Fremont Weekly Freeman

The convention this forenoon (June 5) took up the resolution to adjourn to Cleveland and after discussion laid it on the table by four majority. It is said that Kelsey don't come down on the board enough to suit some of the members.

The convention went into committee on the executive report, and spent the forenoon—we will speak out—in the most senseless, foolish, and ridiculous manner possible. The ostensible mark for the diarrhoea of words was whether the Governor should reside in the United States twelve years before election or not.

We confess we were heartily tired with the manner of discussion, and so was almost everybody else. Why then don't things go ahead faster? Aye, there's the rub. Who is to put a stop to this nonsense? Who is able to reform the convention? Many of the best members are out of all patience. We saw one distinguished judge grasp his hat and in utter desperation leave.

Gentlemen, this won't do. You are in the middle of the fifth week, and what have you done? Made about 500 pages of a book that we fear nobody will ever read. What else?

Yesterday P. M. the convention adopted rule that no member should speak over fifteen minutes at a time. This will do some good.

The veto power of the Governor came up again yesterday and was very generally discussed. Col. Hawkins of the Democrat opposed everything in the shape of the veto, and said he represented the undoubted almost unanimous opinion of Morgan county. (We have reason to think the Colonel is right.)

Col. Maxon of the Whig, goes for the qualified veto as reported by the committee. With these two exceptions we think all the remarks assumed a one-sided character—Democrats advocating the veto and Whigs opposing it.

The section containing this veto provision was finally struck out by a decided majority. This was done by two sets of purposes—one party opposing all vetoes and another class voting thus for the purpose of inserting the two-thirds veto. If we live long enough, we shall probably see what will become of the proposition.

Mr. Mitchell of Knox made one of the most ranting, foolish, partizan speeches that has been made this session. He excited the disgust of his political friends, and his remarks were very happily and appropriately ridiculed by Judge Peter Hitchcock. The very small game was however hardly worth the good powder used to bring it down.

To-day the committee has had under consideration the Governor's salary. It is now fixed at $2000, and the indications are that it will remain there. The principal debate has been upon the comparative merits of high and low salaries, and also whether the amount shall be permanently fixed or shall be left to be regulated by the Legislature hereafter.

No vote up to the recess on that question. Our impression is that it will be made permanent.

June 7.

The discussion yesterday afternoon, was continued and upon the executive department. The salary of the Governor, and the right of the Legislature to fix the rates hereafter were discussed, and it was finally determined that the rate should be $2000 per annum, and that after 1860 the Legislature may change the rates if they see proper.

This forenoon the discussion has been continued on the same report. The bill fixing the terms of the Auditor, Secretary and Treasurer, at two years. This time has been stricken out, and a long debate arose thereon. It seems to be conceded that the Auditor should hold his office for a longer term than two years, and the committee decided by a strong majority that the time should be four years. The others were retained at two years. After going through the report, the committee arose, and the convention adjourned till to-morrow morning.

June 8.

This morning the committee on Jurisprudence made their report which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The convention then went into committee, and took up the report of the committee on corporations other than banking. The first section of it provides, that hereafter no special charter shall be granted for any purpose. Mr. Horton moved to strike out this section and supported his motion with some remarks. The question was then debated for the balance of the forenoon, and with much ability, by Messrs. Horton, Stanbery, Brown of Carroll, and Stilwell, in favor of striking out, and by Messrs. Norris, Hawkins, Stanton, Hitchcock of Geauga, &c, in favor of retaining it as reported.

Without taking any vote, the convention took a recess.

This is one of the questions of practical importance, which has nothing to do with politics. It is a question of expediency. Can a general law be made, for instance, regulating bridges or turnpikes, or railroads, that will operate to suit all localities and all circumstances? It seems to us not. It seems almost impossible that the ever varying and infinitely diversified wants of different parts of our great state with over two millions of inhabitants, and more than five hundred millions of dollars of wealth, with all the great interests that cluster round such a population and such wealth, can be duly provided for by any general law, however wisely and cautiously framed.

The discussion to-day has gone far to confirm us in this view. The remarks of Mr. Stanbery were forcible—pointed—and will have great weight. We did not hear Judge Hitchcock, but we doubt the powers of even his massive and clear intellect to make this matter plain.