Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-04-29
.Retrenchment and Reform"

Tint their ascendency would be the saliva
tion Of the state. That there should be blu,
a two months Session OF the Legislature,
and no extra Session. That smelling Com
mittees" should not be appointment to
squander the peoples money, and that the
Legislature Should not waste its time in dis
cussing the "nigger question" This and
much more of the same sort, was promised
again, and again. They were to be a models
in economy, despatch, and in honesty; no
time to be lost in discussing questions that
did not concern the people, but on the con-
trary the peoples good was to be their only
aim. Well, by such arguments the Demo-
cracy did gain the ascendency, having a
majority in both House OF the Legislature
and what is the RESULT Have they kept .
single promise! Have they reduced the ex-
aences of the State, Have they passed any
single act for which the people will remem-
Der them for good five years to comet Ii
they have done anything of the kind, then
we have yet to bear of it. Let US inquire
what have they done, and compare it with
their many promises. We have first in the
way of retrenchment, an i~ncreace !. the
number of Common Please Judges; Eight
new Judges, at a salary of $500 a year.
This ia nna iram. tho oavf - ~, 100000
of the salaries of the Supreme Judges here
after to be elected to $4,000 a year, $1,000
more than they now receive. They in
creased the salaries of Township Assessors
from $3.50 to $500 per day, making an in
creased expense of some $35,OsO to the
State. They repealed a bill pa ssed by the
preceding Legislature, curtaiiiDg the fees
of county officers, and thereby increased the
expense throughout the State about $780,
coo. They took from the Governor the ap-
pointing power vested in him by the Con-
stitution, and appointed others to attend to
it,. who Of course will be paid for their labor
and thus increase the expense. They paid
the city papers for publishing their proceed
ings.-Gight enough in itself but its the
retrenchment we are after. They were in
session ninety-nine days, and voted by al
most a clean democratic vote to no d an ad-
journed session thereby expanding over
100000 more. To our minds this is Gre
trenchment" with a vengence, and we think
the people will consider that it better de-
serves The name of excessive eEtrauaga nee
The Democracy pretended to have a per-
feet horror of "smelling Committees p
especially when they were smelling out
Democratic d. fficiencies, but what have they
donel Several Committees were appoint
ed during the sitting of the Legislature, and
one to bold its Investigations during the
recess. All these add 10 the increasing
expense. These are a few items that can
be mentioned in the way OF 'retrenchme Mt,
and by examining a little we find their
righteous reforms were of the same char
acter. They opened our jaiIs for the con-
fnement Of fugitives slaves, and said to the
South bring on your blood hounds and make
our state your hunting grounds, we will aid
you in catching and kidnapping slaves. We
will be your royal servants to do ali your
dirty work for you. Cur rights are as moth
ing compared with yours. The question
might be asked, did the people demand this
change! The next re torm measure was
breaking down the guards that protected
our ballot boxes. We do not know a single
act of "reform" to credit them with. The
majority of their actions were governed by
partizan motives. Right and justice were
swallowed up in party prejudice. The first
great aim was the agrandisement OF party
This was shown in taking power from the
Governor,in :he reorganization OF the Public
Works, giving to BAcKUs, as much authority
as both the others together. and in various
other ways that might be men toned.
They , have adjourned and we fee
well rid of them for the present
We regret that we have to be afflicted witt
session next winter and We also regret tina
SO many as six Republicans, saw fit to vote
with the majority to perpetuate the affection
This body has received less praise from .he
press over the State than any Legislative
body we now remember. 1t has not ever
received the praise of its own Press, as the
following will show:
The Dit Vernon Democratic Banner saws
IAN ADJOURNED SEssIOs.-We notice
thst an effort is being made to hold an ad-
jouE9ed session of the Legislature, but for
what purpose is not definitely stated. We
hope The Democratic majority will be guilty
OF no such folly. If the Legislature would
work liitJe more for the people Of Ohio,
anC a little less for the Psople OF Kansas
they would make better progress with the
pub ic business. The Black Republicans
dug their Own political graves by holding an
extra session Hnd appointing various snvll-
ing r"IErnIiI,rs. Il the Democrats in the
Legislature y .sI 10 retire 10 private he,
they nave On ~ fol oW their example,
The NV Lisbcn Patriot, speaking OF the
adjourned sess.nB r,soiuiiUE in the Senate,
Saws.