Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-22

VIC oeileV0 tnlS resolution goes 10
establish a principle very injurious to the
people, and in open violation of the cons
tuition. The constitution designed that
the two branches Of the Legislature
should be mutual checks on each other /;
but this resolution destroys this salutary
provision, by blending them together, in
one OF their most important legislative
acts. 1t is plain that il requires ma
! lorlty OF each branch of the General AS
senbly to pass law or adopt any reso-
luton on which law can be made. And
we think 1t as necessary that two-thirds
OF each branch should concur in the Con-
venton question, as that majority
should unite on any other legislative act.
| But, according to the resolution against
which we protest, Convention may be
recommen ended to the people though a
majority OF the Senate should be oppos-
ed to it. lis evident to us that the con-
siItution intends that it shall take more
members to recommend to The people 10
vote tor or against Convention, than to
i pass law. And we know that ten mem
bers IN the Senate can prevent a law
from being passed, Notwithstanding all
The other tortyiour should be in favor OF
it. But If this resolution be acted on ac-
cording 10 the way it is explained by its
supporters, eighteen members in the
Senate might not be able to prevent law
from being passed in favor Of Conven-
lion.
This resolution establishes a prin-
ciple by which every member of the
Senate might be deprived OF vote on
the question relative to Convention---
because thlrty-six members in the
House OF Representatives, being two
thirds OF all the members OF the Gene
raj Assembly, could carry the question
! independent OF the Senate.
Another reason we have fer protest
ing against this resolution, is, that &C
cording to it, we must have a Conven-
ton, even il two thirds Of the General
Assembly should vote against the mea-
sure. The resolution, with its pream
bic, reads as follows:
Whereas doubts are entertained
with respect to the construction OF the
Constitution OF this State, relative to re-
commenting the qualified voters, at the
next election, to vote for or against a
REVISION, alteration, or amendment of the
constitution: Therefore,
BE IL RESOLVED, That two-thirds of all
tbs members at 9he General Assembly,
voting for or against such measure,
shall be deemed suffi Gent, and is in con-
iormhy wah The literal meaning of The
Constitution.
We thlnk this is an erroneous and
forced Notwithstanding to IL,
one third - Ill the members o. the &c
neral Assembly would be coispetent 10
pass law in favor OF Convention, in
dependent OF the o'her two-thirds. The
LIST section of the 7lh article of the con
siltution says:
| I" Whenever two thirds of the Gene
raj Assembly shall think it necessary
to alter or amend this Constitution, they
shall recommend 10 the electors, al tn,
next election OF members 10 the Gene
raj Assembly, TO vote for or against a
Convention"
he lst section of the Cd article of the
Constitution says:
" The Legislative authority of this
State shall be vested in a General As
sembly, which shall consist OF Senate
and House Of Representa- ives"
| We think as soon as these two branch
es are blended together in any legisla-
tive act, they cease 10 be the iegls la i've
authority OF this State; and, therefore,
the people OF this State Can be under no
obligation to obey any law they may
pass, while they are thus unconstltu-
,lonally analgamaied Nor do we be-
ieve that any alteration effected in our
constitution by such illegal measures
could be at all obligatory on the people
OF this country.
| For the correctness of our sentm ents,
we appeal, not only to our own con
stituents, but also to the people of the
| whole State. As men, sworn to observe
| the Constitution, and as Representatives,
bound to defend the rights ofthe people,
we solemny enter our protest against
this resolution, as being, in our opinion,
subversive OF the one, and highly inju-
rious to the other.
Signed, Willam Kinkade,
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