REMARKS ON THE CONSTITUTION. 171 



we throw the constitution, into the appendix, and proceed with 

 a few remarks, on its history, its provisions, and defects, 



REMAKES ON THE CONSTITUTION OP OHIO. 



. The framers of this constitution, were as well qualified, per- 

 haps, even better qualified, for their task, than any other men, 

 in the then territory. But, they were generally, young 

 men, who had been little engaged in legislation. They did 

 not, and they could not, take a very wide survey of human 

 societies. And, besides, government is not like some machine 

 framed after a model. It is nothing more than a bundle of 

 habits; but not, as a fourth of July orator would make it, a nose- 

 gay. It is a rule of action, laid down by the supreme power 

 of a state, commanding some things and forbidding others. 

 Good government, consists, not so much in laying down good 

 rules, as, in constantly practising, on those rules, until good 

 habits are firmly fixed, and invariably adhered to, by the peo- 

 ple. In older countries, mere accident, expediency for the 

 moment, or dire necessity, have set up governments, or given 

 them some new direction, which time, experience, and custom 

 have finally sanctioned, and made permanent. A system of gov- 

 ' ernment, is not like a building, which may be constructed entire- 

 ly according to a previous plan. It must be improved by skill 

 and care, and may be grievously injured by neglect, or even 

 destroyed by violence. Governments cannot be infused into 

 communities, by any sudden act of the lawgiver, nor do they 

 always follow the conviction of their propriety. Many causes 

 have more power over the human mind, than any written laws, 

 and it is extremely difficult, nay, impossible, to foresee, what . 

 any new form of government, will produce, until it is reduced 

 to practical experiment. For persons, not actually living 

 under any form of government, to pronounce authoritively con- 

 cerning its operation, would be like a fly, sitting on the outside 

 of our capitol, at Columbus, and seeing only an inch around 

 him, to applaud or condemn, William Ludlow's bombast, over 

 the outside doors, the taste, with which, the whole structure 



