Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-12-18
State Constitution.

n movement, or averrIng or denying that
il is premature in the absence uf inslruc-
,ions from the people. we have few
remarks TO make on The general question;
our only regret is tina, our paper is so fully
occupied otherwise that we canaot take an
enlarged view of i, a, the present time.
Two plans have been simultaneously
introduced in the Council by Mr.
Coop; The other by Gen. Morgan Of the
House. Bo,h contemplate vote for or
agains, Convention in April next. 1t
seems 10 Us that more summary and
much less troublesome way nigh, be
adopted. We have no room to poin, out
this way i'll detail, and can only indicate
lis outline.
The Constitution which has heretofore
been twice submitted to the people pos
sesses all the groundwork Of an appropri-
ate instrument, of The kind. while a, the
same time it contains severa, objectionable
features. Let these Objectionable features
he expnnged by the present Legislature
and the whole d~umen, properly amend.
ed, and we have no doub, an overwhem.
ing majority Of The people will vote for
il.
Our views are known on this subject.
and we believe they accord with the
opinion Of The mass of the people. They
are to disrobe the Constitution Of every
thing that is partizan-,o expunge all the
peculiar views of either party and present
j, ~ the people in such shape tina. either
party who may be in the majority can
frame laws aud carry on, their own views
under it, without call for its alteration
The main alterations called for are so few
that we can even with our present limits
point them out.
In the Bill Of Rights, Sec. 4, strike out
in the 4lh and 5lh lines the words cor
rendered incompetent, TO give evidence in
any court of law or equity" This clause
is obnoxious TO all who see the absurdity
Of admins tering an oath 10 an Atheist.
IN article sec. /, strike out elk
months and insert zone year" also strike
out "rhir.y days" and insert six
months"
Under caption of Legislative Depart.
ment, so alter The 9Th section as TO ADM,
the Senate to choose its presden, on, Of
its own body.
Uuder same head, sec. 35 strike ont all
in relation to officers salaries, and lei
them be provided for by law.
Art. 5, sec. 2. strike out 1.-TWO" and
i'lser' four years as more appropriate
time 10 make persons eligible for the
Offices OF Governor and Lieut.. Gov
ernor.
Same article, strike on, sec. IA.
In sec. II, same article, Immediately
after Governor" inser. The words "and
Lieutenant Governor" and alter the para
graph to make il correspond.
Same article, strike out sec. lS.
Art. 6, sec. 4, strike out all after the
word ''law," in the second line.
Same article, after the 5lh section so as
TO read "The Judges Of the Supreme and
District Courts shall be nominated by the
Governor and shall be approved aud con-
frmed by the Senate" &c.
Art. 8, las, line but three, alter so as to
give the publication to all The newspa.
pers.
Art, 0, strike on, all but the Isl and 81
sections.
Art. IL, strike out section /.
= Ia the the Schedule. Art. 10. in the las,
line but one in sec. o, strike gu, all after
the word "until," and insert 1.-the people
by majority Of votes shall otherwise
determine"
Were the above alterations made il
would obvia,e the principal objections
that have been heretofore urged agains,
the late Constitution, and we believe if,
with such expurgations, il were again
submii,ed to the people. five six,hs of
them would go for il. We cannot at hi.
time poin, out the benefits that might
result from such alterations. They would
he numerous aud satisfactory to the PEG
pie as mass. By adopting some such
course as we have indicated. our coming
into the Union would be greatly simrlfi
ed and facili'a'ed. By promp, action on the
par, Of the Legislature we nigh, he adj
m:ued dnring the sitting of The presen, frs,
Congress Of AIR Polk's Administration and
The pe"pls Of Iowa could celebrate The
next 4,h of July as an independent State.
IN regard TO the boundary, lei General
Movgan's Memorial go ON to Congress,
and il lba, body persists in DENYING US
the extended boundary. we know Of no
remedy in the Constitution. We must
submit. or refuse 10 come into the Union.
Will, such an alternative before them, we
hardly think the people, with The question