Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-22
THE CONVENTION.

vded the manner in which delegates TO
that body should be chosen, az well as the
number Of which il should consist. The
words of the law are so plain that no hon
est man can mistake their meaning. The
seventh section declares-"each senatorial
district shall be entitled by law TO elect 10
the Senate of this State at the time Of SAID
election; and any person elible to seat
in the House Of Representatives Of this
State, shall be eligible to a seat in the Con-
venton." These are the words of the law,
ratified in all its parts by more than two
thirds Of the people Of the State, at the
last election, by declaring in favor of a
Convention. In regard to the last clause
Of the section, the Legislature, at its pres
ent session, by its own action, has decided
that it has no power to change this organic
law, inasmuch as it refused so 10 change it
as to permit Judges of the courts, United
States Senators, and other high functional
ries to become members Of the convention.
IT, in a provision to which there was no
serious objection, that body refused TO con-
sent to any alteration whatever, surely it
will moi be pretended that change can be
made in the fundamental clause-that
which fixes the representation in the Con-
ven,on, and which offers the only security
to the minority that they shall be repre-
sened on that floor. Fortunately, how
ever no action of the present Legislature
can take their rights, or those of the body
of the people, away. The election for
members of the Convention is fixed for
next August No election takes place at
that time for members of either branch Of
the Legislature. The term of election of
the present Senators and Representatives
does not expire until the election Of men,
bers in August. 1916. They are liable to
be called together at any time, by procIa-
nation of the Governor, previous TO that
period; nor can the Legislature, by its own
act legisate themselves out Of office. We
care not, then, what apPortionmeut Of
Senators and Representatives may now be
made: il cannot touch the thirteenth session
Of the Legislature, nor can an election be
held under it, until August, 1916. This
being the case, tie election Of members Oh
the Contention must tale pl0ce ncrt August,
according TO the Senatorial Districts as
thea nor stand in the Stdtuie 6o1k. The
apporIionment of Senators and Repre-
sentatives for the fourteenth General As
sembv, The election for which is TO be held
in August, 1916, cannot he made 20 take
effect in August, 1915. No election can
be held for members Of the Legislature in
August 1915, except it be to fill vacancies.
and then only according to districts as they
now exist, and not as they may be arranged
under new apportionment. A knowledge
Of these facts will convince a majority of
the Legislature that they cannot touch the
representation in the Convention. Even
r g Al do NJ I,
; ernor, in the proclamation for an election
= of the members of the Convention. which
he is required to issue in April next. should
assume to &C, under the apportionment
: law which may be passed at the present
4 session, he will quickly find mandamus
upon him. 70 enforce the provisions Of the
law calling Convention, ratified by ma
h iori,y of twenty.threC thousand of the Peo-
pie.
f The minority have submitted 10 silence
I to the expressions Of the majority, fer
wears past. They have seen the public
money squandcrcd on favorites and profit.
: gates; they have seen Congressional Dis
I rrirts so formed, avowedly. as to cut them
off from all chance of obtaining n repre-
y sentaton in the councils of the nation;
: they have been prevented, by the action
n of caucus, and by the nomination Of a
l. party Governor, from having any partici
!. patton in the selection of those who are
l. to rule over and to administer the laws 70,
0 them; they have seen twenty new counties
o created at a single session, for the avowcd
l. purpose of keeping down and crushing the
:, will of majority of the people; they have
II seen the money belonging to sacred trust,
2, so appropriated as to give to counties con
IS tanning hundreds of people, only, as grea
u share as were given to counties contain
e ing more thousands; they have seen the
d taxes unequally levied, and been denie,
!, any chance for remonstrance against III
d abuse; in a word, the minority. while they
4 have been forced to pay the taxes, hav
T. been cut off from the protection Of tht
n avs. and wronged and trodden under foot
'He Now, when a majority of the Peopl'
X acknowledging the wrongs thus existing
E. have declared in favor of a Convenio
TO remedy these evils, their agents propos
Is TO cut of all chance of accomplishing thi
T. end, by creating such distorted and outra
geous Senatorial districts as will prever
the election of any man who does nc
embrace and carry out their views. Th
is in contemplation, and il may be done
On but the moment it is done, the minorit
is Of the Legislature, if they are true /
ne themselves, true to their constituents, an
tn to the country, will at once abandon III
IL halls Of legislation and appeal TO the poop
~ for corractpecc IF tbair