Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-09-04

places:
Coal Office, Trlbun. Buildings, Neic York.
Cornor OF North 80 and Lnesnut Streets,
Philadelphia.
s. E. corner Of Baltimore and Calvert streets
Baltimore
No IL State street, Boston.
COHlstitutiom--a.i
In resuming our remarks on the
subject of the Constitution we find our
present number is SO fully preoccupied
that we can barely allude 10 a few items.
In the discussion of this subject we
rely upon The correctness Of The suPpo-
si.ion that The people-the mass--de-
sire such Constitution as will protect
them in all their rights, with basis
that will enable them, the people, to
frame such laws through their represen-
ta,ives as majority of them may re-
quire from time to time. More than
this the great mass of the people do
not require. |. is an innate principle
that all parties desire to secure the
prevalence of their peculiar principles.
Blu, to engrafl them in Constitution
the character Of which is supposed to
be immutable, is manifest wrong to
all other parties, provided there be any
other legitimate way of carrying out the
will Of the majority. There is another
way. Ills through the enactment Of
laws, the offspring of the majority.
These are the expressions of the people
for the time being. They are as bind
ing, but not as immutable in their char.
ac,er as Constitution. While such
Constitution as we think the mass Of the
people desire, will enable the majority
at all times TO secure the prevalence Of
their peculiar principles, il inlringes no
right of the minority but leaves them
free, by discussion and the use Of 9th
.er lawful means, TO point out the mex
pediency of wha, they may deem un-
wholesome legislation.
1t appears to us tina, the principle we
have laid down is the very essence Of
Democracy. 1t secures all that the
majori,y can ask for, and a, the same
uime protects and secures the rights OF
all. The want of this principle in the
Constitution that has been twice defeat
ed is the grand cause Of lis condemna'
lion. In its inception and all the 81
sempis made by those most interested
to secure lis success, a party bigoiry
ia,en, upon fastening an ultra partizan
Constitution upon the people manifest,
ed itself, which was truly alarming 10
every well wisher of Iowa, who was
not blinded by this very bigotry,
Every one can see that Constitu
ton, SO binding as to cripple and des
troy all action on the part Of the major
i,y becomes anti-democralic tie mo
ment i, thus sets itself above the people
Every feature in it sof this description
shows that its trainers dare not trust
majority unless it accorded in senlimen
with them. Is this democracy! Is
not saying in cffec, that the people ar
unable to govern themselves, and "
will therefore bind them so that the
will be obliged TO act according to on
rule Of policy! 1t may be said that ther
was provision in the Constitution
whose merits we are discussing. gran
Ing the privilege of alteration. So tbel
was, but who wants Constitution III
is continually subjec, to alteration a
cording to the fluctuations or whms
party! The merit of Constitute
consists in the protection it extends
all classes without respect to party, a!
in its stability Of character. 1t mu
possess the first attribute to secure 4
latter.
In the matter Of Stale Legislation
the appointments TO office-and ger
raj state pa,ronage--if the loco foe
are in the majority, we are willing
acquiesce and be governed by III
measures Of policy. They may p
the most obnoxious and ultra laws a
carry out in practice all their progre
i've experiments. We do not say
will not oppose them. 1t would be
pocrisy in US to say that. We m
oppose them whenever we deem III
in the wrong. Blu, our opposit
would be urged on with hope t
could have no entrance into such C
uoversy were the principles agai
which we are conlending engrai
in the Constitution. Every man, ht
ever small may be the minority
which he finds himself, is entitled
This hope. l, is one of his inaliens
rights. Exclude il and he is no Ion
freeman. But such Constitution
has just been defeated would exclude
We most sincerely believe and
ioice in the fact that the people
masses-are honest. The knowle
Of this fac, leads us 10 hope that "
,.o l.,a all 4