Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-07
From the Portland Press.
Biennial Sessions.

On questions relating to government human
opinion is always in state of slow but continual
fuctuation. No principle has been so long as.
sented to as to be beyond the reach of change.
No length Of time, no extent Of acquiescence
either BY nation or by the whole race can give
us assurance that any particular idea even when
it has been carried into successful practice may
not be peremptorily called upon TO give reasons
for continued existence other than the long con-
sent of mankind. Sometimes these challenges to
established opinions are the results of advancing
knowledge and are signs of increasing wisdom
Sometimes they are only indication of confused
awakening from what some one calls, "the slum-
Der Of decided opinion" by which is meant this
state Of things. After a contest, long or short
over probable opinion, there comes time when
one side or the other sensibly predominstes. Then
perhaps decided majority adopts the opinion
carries it out in Institutions; opposition, which
has become hopeless stops. and the prevalent
opinion, having ceased TO be discussed becomes
with the succeeding generations article of faith
and not q matter OF reason. The succeeding gen
erstions are Of the same belief their ancestors,
but have forgotten why. After a time plausible
reasons against the existing order of things are
presented and have undue weight until q full dis
long ago. Among these confused awakenings
from the "slumber of decided opinion" is the con
stitutional amendment for biennial sessions and
elections now proposed to the Legislature. As
the result Of the most thorough and exhaustive
discussion of democratic principles in 1885, the
time when the Federalist was written, all the
States but three went yearly to the polls. Con-
nscticut and Rhode Island went half yearly, and
South Carolina alone every two years. For more
than hslfs century the State of Maine has had
annual elections. If anytt ing seemed established
by nnquestioning acquiesence it was yearly ses-
sions Of the Legislature. And yet it is now pro-
posed without discussion for the Legislature to
take measures for changing the fundamental law
of the State so that both State elections and ses-
slons Of the Legislature shall take place only once
in two years
In this revival of the South Carolina idea, none
OF the old arguments in favor of prolongng the
power OF The representatives can be urged for the
new plan. and all the old objections so success
fully presented a century ago are still valid. A
century ago the argument for the South Carolina
idea was that II was but just to the representa-
tive himself that he should have long enough
lease Of power TO show the people what he was
that be should stay long enough to be judged, not
by . single act which might be an accident but
BY series of acts which might show fitness or un-
fitness of character. The people too, it was said,
would gzin BY it. They could more intelgently
re-elect their representatives, for they would have
given them Q fuller and fsirer trial. Another
strong argument was that the tenure Of Office
ought To be long enough to ensure experience, to
enable the representatives to acquire full knowl-
edge Of their business and how TO do it. Such
tenure too, would give more freedom Of action 10
intelligent men and render them less liable 10 be
,werved from just opinions by the whims Of their
constituents. All these arguments the present