Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-09-06
NEW CONSTITUTION
EXTRACTS IRON THE
SPEECHOsH JAS. A. GARFIELD
Delivered at Mozart Hall, Cincinnati,
August "a, 1871.


rent Of public thought drifts so strong
ly in the direction Of national affairs
that the condition and interests Of the
State are almost wholly omitted in
our political discussions. In the two
party conventions lately held in Co
lumbus find only single, brief ref
erenee made in either of them to State
topics. Twenty resolutions were
passed on national affairs, and one
sentence only in regard to Ohio. And
yet it will not be denied that the State
government touches the Citizen and
his interests twenty times where the
national government touches him
once. For the peace Of our streets,
and the health Of our cities; for the
administration Of Justice in nearly all
that relates to the security of persons
and properly, and the punishment Of
crime for the education of our chill
dren, and the care of our unfortunate
and dependent citizens; for the assess
ment and collection Of much the larg-
est portion of our direct taxes, and for
| the proper expenditure of the same
all Of these, and much more, we de-
pend upon State policy, and the hon.
esty and wisdom of our General As
| sembly, and not upon the Govern
ment of Washington. On these
themes all the recent developments of
social science are being made in 9TH
er countries. Yet the doings and say
ings of Congress and the national ad-
ministration form the staple of all our
political discussions. 1 hope the time
may come when in the election of
Governor and other State officers, and
| the members of a new Legislature Of
Ohio, political parties will let Presi-
/ dents and Congresses alone, and de-
vote their discussions more exclusive
" to the great and manifold interests
of our State. Nowhere can there be
| found a more triumphant vindieatiOn
of the wisdom of that system of gov
ernment which is administered by
the people and for the people than in
well regulated State Of our Union.
Consider, for example, the admins
tration Of justice in our townships
and counties, where offenses against
persons and property are tried before
judges of the peoples own choosing,
and before jurors who are neighbOrs
of the parties, and who can admins
er justice far better than is possible
/ { distant and remote points, where
: 9th court and jury are strangers.
Consider also. our plan of managing
the finance Of Ohio. Last year, under
our State laws, taxes were levied to
the amount of nearly twenty-four
millions of dollars. Less than five
millions of the twenty-four found
their way to the State treasury at
Columbus. Less than four millions,
indeed, were used for central purposes.
Nj neteen of the twenty-four millions
were levied under the direction OF
township, city and county officers,
and expended at home, under the
direction OF the very men who speei-
ally consented that the tax should be
levied. Twelve and q half millions
were raised and expended in the
townships.
For the improvement of our laws
and the advancement of tAe State in
all that contributes to the security and
prosperity Of its people, the best
efforts of its most thoughtful people
should be invoked.
I have said that neither of the re-
cent political conventions had made
more than a single reference to the
State affairs. l rejoice that in that
reference they agree on.
A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR OHIO.
Though no reasons were given, and
no remarks were made on the subject,
yet both conventions have recon-
mended the calling Of a convention
to revise the constitution of Ohio
Since then, however, Judge Ranney
I has challenged the wisdom of this ac-
| ton, and he asked the Republican
| committee to show cause why new
| convention should be called. This is
proper demand, though he might
have addressed the question with
equal propriety to the Democratic
committee. Not assuming to speak
for Others, will give some of the
reasons why I am in favor Of calling
a convention.
The wisdom Of that provision Of
our constitution which submits the
question of q new convention to the
people each twentieth year was ably
vindicated in 1851 by Judge Ranney,
q member Of the constituent eonven-
tiOn from Trumbull county. Follow
ing the doctrine of Jefferson that it is
inconsistent with the spirit of Ameri-
can institutions for one generation to
bind another without its consent, he
insisted that at least once in each
generation the fundamental law of
Ohio should be recommitted to the
judgment Of the people, without the
previous permission of twu-thirds of
the Legislature.
He held that though the Legisla-
ture might, at any time, submit to
the people proposals for speeialamend-
ments, or a general revision; still,
such proposals would usually come
from one political party and would
not, therefore, be likely 10 receive the
fair and unprejudiced judgment Of
the whole people, and that it was
reasonable to assume that twenty
years of growth in population, wealth |
and intelligence, would develop new
wants and new dangers to such an |
extent that the people themselves |
ought to take the initiative in revising !
their fundamental law and providing |
safeguards for the future.
There has never been, in our histo- |
~, and possibly may never be, peri |
cd Of twenty years filed with such |
momentOus events,a sthe twenty years |
since Judge Ranney offered these |
wise suggestions. During that per-
iod great and worthy progress has in
deed been made in many directions :
but many new and grave dangers to
public liberty have also arisen-dan-
gers which were not foreseen in 1851. |
The Tremendous growth of corpora
tiOns and the power theyar welding i
over States and legislative bodies was
then almost unknown. The dangers
which may threaten US from this
source are not adequately provided
against in our Constitution.
At the present rate of growth and
consolidation, it will not be long be-
fore the greatest Of our States may be
less powerful than some Of the corpor-
atoms it has created. The day may
come when some single corporation,
by people outside Of Ohio,
may be more potent within her boun-
daries than the General Assembly
ITSELF Do the people Of Ohio think II
wise to postpone action on this ques-
lion for twenty years lOnger2 Let it
be remembered that in the even bal
ance OF political parties in Ohio out
is practically not amendr
able by the ordinary method.
There is another danger. against
which the people cannot forfend them
selves day too soon.
The last twenty years have witness
ed the most alarming progress in the