The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-06-22
Annual Sessions ana Annual Elections.

annual D6b8lUnb buu AHuuai 1iSotionS-
Our readers viii have noticed in our coll
umns, the amendment to our State Constitu-
tion. proposed by the last Legislature provid-
ing for annual sessions, but refusing the
piivi'edge of annual elections
The people who will be called upon to vote
for, or against this amendment, at the October
election, must look well to this amendment.
Annual sessions we are in favor of-this
wBs plank, inserted in the Platform, by the
first Republican State convention in Ohio.
held in 1854 But the Republicans are, also,
10 favor Of annuol elections The people have
asked for annual elections. but, the Democrat
ic Legislature of last winter proposed to give
the one ard to withhold the other. It becomes
the people of Ohio. to vote down this pro-
posed amendment of the Constitution, on
the ground that annual elections and annual
ses. ions should go together.
If we have an annual session of tie Legis-
lature, let Us have Representatives fresh rom
the people. If the people are to govern, if
power emenates from them, It is important
tHht VIC pCOpiS hOOP tuOti iOptOSout1tiNO
agents as near themselves as possible.
1t Is to be hoped that the people viii over
wbelmipgIy defeat this proposed amendment.
We subjoin the following remarks on this
poiut, from the Ohio State Journal, as wor-
thu of consideration
. Where Annual Elections End. Tyranny Be-
- gins Thomas Jefferson.
- r.
the people of Ohio are to vote on PROPOSE
tiop, presented to them by the last legislature,
to amend the constitution of the State so as
to provide for annual sessions of the legisla
ture, and for restricting themselves to an
election of representatives once in two years.
This is the method which democracy, always
wa-ring against popular rights. takes to re.
strict the right of Suffrage 10 Ohio, For this
purpose it seeks to divert public attention
from this partial disfranchisement of the whole
people, native as well as naturalized citizens,
in this State, by its vociferous virtue over the
proposed two years amendment, TO the con-
stitition of Massachusetts,
If to extend the residence of naturalizedl
citizens two years before allowing them to vote,
is the outrage which they proclaim it to be.
what is the nature of this proposed amend
ment, which restricts the elective franchises of
the entire people to two years intervals -
The naturalized citizen of Massachusetts, will
be excluded from the privilege of an elector1
for two years longer than the Constitution of
the United States provides. This we regard
as wrong but the whole people of Ohio. if
democracy should happen to carry the next
election, will be restricted to the partial and
occasional exercise of their suffrages; and
their representatives viii be relieved from that
;lirect responsibility to the people which was
.he principle on which our institutions were
founded.
This was the result of legislature which
owed it's election to an unjust apportionment; !;
which was notoriously hostile to the sentiment
of a majority of the people; and it was accom-.
plished at an extra session to which the legis
iature was not elected sand which under these
circumstances was nothing but bold usurpa
ton of power, in defiance of well ascertained
popular sentiment IF democracy succeeds in
cutting down the right of suffrage one half,
low long will it be before the whole will be
cut Of
1t will be, well for the people to look to this
matter Power is constantly cumulative its
tendency is constantly toward Capitalization
it is nowhere safe except in the hands of the
people. Democracy is calling loudly for more
central power. It would ere this. if not KEPT
in check BY powerful and growing opposi
tion, have made despot of the President by
o wing him the entire control of the nationa
army and navy and OF thirty millions out o
The treasury for secret service money. It ev
erywhere treats popular Suffrage with contemp
VIXEN it comes in the wav of party schemes.
The party that can deliberately propose tc
;trict the exercises of popular suffrage te
il: rivals of two years, willnot hesitate when
ec~. 4 G.
1t an interval that will suit its purposes still
etter. The party that has sustained the i'm
;ition of foreign government on the peo
',ls of Kansas by invasion and fraudulent
ction returns, will not hesitate to dsifran
hise the people of a State whenever it can bt
ole under color of law.
Annual elections are necessary to the di
let responsibility of the representative to th,
se.eopie. They belong to our Institutions
II the reasons offered.for taking this righ
om the people will apply equally we'll to tn
ench, method of exhausting the power q
people at one effort by the election of al
!. nperor. That is what democracy woul
ring Us TO. The party that has sustaine
= q President SO far in his destruction Of in
nstitntion would be found equally servil
,ould he seize by a,coap detat the power h
iready has the assurance to ask and ths
nd of democracy that now openly advocate
necessity for putting the representati,
owe popular control for two sessions. in o
lir to create wisdom higher than that ii
neople might elect, cannot consistently sto
ort of elections for life, which would on
tend the benefits of its principles; its pr,
und reverence and admiration for tie III
'fnure of judges of the Supreme Court, an
'e vastly greater sanctiiy it ascribes to a i
ciary existing independent of the peopl
yer that of the popular choice. show plain
.e tendency of modern democracy.
Gs- JoHN G.. SAKE, the Poet, has be,
!, animated hv the Verrnnnt nnmnnranu g