Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-11-14
The Constitution.

The Constitution.
In our enumerated objections to this work
we commenced ~ king Of its imperfec'
tons as an aggregate. In mos. instruments
Of the class this would have an importance,
but in the one now before US the blemsh is
20 small in comparison with the bold at.
sscks upon tho DISCRETIONARY rights by the
people reserved to themselves, which stand
out with full prominence in some Of its Sec
tions, that it renders it seemingly matter
Of secondary consideration.
It is valuable as furnishing link Of the
internal evidence borne upon its, every leaf
that the men who were selected for this
grave responsibility, were destitute of even
The elementary knowledge indispensable
to the undertaking. Ignorant or careless Of
she distinction between constitutional pro-
visions and legislative cnactments. they u
nited in their persons both capacities. and
in their doings merged from Convention
into Legislature. and from Legislature
into Conventions: with tie facility and
ease Of an accomplished musician in chang
ing his movement from the major to the
minor mode.
Cardinal articles in a compact between
the rulers and tho ruled are glued on to
the ordinary provisions OF law makers, and
the highest and most sacred safeguards pro-
vided against popular license dove.ailed into
the unimportant details Of report from the
committee Of ways and means. Every page
almost gives al instance Of the narrow space
separating the sublime from the ridiculous
We give ono single extract from the article
defining tho powers and duties Of the Exc.
cutive bransh Of the government as sustain.
ing our position
s'There shall be seal Of this State which
shall be kept By the Governor and used by
him officially, and shall be called the greas
Seal 81 the Snte Of Itwa.
"All grants and commissions shall be in
tho name, and BY the authority Of the peo-
Pic Of Iewa, sealed with the seal, signed by
the Governor, and countersgnsd by tho Sc.
ereiary Of State !
These striking instances Of parental care
sbr tho secarinS Of .',if., s.s..,y -"a '"0
s,Ss.szzs,s~sz 1aPPsnSsss - the commonalty,
have the negative MORT of being harmless
in their almost ludisrous relation to the con-
sexk quality which cannot be claimed for
some other Of the embellishments fsathered
upon the fantastic lattice work, by these
unsephistieated novieiasss in constitutional
jebbing. who seem to lack familiarity with
even the q armon mortice and tenon labor
Of their oeAing.
We can suggest but one improvement 20
this Fictitious blending Of things great and
things little; that the 2lst section should
allow the members Of the lower house each
fsuE bits worth Of foolseap with such a pro.
portion Of ink and waters, as tho committee
on the pay roll should deem proper, and
next, that the sergeant at arms should be
authorised to procure at the expense Of the
State a reasonable allowance of nolasscs
and water to luorcate the thirsty throat
Of his honor the Lieutenant Governor. while
elocutionisng 10 the venerable Senators in
''committee Of the whole"
The 9Th section Of the fourth article we
quote as specimen Of the vigcr and clear.
ness Of some Of the most important provi-
sos:-
''The house OF representatives, when as.
sembled, shall choose Speaker aud its
other officers, and the Senate shall appoint
it's own officers except the President; and
each body shall judge Of the qualifications,
elections and returns Of it's own members.
A cont tested election shall be determined in
such manner as shall be directed by law"
"Each body" are to Judge Of the quail
fcations," &c. of their own members but
contested elections are to be decided by law.
1t would appear to our unenlightened un.
Outstanding that the article taken entire was
very far from giving each branch, the pow.
cr ofjudging Of the rights Of members elect
to their seats. The Senate with their non.
eoncurring power and the Executive with
his headsman's axe Of a veto, might have no
mean voice in settling the claims of rival
aspirnnts in the lower House to the Halls |
Of State. The Ciceronian Lieutenant too, !
~ to assist ir stirring the scalting broth OF
conflicting privilege.
By Section IS. Article4 the members
OF the Assembly arc required to subscribe
to form Of oath, before entering upon
their ofice,and by concluding clause they
have authority 10 swear each other. and
perhaps by implication, at ouch other but
the Supreme Executive and his bevy of eubs
are to oesE the scripture injunc ton .swear
not ut all, mo oath being provided and moth.
ing required in the form Of on affirmation.
These are bat few samples Of the cohe.
rencies Of this chief d'Guvre Of State Con-
stitutions and yet they are but the small
dust Of the balance when contrasted with
he grasping reach of its powers in matters
upon which rest the foundation stones of
he arch which must sustain M in its
OF erneh AZ in its weakness. II