The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-03-13
Correspondence.
LETTER FROM COLUMBUS.
CoLunggs, O, March 9th. 1868.

CoLuMBUs, o., March 9th, 1868.
DEAR JOURNAL - The weather here is
Gear, warm and delightful. Snow has dis
appeared, frost chiefly out of the ground,
and everything enve'eped 10 the glory Of a
brilliant sunshine, .r's,sse
The General Assembly worked well last
week. Oa Friday last much larger num-
Der of bills than usual, for one day, were
finally acted on in the Senate. The road
law was the most prominent of these, and
elic ted the most discussion. This bill oriei
mated in the House of Representatives, and
was passed there some days previously. Be-
iug of great interest, deem some mention
of it proper. a~a-
Great earnestncss was manifested on both
sides ia the discussion of the bill. 1t was
not party measure in any sense Of the
term; but several Senators sincerely be-
ljeved that the law CT last session should
stand for trial another ycag notgithstand-
ing the popular demand for its repeal On
the ether side, Senator's were convinced that
their constituencies demanded its immedi-
ate repeal, and the Reinstatement Of the
former system, which districted the town
ships and permitted the people to work out
their road taxes under supervisors. After
some amendments the bill finally passed
the Senate by VOC of 90 for, aud IL
against it. The House of Representatives
promptly corcurred in the amendments,
and by JOINT resolution Eve thousand copies
of it were ordered to be printed Tor immedi
ate distribution. 1 will send copy of 1t
to you as soou as it can be obtained. The
most prominent and forcible objection to the
passage of this law was the charge that
heretofore, under the like system, supervi-
sOrs were negligent of duty, aad too often
corrupt in giving road receipts when made
quate labor, or none at all, had been per-
formed. This is not the fault of The system,
but in the execution of it. No doubt the
charge is true to some. extent, and this fact
| should induce close watchlulness over the
! conduct of ell supervisors, and the election
! of none but honest men to the office. Then
let the people who wish good roads look
sharply after their supervisors -,r.
Township trustees are authorized and re-
quired by the law just passed to district
their respective townships into road districts
on or before the first M6nGay.of this month,
and after that changes of districts may be
made at their annual meetings in March.
This law differs from the Old law in some
particulars which it may be well to mention:
Supervisors are required to give such bond
and security as the trustees may require |;
allows them two dollars day compensation
while actually employed, and provides that
all road taxes not worked oRt shall be ex
pended at the discretion of the trustees on
the roads without reference 10 or regard for
any particular district In This last particu-
lar it preserves the features Of the law of
| 1867. .fr- .aN -a
The contested election case between Col
Jones (Union) aud 0pderdoak (Dem.) of
Viuton county, is the special order for to-
day. II, men having visible admixture of
African but preppnderance of white blood
are counted, then Jones is entitled to his
seat. If they are excluded, then Onderdonk
has it. The maj j,rity (being Democratic of
course) 61thc com nlittee have determined to
overthrow the construction Of our Constitu-
ton, given by the Supreme Court, and give
the seat to Onderdonk. Whether all the
] Democrats of the Senate will dare TO take the
bold step, and put the party in open defiance
of the Constitution aud Court, remains to
| be seen. \ GU VII hear more OF this soon.
t-+t" H,iiA SASpUsKY