Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-16
Gen. Ewing on the New Consti
tIJtion-

Canal Dover, last month, in favor of
the New Constitution, Gen. Thomas
Ewing, of Lancaster, made carefully
prepared speech, in which he reviewed
some of the important propositions in
that instrument, from which we make
a number of extracts; they will be read
with interest, as Mr.. Ewing was recog-
nized as one of the ablest members of
the Convention which framed the
! Constitution.
After some Introductory remarks,
Mr.. Ewing said:
Iclsim for the new Constitution these
great merits:
1T WILL GIVE A BETTER AND MORE
EFFICIENT JUDICIARY.
The chief objection to the present ju-
dicial system arises out of the charac-
ter of the District Court, as composed
by the existing Constitution, of three
Judges of the Common Pleas and one
of the Supreme Court. 1t was found
throughout the State that the Judges of
this Court, being occupied with other
duties, gave it but little time or atten-
ton; and that litigants and lawyers
were dissatisfied with the presence on
the District bench, often controlling its
decision, of the Judge who decided the
cause below.
For want of an intermediate Court of
character and efficiency the Supreme
Court is now overwhelmed with busi-
ness, being four years behind the
docket.
1t is objected that the seven Circuit
Courts call for twenty-one new Judges,
while the Common Pleas and Superior
Court Judges of our present Constitu-
ton are reduced but seven, leaving a
net permanent increase of fourteen
Judges under the new system. True /;
} but if an acceptable and efficient judi
cial system can be thus had, the in
creased expense of the fourteen new
Judges will not weigh as dust in the
balance compared with the ruin to liti-
gants from the swollen cost bills and
attorneys fees which attend the delays
of our present system.
The salary of five thousand dollars
named for: the Supreme Judges, and
the heightened term of Office for all
be recollected that the first Legislature
lHC VI IuC
Judges if the people wish.
The objection to long terms springs
from false theory of the true relations
Of the Judge to the people electing
him. Representatives should be often
cause they are chosen to reflect the pop
. ular will; but not so with Judges.
had rather trust the people than Presi
IInnts GnynrnnrS Snnofnrc 70 ooI,
Judges, for they are generally govern,
ed by purer motives in the choice; but
though chosen by the people the judge
should be free from the bias of popula.
opinion while on the Judgment seat
which he cannot be if be must at short
. intervals subject himself to the ordeal
of popular opinion.
1.-THE NEW CONSTITUTION WILL
+ GIVE US A PURER GOVERNMENT.
1 First-It stops railroad subsidies to
5 public officers. l am aware the prOviS.
C ion prohibiting free passes and othel
gratuities to public officers is sneered al
C as small business fer a Constitution;
e but regard it as greatly needed re-
5 form. Rarely does Judge sit in d
cause between a citizen and railroad
t company who has not a free pass from
' that company in his pocket. And leg.
] islatOrs-and even members of Consti.
9 tutional ConventiOn-who frame codes
: which affect most deeply the hundreds
: of millions of dollars of railroad values
|, in Ohio, have attested by their pro.
: tracted sessions and frequent adjourn
q ments for visits home, that it does mol
cost them much to travel.
9 Second-H offers effective guarantees
against corrupt legislation. One in the
provision requiring "A separate vote or
each item OF appropriation if demanded
}, by any member, thus thwarting the
:. device of fastening lobby schemes tC
appropriations necessary to carry on the
Government, by which the salary graf
and almost every other project of plum
!, der has won success. The other is in
e the veto which doubles the difficulties
|. of those who have corrupt schemes tt
e accomplish; especially as the Governor
t may veto single item or items of an
= appropriation bill while approving the
r residue.
:. These changes will, 1 think, com
e mend themselves to popular Judgment
IS and approval, as reforms of incalcula
: ble value to the State. They will re-
S suit both in immense saving of the
8 peoples money, and in higher stand
b ard of official character. We are warn
e ed by our own experiences of late
r years, and especially by those of oul
g sister States, 10 build higher the bar
J. riers of Constitution and law agains
k the yelling tide OF extravaganza anC
d official corruption.
. III-THE NEW CONSTITUTION WILL
GIVE US A CHEAPER GOVERNMENT.
. First-K procides fetOer general elec
= ttons. AT present, we nave genera
. elections every year; and in every
= fourth year two such elections, one fo
, President and one for State offices
!, The new Constitution provides tina
4 there shall be a general election only
VI once in every two years; and fixes it u:
Tuesday after the first Monday in No
vember on each even year; that being
!. the day of the Presidential election
= and, after this year, of the Congression
!, al election also. The saving to the peo
Ile in time and taxes by this provision
> will be very great, and will be cOun
Ii terbalanced, think, by no disadvan
tage whatever.
. Second-H shOrtens the sessions of tn
= Legistdture-By requiring payment o
- members by salary, instead of PEI
% :, diem, and by requiring ratable de
~ ductiOn from such salary for unneeessa
=" ry absence, The Incidental expense
of a session form large proportion o
i total expenses, pay of members in
= cluded, so that the provision which
d shortens the session will greatly reduc
u its cost.
- 70 Third-H prohibits extra pay and gya
'o t,tities-To employees of the State, an,
i, thus stops a costly and immemoria
= abuse.
- Fourth-N dHOtcs no Indebtedness O
- cities beyond JfUe per cent of their tdr du
~ pLicdteS-Unless the debt and the pug
.o nose for w Which il is named be All hnI