The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-28
Hon. Chiffon A. White on the New
Constitution.

years distinguished Democratic Con
gressman from Ohio, and more recently
a member of the Constitutional Conven-
ton, has delivered to his constituents an
Address in favor of the ratification Of
the New Constitution. The Address
has evidently been prepared with great
care, and it presents the changes pro
posed with judicial fairness. We have
clipped some extracts from it, aulsfsr-
nish this week such as relate to the Leg
islative Department. They should be
read by every one who has not already
made up his mind to vote 'blind' against
the Constitution:
1st. The Legislative article provides
first in section 4, "That no person inter.
ested in contract with Or unadjusted
claim against the State shall hold seat
in the General Assembly"
There was no such pro visions as this
in the old constitution. This is believed
to be wise provision, for the reason
that no person should be permitted, as a
member of the General Assembly, to
vote upon claims which he may hold
against the State, ,or to occupy position
where he might be called upon TO pass
upon the validity of his own contract or
claim, which would have tendency to
bias his judgment, swerve him from the
strict line Of his duty, and subject the
General Assembly to either just or unjust
suspicion, and impair the confidence Of
the people in its integrity.
ID Section 5 provides, "That no per-
son convicted of embezzlement of pub
lie funds shall hold Office in this State,
nor shall any person holding public
money have seat in the General Assem-
bly until he shall have accounted for
such money and paid it into the Treas
ury."
The object and propriety of this pro-
vision is so obvious as to- scarcely need
explanation or comment No person is
fit to be member of the General Assem-
bly,, charged with the duty of passing
laws to preserve the purity of our public
administration, and to declare and i'm
pose penalties upon official delinquents,
where his own hands are soiled with ILL
gotten gain. 1t would scarcely be ex
pected that legislator who unlawfully
hello in his own hands public money
which it was his duty to pay over, would
give his support to law which would
subject himself to penalty and punish
ment for delinquencies of which he was
guilty.
The object of section Is is to give the
governor, who is elected by the electors
of the State at large, every two years,
check upon hasty, inconsiderate Or un
constitutional legislation--rnany checl
to this provision on the ground, as they
claim, that it is an arbitrary zone man
power" and in derogation of the rights
Of the people. I do not SO regard it,but
believe the very reverse to be true: 1T is
in the very nature Of an appeal from the
representative to the people, and merely
suspends upon questions Of doubtful ex
pediency and constitutionality, the decis
ion of the general assembly, until the
people can be heard upon the questions
unless the measure vetoed passed upor
more mature deliberation by majority
of three-fifths of each branch of the
general assembly. 1t will be seen tha
1.-The governor may veto any item of ar
appropriation bill. This is regarded as
a very valuabls provision; it will cut of
what is known as the "log-roihng sys
tenn" of tacking on by combination o.
discordant elements obnoxious items tc
the general appropriation bill, which
could not be incorporated in it standing
on their own merits, but which by a com
bination with others who support lk,
obnoxious items is incorporated into th'
appropriation bill, and members are pu
to the necessity of voting for the entir'
bill, with the obnoxious items in It, o.
take upon themselves the responsibility
of stopping the wheels of government by
failure to pass the necessary ap2ropri
alton bill. 1t is in this way that nearl.
all the schemes of plumber are carriet
through both Congress and the genera
assembly.
/ 1t is further provided by section % o
the same article, that "On the passage o
appropriation bills, or on concurring il
amendments thereto, separate vote ol
any item or items therein shall, on de
mand of any member be had by yeas ant
nay s entered on the journal; and ever.
such item, failing to receive thevote O
the requisite majority Of the member
elected to the house in which the bill
/ pending shall be stricken therefrom an
each item receiving such majority shal
he declared passed"
These provisions are all new, and ou
past experience has proved to US tina
they are Of great practical utility ;Iby tn
latter clause any member who may b
opposed to an obnoxious measure cal
bring the house to separate and distine
vote, by yeas and nays, upon any iter
of an appropriation bill which ough
not to be passed, and thus place the SUI
porters of such measures upon the rt
cord, that they may be held responsible
by their constituents.
Section 80 provides that "The mem
bers of the general assembly shall r'
: ceive fixed annual salary and mileag
to be prescribed by law; and no othe
allowance or perquisites either in til
payment of postage or otherwise; an
no change in their compensation sha
!; take effect during their term of Office
but the general assembly shall provid
for rateable deductions therefrom on a,
count of unnecessary absence during il
session."
: The per diem system under the ol
f constitution it was thought had tender
p cy to protract the sessions of the legi
lature, and thereby largely increase OIL
legislative expenses. 1t was therefor
deemed advisable TO give to the men
bers of the general assembly an annu
. salary instead of paying them by tt
o day. ,as under the old constitution. An
in order to prevent absenteeism,it is pr
!. vided that rateable deductions from Il
amount of the salary shall be made G
n account of unnecessary absence durir
: the session.
RThe Democracy of Indiana ha7
< nominated aState ticket and adopted
L.