New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-18
THE CHIC ELECTION.

1
to decide several Quest;ons of momentum
| sign icance. They gre either to retain tn
constitution OF 1851, which has stood th
test OF twenty-three years Without amend
Inent, or TO adopt a new one. The question
OF minority representation, which. wher
given far tria', hp7 been considered ~
improvement, is to De definitely settled
| The ra'~oad war I Wisconsin will have 6
more peaceable p7"aNel at the pos il
voting whether or not the State shall give
aid to rai'roads, and lest, but not of leas
interest 20 peace and qvietness, is the f1al
| settlement OF license or no license
The latter question has caused the mos
division among the people, and how it Will
be decided is or'y to be corjectpred. The
general interest OF the people OF Ohio seems
to be against the granting of county and
township aid to railroads, other than the
right OF way, and there is provision il the
| proposed constitution restricting State aid.
From the general tenor of the press, it is
| probable that the scheme Of minority rep.
resentation will not be violently opposed.
| The Constitution, which IS the result OF a
| elaboration of e session OF over sixty days
| OF convention composed OF some of the
| best material OF the Safe, IS the principal
object OF contention.
The proposed constitution makes some
| radical changes, few OF which are not
| only new 20 Ohio, but are unknown in most
| Of the other States. CT these the most no.
ticeable are the following:
Cases involving less than $l00 may on
appeal be decided by jrry Of not less
than six. No person interested ~ a con-
tract or claim aga;ns. the State can be a
member OF tie General Assembly. Three
f1ths is the majority required to pass bill
over the Governors veto, Each section in
the appropriation by is to be voted on by
yeas and nays on the demand Of any mem
Der, and a majority OF all the members
elected is reQuired 10 pass it. The Gov
eCnor may veto any one section and approve
the rest. The Lieutenant Governor, when
the Senate IS divided can not vote upon q
question relating TO bi'l in aug stage, on
JOINT resolution reorirjng majority IN a
contested election, nor in the election OF
Senator No elector can vote for more
than three of the Eve judges of the Supreme
Courts The present Supreme Court is to
be made q con VS. son 20 clear the docket
and the new court " IL commence afresh.
Other innovations, more familiar, are
equally important. The marner of pre-
scribing the suspension OF the writ OF habeas
corpus must be provided By law. In suits
By pub alton i must be shown the post
Office address can not be found. Legisla-
tors receive a IEed salary and no extras
The accumulation OF Judicial business hav-
'ng choked the dockets, q carefully organ
lied circuit cou1t, Intermediate between
that OF the common pleas and the Supreme
Court, is provided for. These Judges may
sit n any circuit. Their term of office is
lengthy enough 10 remove them from de-
pendence on the elective power, and every
means provided 10 secure the best material,
that the court mag equal, except in author
ity, the Supreme Court Of the State.
Other admirable provisions are presented
concerning the inferior courts. In the bill
of rights tie word men" is discarded. and
all persons declared free and indepen-
dent, with the irall62able rights of ENJOYING
and defending life and liberty, acqririnc.
possessing and protecting property. and
seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.
Women may be elected to any school Office,
except State commissioner of schools. and
appointed TO any but an elective Office.
Citizens of the State, in the United States
military serI zee, may exercise the right of
suffrage, Strict rules are established rela-
tive to the striking fund. the public debt.
public works AID institutions. The fee
extortjon Of pubic officers is ann1hilated,
and the salaries are 70 be fixed By law.
Great minutia as 20 he general PRINCIPLES
of municipal and other corporations is OBJ
served, without taking from the General
Assembly absolute power as to details.
The cumulative system of voting, in
dorsed by both political parties, is estab-
lished in few large senatorial districts, to
be extended 10 otLers in the future, thus
securing minority representation. But
this does not apply 10 the restricted method
Of eIecting judges, tor it was not thought
proper to allow small party or faction the
power 10 choose one OF the judges CT the
highest court.
Other and minor changes are the making
the day of election, that of the President
and members Of Congress, the Tuesday
after the FIRST Monday in November: re.
stricting municipal corporation debts to five
per cent of the tax duplicate: restricting
to ten per cent Of the taxable |
value in one year, and fifty per cent of its
highest taxable value in any ten years: and |
condemnation Of private prop |
,rty without compensation being first made.
The powers CT the General Assembly ara
onewhat extended II matters Of detail
egarding the judiciary, railroad and other
corporations, but not in auy way allowed |
o become oppressive. The appointing
lower of the Governor, never verv ex-
ensiye, IS further restricted, but stu moro
nlarged tha1 that of the Governor of Mas
aehusetts, who can appoint bis own private
ecretary without the concur renee of anv.
ody, but . make general of militia must
eek h;s cor7c;''s appreciation.
The general s'ope Of the theory of the
onstitution IS TO preserve harmony among
be departments, secr~e integrity and indie
endence II the judiciary, faithfr,ness in
ne exec utive. ability in the Legislature.
nd economy in the finances. It is sim ole
construction, and without the positive
inutia of that of Illinois, and indicates its ,
brit sufficiently to guide the law makers.
The new constitution has not thus far