Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-06-15
From the Illinois Intellinencer.

from the Illinois Intellinencer.
Mr. Edifor-rhere has been much
said against our constitution by the ad.
vocates OF Convention, because i, esta-
pushes the County Commissioners
court; and from the best information
nave been able to gather ON this subject,
| am led to conclude that very few of
lhe enemies Of the commissioners court
Know what the constitution says respect
ing that court. have made il uniform
practice when | have heard any person
OBJECT to TIE constitution on this ground,
10 ask than II they knew what the COM
sti'utlon aid respecting this court. The
answer las been as uniformly, dom,
know. Now, sir, TO be properly prepar.
co 10 amend our constitution, we should
be thoroughly convinced that i, is deiec-
hvej We should also be certain what
those defects are, and the difficulty that
we labor under from these defects. 10
The second place, we should know what,
the proposed amendments are, in every
particular. When VIC have obtained his
lniorm1tion, then we should be very GER
tam batwe sho d be better satisfied wlih
the proposed amendments, il adop,ed.
man WIZ The present constitution. We
should ten pause and ask ourselves This
question: have we good solid reasons TO
bel'eve Nat the proposed anendmen,s
will be adopted if we call Convenient
All thl, we should be thoroughly con-
vinced oil before we vote for Conyen-
-yenli,n. Remember, though, the old
maxim, never let go a certainty for an
uncertainty. Now, sir, as a number OF
The citizens ofthis stale have not the con.
stilution 10. examine. for themselves, |
shall here insert the whole clause re-
specting the county commissioners. Ii
reads as follows:
: There shall be elected in each coun-
y three county commissioners, Tor the
purpose Of lransacipg all county busl-
ness; whose powers, duties, and time of
service, shall be regu laled and defined by
law"
BY examining, we find the constitution
IS binding IN two parts--the first is, they
shall be elected. Surely the men who
have said SO much respecting The sove-
reign peopie, and their rights and prlvi-
leges, will not deny them the inestima
Die privilege of elec;ing the guardians of
the internal policy of their county. Tue
second is, they shall transact all county
business. Nov, Is il not reasonableto
suppose that three men elected by the
people. Tor the purpose Of doing this bu-
aess, who are themselves mem bers OF
tie county, and equally interested in It's
prosperl,y--l say, is il not reasonable to
suppose That these men will discharge
this duty equally as we'll as any other SCI
OF imcn whatever! Their powers, duties,
and time OF service, are completely under
The conrol OF the Legislature. There is
not word in the constitution of the
enormous expense that has been so much
complained Of Now, sir, high salaries
attached to any office is contrary to The
principles OF republican government !;
but TO require something for nothing, is
equally SO. Ii is therefore reasonable
That county commissioner should be
paid at least what would board him de.
Gently While discharging the duties OF his
Office, if no more. Ii is not my opinion
that better foundation can DO laid on
which better county court can be csta-
bIished. If there is any conventioner
who thinks he can lay better, let hr
now exhibit it, or ever after hold his
p~ace.. But 10 all our attempts at poll
'lcal reform, we should be careful to re.
collect thai our consultation is only the
lonndaiionof our political edifice; that
our constitution may be entirely harm less,
and we laoor under many difficulties for
The want Of good and wholesome laws,
or for the want Of those laws being pro-
perry executed; therefore, when we meet
with difficulty, We shouldbc very careful
70 examine where it has its origin; and
never attempt to remedy that in the CON
sli,ution, that can and should be done
elsewhere. A FARMER.
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