Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-06-26

other consideration. If this Legisla
lure reflects the will of the people, and
there shall be no change in it, the Leg
islature which is to accept or reject the
conditions Imposed by Congress, will
reject them, by the same relative ma
Jorlty which is brought to bear in the
passage of this bill. What must then
be done, preparatory 10 entering the
Union as State? VIII another trial
strain be made with the same old
detunct constitution, until the people
are wearied out with Territorial vassa-
lage. and compelled to adop, it as the
choice between two evils! To this
alternative we hope and trust they will
no, be driven. They have right to
say whether they will have another
Convention; and in their name we pro-
ties, against policy which deprlves
them of that privilege.
We are opposed TO submitting to the
people this "drafI'' Of a Constitution
for such il only is. and rough one, at
that. If this Legislature has power to
submit to the people, drafts for their
consideration, common courtesy would
seem to suggest the proprety of pre-
sentng one which had not already been
passed upon. The passage of this
bill is the virtual assumption that this
constitutional draft is the ne Plus ultra
of craftsmanship, and tina, it should
not be profaned by the second touch of
progressive democracy. This princi
pie is at war with the creed of our po-
litical faith, which teaches that the peo-
pie have at all times right to alter
or abolish their government, and to in
stitute new rules for their guidance -
Shall Iowa COMMENCE by reversing the
basis of power, and declare that the
government, derives its ust power from
the consent of the governors, instead
of the gouernei-and that the people
have not right 10 alter or abo II it
without The consent OF the Legislature!
Shal! it detl,e to the people the form
of government they shall have. and
shall the people be told by their legis
lators tina. they shall take that or moth
ing!
The citizens Of Iowa had right 10
expect a constitution with such guards
as should secure them all the rights,
privileges and immuniiies which are
secured TO their fellow.ciilzens in 9TH
err States of the conlederacy. In this,
however, they are sadly disappointed.
They have had rendered TO them con-
stIulon i'll one respec, different from
any in chris,endom. The sOlemnlty
of an oath, in this new declaration oil
rights, is virtually done away with, by
admitting the Atheist 10 all the prlVll-
eyes of a conscientious witness. Ii
this is a progression in the science Of
government it is certainly retrogres-
sion in christianity. it is presumed
that few people, with old fashioned
notions of morality, voted against the
constitution in consequence OF this nov
ell feature.
This constitution also surrenders TO
the Governor the right to deprive ma
jori,y Of the peoples representatives
from enacting laws, unless two-thlrds
ing the Executive branch OF the lie
gislalive power, which, in another part
of the constitution is declared shall be
separate and distinct. This conslltn-
ton also virtually prohibits the Leg>a-
! ture from ever adopting system OF
Internal Improvements. such as the
construction Of roads and canals 10 iacl-
lita,e the operations of trade and COM
merce, and from the creation OF corpo-
rations for manufacturing and other USE
full purposes. Nor can any Bank ever
be established under the provisions of
this constitution 1t is true that there
is provision for the establishment of a
State Bank. under certain conditions;
but those conditions amount to perfect
mockerv. The members OF the Con-
veniion well knew that no Bank would
ever be established without an alteration
of the constitution. They knew that
no sane man would take stock where
the stock holders were liable in their
individual capacity not only TO the
amount of stock by them owned res
pec,ivelv, but to an unlimited extent.
The consequence Of depriving the
citizens of Iowa of the privileges Of
banking. and the issuance of their own
paper currency, is too palpable TO be
questioned by the meanest Intellect
The adjoining States will furnish Us
with currency of which we can know
Int little. and over which we can have
no Legislative control. And it is fai
10 presume that the annual loss 10 GU
cisizeas BY the use Of such currency
would exceed in amoun. the entire di
rect tax for the support OF the Stat
Government. Every tyro in polite
knows that the meaner the paper cur
rencv. the scarcer will be the preciou
metals. The adoption of the consttu
ton proposed will cause an influx Q
worthless paper, and the disappearance
Of cold and silver. A little specie wi
remain in the State. it is true, bat
will be an article of merchandise, an
can be had Of those consistent advocate
of hard money currency called bro
kers or shavers, at the market price
which ranges q, this ill-fated period +;
from IL TO so per cent.
This constitution has many othe
! ~. .,f IL ,,o,,ll L.