The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-03-10
ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYL-
VANIA.
gELLOW (Y7YZENS:


your direction TO reform the Constitution Of
this State was elected and organized under
unfayorable circumstances. The friends of
reform had much to contend with and for
a long time could make but little progress,
with great discouragement in the conven-
ton and throughout the state. Our officers,
committees and preliminary steps were so
uncongenial with dlspassionate proceedings
to improve the frame of government that a
general opinion prevailed that the conven-
ton must end in abortion and discredit;
which apprehension was SO generally and
discredit which apprehension was so gen.
orally and often disingenuously dissem-
mated, particularly by the public press, that
a settled belief in some measure still exists
that little Or nothing could be, or has been
done; The arrangement Of the currency,
stagnatlon Of business and excited state Of
party feeling in both state and federal pol
itcs combined to render the time and cir
cumstances of our meeting extreme inauspi-
clous, and many of the sincerest friends of
republicanism almost despaired of success
in any attemptto improve its institutions by
such reforms as we have never doubted are
required by large majority and the well
fare Of the people of Pennsylvania. Re-
form was supposed TO be in minority of
the convention and repeated movements
were tried by some Of its opponents claim
ing and seeming to be a conservative major
lty, I'd Illustrate the whole design of our
convention. BY the aid of some of the
more liberal of that apparent majority, how
ever with generous and elightened constan-
cy from first to last sustaining certain re-
forms, aud by the help Of public sentiment,
we have the satisfaction TO assure YOU that
great amendments have been at last carried
by large majorilies, to be submitted TO the
people for their action upon them. Pa
tience perseverance and free and candid dis
cnssion during three protracted sessions of
more thanhalf a years exclusive devotion
to the great objects confided to us, under all
the disadvantages alluded to, have enabled
us to close our labors with extensive and
reforms, for some of which
nearly all the members of the convention at
last voted' Almost every member of bo-
dy, which throughout its deliberations has
shown no disposition for rash, inconsider-
ate unnecessary, or sven'numerous changes,
has sanctioned finally the position we have
uniformly occupied, that the constitution of
1890 may be improved without endanger-
ing It's advantages, some errors corrected,
abuses lnseparable from the practical oper-
ations of government removed, fresh Tigor
given to the virtue of Democracy, and the
Legitimate sovereignty of free people, re.
plenished and reinforced
We shall not attempt fellow citizens, in
this short address to explain to YOU in de-
tail the reforms submitted for your sanction.
They should and no doubt will be parli-
cularly examined by you before you att up
on them, But following summary will
show how thoronghgoing, vet as we trust.
how valuable and satisfactory they must
prove to every lover ihe utmost freedom
that is consistent with government of
law.
The political year is TO begin in January;
the principle Of rotation in short terms of
Offices is applied by allowing the chief ma
gistrate but two terms ofthee years each in
the senatorial terms is reduced
three years; the power OF the legislature to
grant Banking corporations and privileges is
abridged and regulated; and il is deprived of
all power TO authorise either corporations or
individuals to take private property for pub
lie use without compensation first paid or Sc
cured. The legislative power over maria
ges is likewise diminished, and there is con-
provision against duellng.
The Governors patronage is nearly slI
taken away, and for the most part restored
to the immediate action Of the people by
electihg those officers hitherto appointed
by the Governor; whose appointment of
even judicial officers is to be checked by the
Senate, sitting with open doors on each
nominations. The legislature moreover
may direct the mode Of appointing all off
GERS which is not fixed by the constitution;
and removed from office remains as hereto.
fore.
All life officers are abolished; Judges of
the Supreme court to be commissioned for
fifteen years, Presidents of the common
Pleas and other Law Judges for ten, and
Associate Judges, of the Peace and Alder
men for FIVE years, if they so long behave
we'll.
The disagreeable duty ofcarrying out the
adopted principle by which Judges are to
be hereafter commissioned for limited terms
a, ka anc,rooI