Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-07-12

OF others, and a desire that a full and
temperate discussion of the merits of the
question may be had, are sufficient in
ducements for this address. You will
not therefore charge us of uttering our
opinions as the dictum Of an aristocraic
association, but merely as the reasons
which govern US in opposing the calling
Of convention at the present juncture.
Five years have not yet elapsed, since
your delegate after mature deliberaton,
prepared the constitution under which
we now enjoy the blessings of civil liber-
ty. That this instrument already re-
quires revision and amendment, has been
declared by legislature convened un-
der its authority. If this be the case we
conceive III argues that the persons en-
trusted with its construction were def
cient in wisdom or in patriotism. We
are unwilling to suppose either, and I'M
less we are shewn some defects in the
instrument Of sufficient moment to justi-
y the great expense which would neces-
sarily attend convention for its revisal,
we shall continue as We shall feel it our
duty, to oppose the measure.
1t is natural and proper for is to look
to those who assert the propricty of call
ing convention, to be Informed of the
errors of which they complain. They
certainly may be supposed to know them,
or they could not be justified, even in
their own eyes, in disturbing the harmo-
ny and prosperity ofthe state, by the agi-
| tation pG tho ,,nhIic ~, ind I>oth al Lo,x,.
and abroad on the question. We have
accordingly taken INTO serious conside
ration, the subjects presented by them,
as requiring alteration, and shall state
our convictions.
With regard to the Council of Revi-
sion, we pretend not to say, that il is the
best mode in which a check may be had
over the legislative bodies, but we are
FULLY convinced by examination Of the
principle and observation of its effects,
that such check is highly salutary, and
even necessary to the well being of 60
vernment. Our Council is composed
of the Governor and Judges of the SUI
preme Court. They receive no addi-
tlonal compensation for the labor of re-
vising the laws: No additional item of
expenditure is therefore created. Per-
haps it may, by some, be considered
inequitable to require the duty without
atfording compensation. To this, it is
a sufficient reply, that the duties of the
officers, and the salaries annexed there
to, are we'll known, and, it would seem,
accepted without hesitation. If it be
contended that the Council is not effec-
tive, and that the judiciary Officers are
committed by their opinions given on
the revisal, so that they are not left at IL
berry to give an unbiased decision from
the bench, we would aDswer--that it
was notintended, and we think it would not
be good policy, to give them veto on
legislative acts, but only an admonltory
authority by which the legislature could
be advised of any error, and have an op-
portunity of correcting it. Several err
rors have been pointed ont by the coun-
Gil which have been promptly corrected
by the legislature. Some of these we
think were important, and shew conclu-
sively, that some good has been, and con-
sequen,ly may again be, done by that
branch of the government. On the
other hand the legislature have been
known to persist in the passage of laws,
Notwithstanding the objections of the
council, when not convinced by their
reasoning. Nor have we discovered in
the Judges when on the bench DISPOSE
ton to adhere obstinately to an opinion
expressed in council, when sufficient
reasons have been given to shew the
propriety of changing it. The evils ap-
pretended from the council therefore
may as yet be considered i'm ginary, as
no instance has been pointed out of the
actual occurrence of any one of them.
While the Council of Revision, as
such, has SO far been productive of no
injury, of which we are appraised, but has
been in some degree useful, would it not
be we'll to wait until some of the imagin-
evils shall be realized, before we incur
the expense Of calling q convention to
abolish it.
The County Commissioners Courts
have also been mentioned, as requiring
reorganization. The annual expense &C.
casioned by these courts is trifling; we
presume less than one hundred dollars on
an average for each county. Their duties
are such as are absolutely nee ssary to be
performedby some authority, land although
many of US from the force of former
habits might prefer various other modes
of distributing those duties, yet from the
great discrenancv of ori niop m the cuh