Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-29

Conuention an PENNSYLVANIA bill has been
introduced into the House of Representatives of
pennsylvania Tor taking the sense of the people at
the next elections on the call Of q ConceRtto1t IN
mat State. After being once postponed, the vote
was reconsidered, and the bill passed, yeas 48,
noes 81 Ii is thought it will pass the Senate.
ihis bill (Which is published) was precisely such
ohe as was passed In our House of Delegates, and
rejected IN the Senate by vote of Is TO ll--pru-
VdIng that the State officers should receive the
votes oil the people CONVENTION or NO CoNvEN-
fioN' To DC returned and Opeued at the next ses-
sion OF the Legislature.
As 1t may be amusing readers, to compare
the iaeaS OF the Pennsylvania Legislators and our
own on the same interesting subject, aud which
VIII probably AT no very distant day be again dis
eusSed In Virginia, have inserted extracts from
tue speeches OF some OF the speakers, pro and con.
Mr. Patterson said he was not in the habit
OF speaking, and if be were he would not think
IL worth while to waste the time of the Committee
upon so reasonable proposition as was con-
.aihea In the provisions of this bil.-lIe should,
'nere'ore submit II to the good sense of the
committee, without further remark"
wi. Ro6erts, moved to 60 INTO a second rea-
ding and consideration of the lii.
"lhe yeas and nays were called, and were
yeas so, nays IS.
"Mr. Judhdny said this was very important
JIM ou' he really ola not know what to say
aoout IL. lie had taken II up, and was desi-
ious to pass ii through committee of the whole.
But he thought it extremely hard to be forced
to carry it through second reading, in the same
afternoon, particularly wh,n it was such fine
day But he would Ike To know what they were
aoout-what was the great necessity ofhurry ing
The matter-whether there were any petitions
on the table asking for the passage Of the bill.
He would like to hear from some gentleman what
were the defects OF the constitution: and what
alterations were proposed TO be made He had
not attended to the subject, SD far as to make
up his mind on it, He moved to postpone the
bill till Thursday next
''Mr Roberts SAID the question was before
the legislature last year. 1t was reported, and
brought up as an item of unfinished business.
Since last year things had occurred, that made
ismore necessary, that the measure should be
adopted than it was even at that time. He re-
verted to the feature in the constitution, which
relates 10 the judiciary. The idea OF making
The judiciary independent of the people, he said
was entirely errOneous-it was founded uDon a
false philosophy. He had long had his mind
made up on this subject. He was of opinion
that this was one defect in the constitution that
should < must be cured, :ooner or later. ifthere
was provision in the constitutions that these
oihces- should terminate at certain periois In, V
wnnid not ind 1t Unnecessary, nor would they be
caiicd on TO vote articles oflmpeachment against
d Judge. but lie would say, Ii they should 60
no further than 10 introduce a provision. h,
w"ioh the constitution, might by some means
be amended, II would in his opinion. be su;fi
cient grounds for making the attempt Blu. 20,
possible evil could arse from passing the i
ana much good might grow out of 1T. 1t w ;
merely leaVIng 1t TO the people-if there shoud
be majority for the call, il Guild only he what
the perple 'ad right 10 do--lf not. why u,
would remain where we are
VIZ Is 'ef'' said he was not surprised that the
gentleman from Montgomery was auxions ON
TINS SUBJECT, since he had referred to some ,,en
Ding occurrences. Ii was true, that a comm;
lee had reported last yea, and notnithstana,uo
All t'I> therc was not single petition on tie
taDe praying Tor the measure, nor a wu,i in the
new sPaPers on the matter. lie thounht fin,
was evidence, that there was no great anxiety
/" tie u3hc mind on the subec If the nco-
pie felt grievances, they would let the legi sIa.
| turc i,now it.
''Nif. Dsoen SAID he was eally very much sur
p iSed at the gentleman Just set down. But
"hal surprised HIM most was the great reuc-
lance oI gentlemen, at acting IN this subject
lie would recoect, that not long ago there had
been resolution brought in and pressed very
strongly, for an alteration of the United States
con 'tituuon-yet there were no petitions on
that SUBJECT. He said we had had 80 wears ex
penence under tins constitution, and we were
wen satisfied there were defects in it. Now
was favorable time 10 take the matter. M
| 1t was a time of general quiet-no eovcreor,s
e.ectlon pendmg.
'Ar. ". Smih said the gentleman from the
county seemed to think as there we're no mott
tons on his subject thal therefore they sbou,d
notact omit He thought he could CIV . iIima rea
son why tie people HAD not petitioned. Thcv
mad formerly Pe'Itloned, till they had des,aircd
OF being heard, and had ceased m king any fut-
thcr efforts. In 1918, he was a member of the
house-he recollccted that petitions were then
Presented-in 1920 81, he recoectcd that >
| resolution was brought in BY MIR. Lawrence.
the late Speaker-and was rejected, aIthouoh
there were numerous petitions, in that session .
"Nlr GiIteLrnd said, gentlemen want infor-
nation from their constituents-tnaf was the
very object of the bill /, put him in mind nf ;,
society iormed in Pittsburgh few years arc
he believed II was ssy!e ''J'ne Qusical Socic, y
ono Of the articles went to coB,oel eyey mem
Der IN do as he pleased That would baiibe only
euect OF this bIl--it would compel the people to
do as they pleased All admitted there were
detects IN the constitution; the only question was
whether the people were capable o! sclf-goyern.
~ '"SJ "cic1 they HilSll DC trusted with
their own concerns at some tifnes--this was ne
! cessary to keep pace with public Improvement.
There was one evil of our constitution that was
Just beginning to be elt--that which constitutes
the Judiciary for life. The Judges and justices.
appointed in the early stage Gifts operations are
now beginning to get superanuatcd. He was
opposed to PostPonenent, and in favor of the
bill"
"Mr. Roberts said, gentlemen did not seem TO
advert to the provisions of this bill. The gentle
man from Franklin has said, when he knows fine