ΤΟ

THE MEMORY

OF

THE IMMORTAL MEN

WHO GAVE US OUR PRESENT CONSTITUTION

AND TO THE DELEGATES NOW ASSEMBLED TO BUILD,
WE HOPE, EVEN BETTER THAN THEIR FATHERS
BECAUSE OF THE GREATER LIGHT OF

A MORE ADVANCED CIVILIZATION,

THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

Columbus, O., January 20th.

(v)

J. H. N.

PREFACE

This volume is the result of an earnest endeavor on the part of the Library Commissioners of the Ohio State Library, George Edge of the Legislative Department, and myself, to give to those who need it, help in their effort to prepare for the people of Ohio, not only the best but the most beneficent organic law that the state has ever had.

In this document no attempt has been made to influence the reader along certain lines of his work. It is taken for granted that he is capable of thinking out, for himself, a far better result than any selfassumed tutor could possibly supply. With this thought in mind, neither jealousy, conceit, presumption nor arrogance was allowed to interfere, in any way, with the successful accomplishment of the object in view.

For this reason I sought the help, and got it, of those most fitted to assist with such work. Students of high order, men of scholarly attainment, men ripe in experience, and men full of the vigor of youth, polished with culture and refinement, came, to me, offering their services. Of those who came to my assistance are the gentlemen whose statement I have herewith submitted, because of the credit they deserve and the deserved honor I want to bestow upon them. This course I think more fitting than a hint at thanks, in a two-line paragraph.

The work has been carefully gone over. This enables us to assure the reader that it is practically free from error. As free from error, at least, as the limited time allowed in its preparation would permit. Our Legislative Department has prepared, with care, a concise index to the digest and has also added a very complete bibliography touching constitution making in its various places. After the completion of the work it was submitted to no less an authority on constitutional law than Judge George B. Okey of the Columbus bar, who has given it his stamp of approval.

After these acknowledgments I am safe in saying, I think, that nothing of equal value in the way of a digest of organic law has ever gone out from this library or appeared elsewhere in print.

With the fullest confidence in those for whom this work was especially prepared, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and knowing full well that they will discharge their duties even better than any one could suggest, this document is most respectfully submitted. J. H. NEWMAN,

State Librarian.