n proper compensation is the disposition Of
Z thoroughly competent persons to take ard
hold Office at the compensation allowed
: Tried by this test it must be admitted that
, the salaries Of the Supreme Judges, and, in
L some parts Of the State of Common Pleas
Judges, areinsufficient. Learned and able
2 Judges of the Supreme Court have resigned
their places because unable to serve for the
= -compensation allowed; and in some OF the
. Counties 1t is impossible to induce men Of
large experience, learing and requirement.
to accept judicial positions. In considering
this subject it may be well to renemberithat
the whole amount Of the salaries of all the
Judges of the Supreme Court and common
Pleas Courts, in less than the ann osl cost Of
the three Lunatic Asylums.
Alleged abuses of the elsctive franchise
will probably claim your attention The right
Of suffrsge is sacred II 10 the right 10 vote
| which makes The citizen sovereign. Ii 10
the right which of all political rights is 10
be most scrupulously guarded and most rs-
solutely defended. Every citizen. native or
naluralized, is entitled to the most absolute
lreedom and security in the exercise of il.
Frauds upon this right merit the sevsrsst
reprobation; for the fraudulent voter cheats
the people Of their rishtful control Of their
own affairs. Every suitable measure for
the prevention of such frauds will deserve
your earnest attention. 1t will only be need.
iul to beware, lest the proposed remedy Ur
ore class of evils, become the source Of
o :hers still more grieyous.
| The subject OF amendments Of the Sta's
Constitution must necessarily come under
your consideration at the present session -
Upon former occasion submitted 10 you
my views in favor of amendments provid.
ing for an impartial distribution Of political
power among all portions Of the State and
for the adequate representation Of every in
terest, by Single Districts and securing
effective supervision over every department,
of administration and a ready adsPtisn Of !
legislation to the wants nd wishes Of the
people, Oy hnnuai Oes5loH5s
Much dissatisfsction is expressed with the
constitutional rganizat ion of the Jud.sisry,
and particularly with the system Of Dis
trict Courts. Some relief frsm the incon.
veniences complained Of may be gained By
repeating the legislstIvs provisions sor jury
trials in the District Courts, asd by reiie,.
ing them from holding more annual terms
tE. fba al,
Whether for the present the evils OF the
existing system shall be rsdressed a. far as
possible by these or other eIpedients, or IN
attempt sshall be .Inscs to etfec ia ms.s
radical cure through an sNenGnent Of the
Constitution. submit, respectfully, to Jour
better Judgment
O,her iamendmcnts Of the Constitutios
may, doubtless. be made with advantage. I
suggest only those whish seem to be most
essential, and most generally demanded By
the public sentiment
The internal concerns and interests Of
the State will chiey engage your deiibera-
tioHs: but its relations 10 the Nzrional Gov
ernmenl, and t. the other meu,bers Of the
essDss be .shoss.her diGs-
garded.
Having surrer dersd 10 the Federal Gsy.
ernment, anon! other great prerosstives,
the imporian, powers of naints:sing an
Army and Navy, and of raising revenue BY
duties on in 1srIs, it becomes the duty ~
the States ~ obsetvs It's ls ioa x.sa stea
jealous yigiisncs.
The tendency to was,eful exna.assnss
TO Capitalization OF pJTer. which alafn nsd
the fears OF the early patriots, has, of late
years, become more and more conspicuous.
Enormous revenues Contributed by the pss-
pie, almost unconsciously, in the form Of
enhanced pr.ces, foster in the National
LesiS l.;ure a contempt of economy, and en-
courage combinations Tor the piilage Of the
Treasury under dsiusiYs pretrzts Of public
good.
Ohio, paying one- tenth Of these contribs-
tions, has substantial interest in these
matters, which should Eos bs overlooked;
eral Assembly should give expression to hsr
demand for reIrenrhment and reform, and
Tor d reduction OF revenue the only sufficient
security Tor both.
immediately alter the close Of your lsts
'es.ion,in conformity with your Instructions.
trans.aitt-d to the Governor Of each Stats
A copy OF Joint Resolutions OF the General
Assembly relative to Kansas Affairs. The
vi Mississippi has returned tho
;opy tansnit ed to him, ia pursuance, as he
states, 0t the requirements Of q Joint Reso.
ution of the Legislature OF that State, Of
which Ire transmits copy. l submit his
TO your con.ile.at,sn with
,ut Comment.
The relations Of tbs Na,ionsl Govern.
neut 10 Slavery, sill engr0ss q hrgs share
II The puoiic attention, bat have Little to
ldd To the considered views watch hays
already expfe..ed.
That Slavery Is tconsrary to rsason and
natural justice; thai It Is of such nature
hat noInin. short o. positive law can ss-
lain 1t; that uo power 10 enact such laws
las been granted to ths National GOySrn-
nent; and that Slavery, therefore. outside
II Slave States, can have no valid legal
sanction, seem - ne ineonuoVertible pro-
,Js itiOaS.
Tne original policy Of ths eoun,ry was
n harmony with these IDEAS. IL conlem-
,Ialed the exclusion OF !ayery from Ma
iJnal Territories; the exert on OF the g
Ultimate influence of the Gs.sral GoYerl-
nent on the side of Freedom; and sths
me Iteration aud Snal eradication OF the
.reat evil by the action of The State Cow
without Intervention Or in;eIfsr.-
erence BY National Legislation.
The abolition Of SisYery,"-said Mr.
ettsrsOn. al the commencement of the
leYG lutionary strugge--"is the greatest
blect of desire in these coloaies" alt is the
ride aud toast vi Ansfita, ,"--s4id Nr.
lad .sOn, speaking at the close ot the war
n behalf vi tn. American Coasfess--"that
hs rights iJr which shs conteaded wers