The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-12-16

ties, as well as to majorities, fair and
equitable representation, in the councils
of the nation, proportionate to their
actual numbers. We may then hope
for just Representation for pure cleo
tions, because rascality will be of no
avail and for pure men to represent
us, because the action of minorities will
react on majoritics and vice versa.
10 this great constitutional reform, /
would suggest, rs further necessary
checks upon the Legislative branch of
the Government, the following consti-
tutlonal provision: First, the Offering
of bribe TO Senator, Representative
or public Executive officer, or the re-
ceiving Of such bribe, either in money
or other valuable consideration, mclud.
ing free Boiiroad passes, by any of the
aforesaid officers, to be declared a Peni-
tentiary offence, for which any of the
offenders aforesaid, sholl be liable to
trial before the Supreme Court of the
Commonwealth; and upon conviction
shall be condemned to solitary conflne-
ment in the Penitentiary for not less
than one year nor more than five, with.
out the benefit of executive pardon ;
and ever after disabled from holding II
public Office Of hopor or profit.
This clause may BE- deemed, by our
modern phianthropi5,5, as harsh and
inconsistent with the dignity of grave
legislators and high executive officers.
But, whatever may be the opinion OF
these amiablc sentimantali5ts, (whosG
daily occupation is to CHEAT the gallows
of its dues, and to tear down the paies
which fence society against the inroads
of crime), the bitter experience of the
past makes this proposed consttu.
tional provision an absolute necessity
For it will be readily conceded, by any
rational mind, that, 10 consisn to the
Penitentiary few treacherou5 and
perjured scoundtels who have betrayed
their trust and their constituents would
be infinitely more just than to deprive
the people Of the maay blessings Of {
free representative government! An
other feature in this proposed amend
ment which should cOmmrnd itself tC
our Reform Convention, is, that it vii
break down the power of tho most for
midable Legislative rings, deprivine
them of the impW'ity they have here
tofore enjoyed, and reducing them to {
common level with their fellow. citi
zens, beyond the penalties Of the law.
1t may be objected by some thought
less and inexperienced persons, that thf
acceptance by Il member Of the Legis
lature, of such trifle as Il free railroad
pass, is not sufficient cause for inflictiol
of the heavy penalties here proposed
But this plausible objection will lose it
apparent force before plain, unvar
uished statement of the facts as they
now exist.
Within the last few years the mem
bers of the legislature have, with bu
rare exceptions, received from certain
railroad companies free passes, not Onl.
for themselves individually, but also a
many for the use OF their political ad
herents, as they may have chosen t.
apply for. BY this wholesale distribu
ton of free passes the Representative
are not only bought, but they are en-
abled to reward the Whippers-in VIII,
have secured their nominations an,
elections and to bribe them into q con
tinuance of similar services for the fu
ture and thus, this double action sYs
tenn of bribery and corruption is DO
con fined to our halls of legislation, bu
reaches every corner of the Common
wealth But this is not all. These fre
pa sses have demUralized the habits O
Legislators who nova days DO not holt
their sessions 1T Harrisburg more THAI
three days in the week. The rest o
their time, they may be found in rail
road cars or in Philadelphia and othe
towns, junketing aud concOcting witt
the parties interested those legislativ
abominationswhich rob the people an,
annually disgrace the statutes of tn
Commonwealth.
1t seems to me that an impartial con
sdera tion of all these facts, which ar
in no wise exaggerated, should satisf
any thinking man, that the amendmen
to the constitution here proposed is 10
only just and proper, but that it shoul
be followed by another ci ause provid
ing that the issue of free passes by an
: railroad company shall work forfeit
ure of its charter. "JUNIUs."