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Legislative Discussions

Legislative Discussions image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
January
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

" VVImt good object is to be gained bv tlie discussion of resolutions wholly foreign 10 the business of tho Legislature ?" The preccding inquiry is made by the Detroit Advertiser in reference to the introduction into the legislature, on the second day of the session, of a column of resolutions on the Me.ican war. Had the resolntions condetnned the course of the President in reference to that war, instead of justifying it, perhaps the Advertiser might have been more tolerant to a discussion oí the subject. Slill, ihe inquiry, in all its latitude, is a proper one.The Legislature is elecied and moets to transact the affairs of the State, and attend to itá interests. This is its legitímate business, and wc think it would be woll f no foreign topics were introdueed. It is true that tho people of Michigan hare a deep interest in ,the Me.xican war, in a TarifF, National Bank, and, indeed, in every national quesíion. Yetas they are represenied in n Nationnl Legislature, and can be heard there through iheir Representatives and Senators in Congres-, who are electod for tho express purposa of legislating on all National mntters, tho expression of opinión by the local Legis1 atures on National topics over which they have no control, seems to be entirely unnecessary. That good often growsout of these discussions we do not deny. Yet they frequenijy consume a large part of the sessions, and cost the people many thousand dollars, while they are often in, trodticfid by members or.ly for the most selfish purposes. In these days of reform, therefore, we would be in favor of the exclusión of all topics f rom the discussion of the Legsliituro on National matters, except whero the nghts of the State, in iis federal relations, mny need exposition or defence. Would .not this be the better course ?