Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-09-10
The Coming Legislature and What
They Ought to do.

The Legislature of Oregon is about
to convene, and more important duties |
never devolved upon Legislature
since the organization Of the State.
I'm the first place, their attention
should be called to the Importance Of
the speedy passage OF general appro'
priation bill, which was omitted by the
Legislature of two years ago. in conse
qnence of which sin of omission the
State has suffered heavily. We DO not
propose to discuss the point here as to
what man or party was most at fault,
but this we do know, there was Iaches
somewhere the bill ought to have
passed before the expiration of the forty
days.
We arc aware that some people con-
strue the Constitution so as to make it
say, that our Legislature can remain in
session, compel the attendance of its
members and lesislate for the whole
term of two years, or for any length of
time they choose beyond the furty DAYS
mentioned in that instrument. But
this, in our opinion, is a great mistake
as we read the Constitution OF Oregon
you can only compel the attendance OF
of members for the term of forty days,
and if they remain together longer, it
must be By common consent. Now, we
admit, by a strained construction Of the
Constitution, the Legislature may re-
main together after the expiration of
the forty days, pass laws, and if those
laws should be properly signed BY the
Executive, they would be valid; but
the idea that the Legislature can sit for
the term Of forty days, then each mem-
Der draw his one hundred aud twenty
dollars fran tile Treasury, aud then a
portion of the members compel others
90 remain against their will for the bal
ance of the term of two years, without
pay, is simply ridiculous. The mo.
ment the forty days expires and you
pay member his three dollars per day,
that moment he is at liberty to go home
and there is no power to retain him.
The next business Of importance Is
the election of man to represent the
people of Oregon for six years in the
Senate of the United States--ncxt to
the highest position on earth This
great and important work, We hold,
should be performed by the legal voters
at the ballot box, but, under our pres
ent system, it devolves upon the Legis-
iature. Now, we are not of those who
think the people oughrto elect man
to represent their interests in a lesisla>
tive body, and constantly require Of
him acts inconsistent with his feelings,
but we hold the people have a right to
demand of their Representatives that
they shall act fairly and honestly, and
in such manner as, in their honest
Judgment, will most benefit their con
stituents. They have a right to de
mani that their servants shall not q,
beyond the power delegated that the,
shall not act contrary to special instruc
tions, given at the election; that they
shall not act from any consideration
moving to themselves alone, aud wlicl
shall be detrimental to the interests oil
their constituency; that they shall no
be Influenced by direct money consid
Grafton, or promises of lucrative offices
They have right to demand, wher
they have delegated the power to on
OF their servants to support a certain
class of men and measures, that the
shall not support another and differen
class. What we desire is that the vii
OF the people shall not be thwarted b.
the wicked acts of unscrupulous dema
osues, but that their expressed will, a
tn, allot box, shall be carried out, un
less they shall otherwise Indicate b
petition directed to their servants. IL
each member, in voting for man t
represent US in the Senate, act frol
principle, not feeling, and in accordapc
with the dictates Of good conscience
and then We shall have no fears of tn
election of a man who favors univers,
suffrage, or universal negro suffrage.
There are other very important ma
tefs, prominent among which is the r.
vision, in many particulars, Of our co,