Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-04-06

Piacing oanYamo county, with IL voters,
on an equal footing in The convention
with Washington county, possessing So
voters Would not the people OF Sam
gamo have ga just right 10 complain /"
Would it be equitable for Washingto
and Jackson counties TO send four mem-
bers to the convention, when they could
muster only 585 votes, while Greene,
Morgan, Pike, and Fulton, with 687
votes, could send only three ?
But, il ii is SO important, as Mr., Kane
pretends, that the people should be
equally represented in the convention,
why is he SO anxious to call a conyen-
ton before the next census, which is re-
quired to be taken in 1925 Our" po-
jlticai edi.,ce, erected i'll 1913, by Messrs
Kane, Hubbard, Thomas, VIII, * Co.
Is not so very" rotten" as to be in dan
ger OF falling Immediately, If we do not
meddie with it. In December next, the
Legislature can pass law, in pursuance
oil the constitutional pre- .ision on that
subject, requiringa just ard correct cen
sus 10 be taken. The census may be
taken in the beginning of 1875, and a
special session OF the legislature may be
heIo in the same year TO make a new
and equitable apnortionment OF the re-
presentation. Then, if the people see
as many "rotten ahertureS" IN our" po-
lltical edifce" as have been discovered
by its builders, the question can be sub
mitted at the election in 1926, aud a con-
venlion meet in 1927 10 amend the con-
stitution. Thus, by delaying the call OF
convention for two Short years, all the
counties can be fairly represented in that
body. Whai think you of this plan. Mr..
Kane Does it meet your views Or
would II destroy your prospect OF effect
ing a i" particular amendment 2"
Once for all, MIR. Printer, permit me
TO say that have no fears that MAORI
ty Of the people will be in favor Of intro
sane ION the call of convention before
new superintendent is made, there viii
then be danger that the minority Of tie
feohle will elect majority Of the con.
Uention and that the majority SD elect
ed, will introduce slavery. And such is
the inequality of The representation that
less than one foUrth Of the electors may
elect majority of the members Of the
convention.
But, in order TO coar us to trust our
selves in the hands Of the slave party,
they talk oil submitting the new conslltn-
ton TO the people, for their ratification
or rejection. Col. Greenup's resolu-
Il ,kat h,
ever to be obligatory, until it has been
submitted to the people, and rat,hed by
them. Now, Mr.. Primer, wonder why
Mr. Kane, Col. Greennp, and all the
other worthy gentlemen have named,
never thought OF this when they were
forming our present constitution. L
they had submitted their w0rk to the
people, or if they had required that no
amendment should take effect until rati-
fed by the people, there would not be
so much danger, although there would
still be great imhrohr'ety, III permitting
the minority 10 make a constitution for
the majority. But as it is, soc cannot
Gomhei the contention to submit their
amendments 10 the people. The 7th ar
ticle of the constitution whichprovidcs for
amendments, says nothiog about submit
ting them TO the people. The force OF
precedent is against ii; and if Colonel
Greepup's resolutions are correct, then
the people of a least t7veaty one of these
United States are governed by constitu-
tons which ought not to be obligatory
upon them. The plan is very good
one. l am decidedly in favor of it F.: but
l have no idea that a convention chosen
under the present apportlonment would
adopt it. Mr.. Kane will admit that they
would not be legally required to do SO.
They would not be bound bv the pro-
misses of Editor Smith, Mr.. Kane, Col
Greenup, or of all the Randolph adj
dressers put together. Suppose, Mr..
Printer, that the slave party should sue
coed in electng majority of the con-
vention, who should SO amend the con-
slitution as to admit slavery. Knowing
that the majority of the people were OPP
posed to them, would they submit their
amendments to the people Would they
thus surrender the great trize for which
they have labored SO hard for many
wears? Common sense answers, no !.
Experience declares that when man
feels horuer he forgets right; and the
political history of the slave party is no,
such as to exempt them from the opera
ton OF the general rule.
For my part, Mr., Printer, think it is
the best way to keep on the safe side OF the
hedge. | am not disposed to rely on the