The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-10
COLUMBUS CoRREsronDrrCE.
COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 3, 1870.

EDS. SPIRIT: According to previous
adjournment the Ohio Legislature me.
today. There was a full attendance in
both branches. Three of the Senators
having resigned during the summer, the
three new members elect we're sworn in
The new members are men that will I'll
the places OF those whom they succeed
in point OF ability, and in one case, in
that OF good habits, there is decided
There was but little done except in
general greeting each other by the mem.
bers, and good feelings seemed to pre-
vail with all. TO man that has been
here before new things apparently soon
become old, and the monotony of busi-
ness takes The same shape as before
The industrious working men go to werl,
and the idiers look on and vote. In leg
lslative bodies, like all other bodies of
men, there are the acorktng bees and the
drones. The man who makes the most
noise and does the most talking may be
by some of his constituents regarded as
the most useful and successful man to
the State, but to one who looks on and
sees the work, he has only the most
brass or buncombe. Reason, common
sense and prudent Judgment, dictated
and presented with candor. honesty and
good will,- accomplishes more than all
the gas that the noisy, thoughtless gab-
bier may consume time with. The work
of legislation is more fefectually done,
and better done, in committees, and stud
led, prepared reports than can be accom-
pllshed in the running debates SO CON-
mon in legislative bodies; yet both have
their advantages and are necessary to
perfect good laws, and notwithstanding
the use of both methods some very foci-
ish, bad laws are enacted.
The Governors - Message was read
and referred to the appropriate commit
tees. 1t shows more good sense and
honesty than did his speeches during
last, Falls campaign. That part of it
referring to the increased taxation is
worthy of the consideration of every
citizen of Ohio.
A bill to create a board Of registra-
tion, and requiring all men to register,
has been introduced in the House Its
friends are sanguine of its passage. To
those of US who live along the border
and have seen,. in West Virginia. the
workings of this iniquitous interference
with the rights of freemen, this seems
impossible. What! shall we of Ohio
have a board of men appointed in each
township. who shall say who shall vote
and who shall not vote2 The right to
vote and to determine who shall vote is
provided for in the Constitution, and
judges of elections have all the power
necessary in Ohio to preserve the purity
of the ballot box; they are the choice of
the people. Boards Of registration are
the appointed tools of the Executive
The Governor or executive power is Gre
ated for the protection of the people, not
for oppression and wrong. as is the case
in all boards of registration that have
ever yet existed in this country.
The State Board Of Equalization is in
session here and is likely to have a
troublesome time on account of part
of the appraisements Of property being
made on gold basis and part on a cur
rency basis.
Oar member, Mr. VAN METER, under
stands his business; he is careful, in.
.dustrious worker, and wherever you find
him, whether in meetings of the Board,
at his room in the hotel. or in his con.
versations on the street, he is trying to
get information, classify and arrange, so
that the property of the State shall bear
its burden according to its value and pc.
culiar advantages. A.