The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-05-14
ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLA-
TURE.

The Cleveland Leader closes uI
an article on the above subject in 6
manner which we think will meet the
views of every unprejudiced observ
er of the legislation of the past two
winters. This body convened with
flourish of trumpets about "econo.
my, retrenchment, REFORM" &c, and
after spending more money than any
of its predecessors, it has adjourned
without accomplishing much that is
deserving of praise. 1t has simply
thrown away glorious opportunity
for wiping away a portion of the
odlum which the history of the
past ten years has fastened upon that
party. 1t will be some time before
the party will have another chance
one-half as good as the one they have
permitted to pass away unimproved
But listen to our neighbor of the
Leader:
And thislegislature has done much
sad worA-violent partisan work,
hasty and ILL considered work, mer-
and purchased work. Nine
tenths of the practical Legislation
accomplished was the result of the
labor and experience and talent of
the Republican members. For all
this ptaclical legislation we are will
ng to make acknowledgement. The
code law is on the whole q
good piece of legislation, although
marred by some imperfsctions, part
" partisan and partly the result OF
hasty action, which we hope the new
will waste no time in cor
recting. The interest law also rec
ognizes q state of facts which de
the action taken. The free
law is great benefit to our
tate, and will give our travelling
public added accommodations. We
1--WE the legislature, also, some small
hanks for having failed to pass the
A Agricultural College bill and some
,ther lesser pieces of bad legislation.
But when we come to look at the
,ther side OF the picture, we have
.oom for long indictment against
he past Assembly. Its action, from
irst to last, has been that OF fierce
y and blindly partisan body, deter
nined at all hazards and against all
risks to advance the interests of its
party organization. The election of
asst fall taught it something, and
turing the present session it has
been more csutious and moderate,
,ut never, from its opening to its
closing day, has it forgot Its first and
,nly allegiance to party, and put
,arty above the state on every pos
ible occasion. Spurred by this idea
he Legislature has been guilty of
ONE Of the most astounding and
trocious Legislation on record in the
Iistory of the country. The students
oting law, which attempted to dis.
ranchise the most intelligent and
worthy class of our citizens-the
tudents in our universities-is with
'ut parallel in legislation. The dis
of the wounded sol.
iers of the Republic in asylums at
Dayton, Ohio, is the grossest insult
D the brave defenders of the Repub-
C, perpetrated simply to deprive
le Republican party of four hun
red votes. Above all, the visible
dmixture law, which, in the face OF
le constitution Of the state, as inter-
reted by a Democratic supreme
ourt, attempts to disfranchlse three
lousand voters in the state of Ohio,
nd imposes illegal and extravagant
unishment upon them for voting
nd upon judges of elections for
eceiving their votes, is one of the
reatest enormities Of legislation
yer perpetrated. 1t was a dead
,tter before it went into operation,
eing decided illegal by the supreme
ourt of the state before an election
ad been held. We might instance
ther pieces of legislation of SINH
II character, but these, which we 4
ite as samples, are enough to sus- /.
lin our indictment against the leg.
lature as q most intensely anu
'eanly partisan one
We have space only to allude to
ne more characteristic of this Dem t
cratic legislature-its reckless c
nd unprecedented extravaganza S
came into power under the cry of t
and was pledged to Q
lt.down expenses in every possible q
ay. Entering official life with such G
pledge, it has spent money more s
osely and profusely than any other P
gislature of Ohio. One item by a
ay of illustration. The appropria- "a
,ns made to pay the per diem and q
ileage of the officers and members e
ID the expenses of committees for G
e three sessions amount to $780, a
70. The amount of appropriations 81
ade for the same purposes for the g