The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-07-29

tween the Federal and AntiFederal
parties. General Arthur St. Clair.
governor of the Northwest Territory
and friend to Washington Adams and
Hamilton, represented the interests
Of the former On the western frontier;
Edward Tifin. jeremiah Morrow and
Thomas Worthington. all ardent sup
porters OF Thomas jefferson. were
prominent leaders Of the opposition.
In the erection of q new state they
sought the overthrow Of ST. Clair and
the advancement Of tie interests of
the Anti-Federal or Democratic party.
Their zeal in this work was intensi.
fed by their antlpathy to the person
ality OF st. Clair. who was imperious
and unfortunate in the manner Of his
rule
Congress passed an enabling act
providing for the erection of the new
state, which was approved April 30
1902. II fixed the boundaries uf the
state and provided for holding the
constitutional convention. beginning
the first Monday of the follo(ing No
vember The delegates w9e elected
by the people. On the Organization
Of the convention at 0hillicothe, I'D
ward Tifiin was chosen president
The sessions continued from the first
to the twenty.Dinth day of November.
After determining. with but one dis.
senting vote. that It was expedient
ito form a state constitution and gov
ernment" the convention proceeded
TO flame a constitution, which be
came operative without submission to
q vote OF the people. The convention
OF thirty-nve delegates was In session
twenty-five days at an expense TO the
state Of s4556.75.
The partisan contest that FASTENED
the admission Of Ohio into the Union
Is reflected In the first constitution.
Having disposed of st. Clair. the fol-
lowers Of Jefferson determined 10
guard against the "autccracy" Of any
future governor. This Office. under
the constitution had moro honor and
dignity than power The governor
had no veto. Sovereign power was
conferred chiefly upon the Legislature,
which had authority TO elect judges
and state officials as well as 10 make
and repeal laws. II had also practi-
rally unlimited powers in the grant.
Ing OF charters to corporations. II is
needless to observe that in these
times there Is no disposition to invest
our General Assembly with such
measure Of the sovereign power of
the state.
In 1872 the question Of holding Il
constitutional convention was sub
mitted to the voters Of the STATE. but
the pronositionl was defeated by q
majority of 22.32S IN a total vote OF
36;202
Second Constitutional Convention.
The second constitutional convcn-
tion was held in 1S50.5l The con.
stitution T. framed Is popularity known
as the constitution Of 1851.
Perhaps the most conspicuous and
Industrious advocate Of this conyen-
tion to frame a new constitution was
Hon. Samuel Medary of Columbus,
Ohio. editor OF TIE Ohio Statesman.
and one Of the leading Democrats OF
the state. In the numerous editor
ials that he published on the subject
are set forth the grounds on which
he favored a new constitution Among
other things he claimed
I. That the first constitution had
been hastily and loosely drawn; that
II had never been submitted 10 the
people; that the state had outgrown
the usefulness and limitations OF that
instrument
2. That the judiciary system OF
the state should be thoroughly re-,
vised to the end that justice might
be done without yexatious delays.
3. That sessions Of the general as
seinbly ahould be held bionnially
instead Of annually.
:. That provision should b. made
requiring the general assembly TO re
fer every measure increasing the
state debt to a vote Of the people.
8. That state officers, Including
Judges, should be elected by the reo-
pie
The question Of holding a conatitn.
tlOihl toiNtuAltu WIS EuuNlIltu 10
the people at the October election in
1S4S. The total vote cast at this
election was 235.87O; for the conyen-
tion, 145.G9S; against Il. 5tl7l The
legislature that met the following De.
cember made provision for the con.
vention, the delegates 10 which were
elected April I. 1850
AS already stated. Mr.. Medary was
the chief advocate Of a new constitu.
tion. II is said that along with his
unselfsh and patriotic desire 90 serve
"the whole people" in this matter, he
cherished o personal ambition to be
q bright and shining light in this con
Yention. He was therefore candidate
for delegate from Franklin county.
But, alas! the perversity of "the peo.
pie" Remembering that it was the
first day OF April they gave MIR. Me.
dairy surprise and elected over him
Mr. John Graham, a surveyor. Me.
dairy was keenly disappointed.
The convention met in the capitol
AZ Columbus May C. 1850. wnere It
continued in session until Ju;y 9 Of
tile same year. II adjourned and met
again I'm Cincinnati Dec. 2. 1850.