The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-03-21
coLUMBUs CORRESPONDENTS.
CoLuMBus, O., March 5, 1871.

three weeks that he was never at rest;
dnor would he permit any one within
reach Of him to rest. If you went to
shthe State House, he was there; if you
visited any hotel in the city, he was
lthere; il you slept late in the morning,
1.-THE porter was sure to disturb your rest
1 with rapping at your bed room door
1 with note from Baber; ''if you took
1.-THE wings of the morning." and travelled
/ out ON any street of the city to catch the
morning cir, ,Baber was there. The happy
lresult of the passage Of the bill saved
1.-THE Probate Judge of Franklin County
o commission to try the question of the
llunacy of one of its citizens, and the
Southern Asylum has one less inmate in
consequence.
4 IJfear this is only half passed, as some
]mischievous member is disposed to give
jmore trouble to, Baber by introducing q
ibill to repeal his law. Then, oh! then,
what will become of Baber2 I fear "the
Ihalf has not been told.' m s949.
| This law, though peculiar, has its
3merits; and as protection against cor
Eruption, amongst candidates for nomina-
Ition, win, no doubt, be Of good effect
1I,see from the dailies that both political
]parties have adopted it in several cities
for the nomination Of the candidates for
their officesIaf tie April election. 1t no
doubt will assist in s'saving politics from
Its coSrseness.
| There seems to he two opinions about
dholding Constitutional Convention
The Constitution provides that after
twenty years the Legislature shah pro-
vide for submitting the question to the
/ people to vote for or against . Conven-
tion to form q new Constitution. It is
the duty Of the present Legislature to
provide for this. A vote of the people
Twill determine whether we shallihave a
Convention fof this purpose or not
There is another plan proposed and that
lis to submit at the same time a question
of changing our judicial system. 80 that
lin case q Convention is not called by the
3people, the defect in our present Judicial
! system may be so modified as to meet
1.-THE wants Of the people I do not know
lat present whether the proposed amend
ment will be submitted or not. 1t has
amany friends. 80 "a IS
The bill to allow the Board of Equali-
lzation to reduce the aggregate valuation,
after several amendments, has become q
ilaw.s As it passed it allowed them to
increase or reduce twelve and one.half
per cent. The Board have acted under
liz, reducing the aggregate valuation
twelve per cent. This reduces the ave-
rage valuation of Monroe County to
SI2 361 per acre,
A joint resolution has been passed ap-
pointing committee to investigate the
salaries paid State officers with view to
]edualixing them according to service
rendered, ss X
The law provides what each State off,
Ger shall be paid; and if any Of them
are paid too much, (and know some
are,) their salaries should be reduced
without the necessity Of an investigating
eommittee. Il regard this as q political
dodge, but hope it will have some USE
fnl effect in exposing some officials who
are holding Office in the employ of the
State and also in the employment Of
colleges in this State and elsewhere.
A bill has passed and become law to
provide for the entry Of the record of the
release of mortgages, and other liens in
certain, cases. This bill provides that
when any mortgage or other lien on real
estate shall be satisfied, or otherwise eff.
fected by a Judgment decree, or other
proceedings III Court, the Clerk shall GER
ltify the Recorderhow said mortgageor
lien has beenefected giving the title of
| the case, and page Of record, and the Re-
corder shall record the same in the book
of mortgage records.
The House of Representatives has
passed q bill to check the frequent change
| Of school books in ourischools ;itprohib-
its the changeintext books in use in COM
mon schools more than once in three
years, and then only upon six months no.
| tice of the proposed change. Italso pre-
vents school officers acting asagents of
school-book publishers. The frequent
change of books in our schools has be-
come a standing evil and q burdensome
tax The change Of hooks, and the ex.
cessive number belonging to any one
branch of education, has Been . great
source of profit to the publishers, but a
curse to the people and an injury to the
Thorough development Of the intellectual
faculties of the minds of children in
school. They are hurried from one book
to another in such hot haste that only q
superficial knowledge can be obtained and
education becomes q, confused mass in
the minds instead Of thorough knowl-
edge. This bin, if II becomes a law, win
have gained one point in this necessary
reform. lls4ps s..
The bill making the new blind asy-
llum, now being built, fire proof has been
passed by both branches of the Legisla.
tpte. This should be done with all pub
jlic buildings, but especially the blind aSy-
Hum. Had the old Central Lunatic Asy-
Ilum. burned two years ago, been made
lfiresproof the State would have been saw
led the expenses it now has to incur of
erecting anew one Besides this expense
There care large number uf acute insane
who cannot now be accommod odated on ac
lcelnt Of want Of room, and before they
cafi be accommodated with room must be
hopeless chronic insane.
Speaking Of the blind asylum calls my
attention to another matter connected
with that institution. There is a screw
loose among tile officials who have charge
of the blind These poor unfortunate in
mates are complaining that they are not
receiving the epropef proportIonof food.
All: rrr,vx lod n v,u,,;l