The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-02-13
From Columbus.
CoLuMpus, o., Feb. 5. 1865

EDS. REcoRD-Ihe old maxim, "that large
bodies move slowly is generally admitted to
be true; the inverse, that slowly loving bod
les are large, has not been so generally ad.
mltted, and il any person will demonstrate
this latter proposition, they will beyond dou5t
prove to the State, what fear will be demon.
strIted IN no other way, to wit thai the pres
ent Legislature is immense-ior it is i'm.
mensely slow in business matters.
Jewett's resolutions in relation to Congress,
generally and particularly, as the House Bill
relating to the Supreme Court of tie United
States, has heen before the House of Repre>
sentatives for four or five days. A greatmany
speeches we're made on both sdes--that is,
old cam paign speeches Of lust fall are being
rehashed and inflicted upon the House.
The Legisature-both Houses, put through
he Joint resolution resembling the action. of
the State, IN relation to the amendment of the
United States Constitution, known as the four
teenth amendment, in about three hours in
spite Of all the opposition that, the minority
| could male-but on tho Jewett resolutions,
ton of the business of the Legislature, have
been, kept before the House four days. How
long they will occupy the time Of the Senate
is to be ascertained hereafter. The Legisla-
ture has been in session about twenty-five
wor ting days and not over ten bills have been
passed. Some bills thaye passed the House
that ha We not yet passed the Senate, but more
have passed the Senate and are awaiting the
action of tn" II ouse.
The Legislature costs the State over one
thousand dollars PER day-of course, the peo.
plelike buncombe speeches at the price they
cost, when made by Legislators. 1tlooks like
retrenching, to spend four or five thousand
dollars in discussing joint resolution which
effects nothing when passed.
There are some matters before the Legislas
ture of interest to the people. The very in
teresting question of interest comes up in the
Senate next. Wednesday. The probabilities are
that the legal rate of interest will remain at
six per cent. in absence of contract-but it is
equally probable that the law will be changed
so tnat parties may stpulate for rate OF per
cent. rs high as ten per annum. The road
law will be so changed as to provide supervi>
sors.
The law restraining stock from running at
large will not be repealed. The law for the
protection ofisheep from "dog slaughter"
will be amended. the protection bill will be
extended 10 goats and other animals, and the
law will pro badly be made more unlrienaly to
the canine race. If 1t passes as reported, it
will tend to the annihlation of that faithful
friend of man, but when we look al the sta
tisties and see the amount Of properly annu-
ally destroyed by irresponsible dogs harbored
by worthless persons, we cannot object to
legislation unfriendly to ours. ....
An effort is being made to repeal the law of
last winter, which admits persons charged
with crimes to testify, but IS somewhat doubt,
full whether it will be repealed. Some of the
best lawyers in the Legislat nre feel that ono
yearis not sufficient time to test such guess
ton. Some who would not have voted for the
original bill, feel that as much as it is on the
statute books, it had better remain for time
sufficient to test its merits. 1t is not long
since we stepped in advance of the old law
enough to allow persons to testify who had on
interest in the event of the suit-even in civil
actions. Many persons thought we wero of
iering premium for perjury IL that change
yet the men who would vote in this day to re-
peal that law would be considered unfit for
representative OF the people.
Asenes Of bills are pending in the Senate,
which if passed Will change in part and de-
fine more clearly sthe duties of Auditors and
Treasurers as we'll as Assessors, Land Ap,
prasers, &c. The object of the series OF bills
is to render more perfect system Of ta1ss
ton.
+ Tetitions are being sent In from all parts of
the State on various matters connected with
Common Schools. Quite o number in relation
to the matter Of County superindents. On
this last point something may be made which
will be of benefit to our present system. But
suppose You have enough of this. II our
people wishto express their ideas on any of
these points or other matters, any memorials
or petitions will be duly presented, or If l
should be allowed to come home TO my pris
yate business they will be turned over to my
successor, Mr.. Onderdonk. BY the by, the con.
test ease drags its slow length along like the
wounded serpent which Pope rendered ms
mortal have almost ceased TO think or care
about it. Yours ~ H.,C.J. Il