The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-06-25
Objections to the New Constitution
from . Democratic Quarters

tFrom the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
/. We object that the rule of represen-
tation in the General Assembly is not
uniform in its character a part of it
applies to Hamilton and Cuyahoga coun-
ties, but boes not include the rest of the
State. This discrimination is unjust.
There are two things which should be
alike uniform and equal, and they are
taxation and representation. In fact
they go hand in hand together. No law
is right which would tax q portion Of the
people of Ohio different from the rest, and
the crime is equally great when the prin-
ciple of representation in the General
Assembly, is changed to meet any
supposed varying interests of the eoun-
try.
2. The tendency of the new Constitu-
ton is anti-democratic in this: State cleo
tions are only halfas frequent as before,
being biennial instead Of annual, and at
the same time the terms of public officers
are heightened, Thus in two ways there
is diminutien of the powers of the peo-
pie and an extension of the prerogstives
Of their agents.
8 1t is improper and against public in
terest to have the State and the National
elections at the same time, because the
issues governing the one would unduiy
affect the other.
4. There is a multiplication of officers
under the new Constitution, and 1t would
prove more costly and extrayagant IN its
3. The meaning of the present Oonstitu.
ton has been well settled by the expert
ence and decisions of twenty years. Or
the contrary, the new one would be subject
to the same trial, and thus IL would Dt
provocative of litigation and be against
the best interests of the people. il
6. 1t is too broad 10 its scope and EN-
braces a great many things which shoult
be left to the discretion of the Genera
Assembly. For instance there is authorl
ty given to the General Assembly to pre-
, vent dogs from running ct large. Moth
ing else is mentioned, and 1t may be
! question whether any OF her animal, sucl
as cattle, swine, &C. who ravages farmer;
, fields, can be restrained as they are
present.
z. The Judicial clause provides for al
: additional number Of fjudges. thereby ere
ating additional expense. while the admin
istrstion of justice is not materially tacll
itated.
s. The Constitution authorizes the Leg
! islature to exempt church property tror
I ment upon the old.
f g. It leaves out that excellent provis
7 ion of the Constitution by which the Gen
: eral Assembly is to submit at the end {
I twenty years the question whether the
will have a convention to revise an
| amend it, thus giving the people less pow
/ er over their fundamental law than the
4 now have.
: 10. We object to the reafhrmation und'
g the changed condition of the times OF thu
8 section of the Constitution which forblC
4 the General Assembly to authorize Sta
: Bank money to be issued II Cengres
should remove the tax upon such clreula
j ton, which it is quite likely to do. !
:. that event we should be flooded wit
t money from the adjoining States, Il
g profits of which would be taken from on
b own citizens. We consider this sectlo
e entirely in the interests of the Eastern ca
n italists, who desire to supply US with the
70 own money.
i II. We object to the ratification Of II
i. new Constitution as a whole, unless II
IS by q majority of the votes case at the Ia
rs State electlon. Single amendments ha'
/ to be adopted IN that manner when pr
l. posed by the General Assembly, and wi
N should not the work of the Convention u
r deigo the same ordeal2 AS it Is, We mi
DR. have q fundamental law put upon us
81 which not one. tenth of the electors ha
l. voted. +s--I vlass- 5T r
d, 10. Whatever changes may be necessa
. in the present Constitution can be subm
&c ted by the General Assembly, and the
/ are no reforms in the proposed one to j.
d. tify US in accepting 1t as whole.
ls Is. Nor are we without objections o
Id party character, important In their scol
al Under the rule OF representation, VIII
would first embrace Hamilton and Guy
al hoga counties, IN five or Six years Tn
sy would be Butler, Franklin. Monigome
nd Stark, Muskingum and Lucas counties,
to of which would elect entire Democra
OF delegations if they had the same priv
On ges gwen as the rest Of the State.
le. under the new system the opponents
rst Democracy would elect about half Of tn
I'm making change of from fifteen to tw'
Of ty members against the Democratic par
4 This would ordinarily be fatal to our
he tendency in tbs General Assembly, 8
n would deprive Us Of Legislative power,
cludIng the choice Of United States Sci
ng tors, the arrangements Of Congresslo
on districts, &c. It also, by dividing
Or counties in which liberal maloritles /
ZEN vail, gives an undue advantage to wha
lpt known as the Puritan sentiment where
IN minoritiSs are carefully excluded from
te advantages given themin'the antl-Purl
M | cOunties 20 ..- - 49,.