Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-02-05
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BURLINGTON

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'A BURLINGTON
.Thursday. February S, 1916.
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TWO DOLLARS PER ANNCM
-Ats u-rin Advance.-Il
FOR rnE rERMsIN DETAIL, SEX FIRST PAGE.
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The Stale Government Question.
We are sorry Ia see an apparent shrink
ing. on the par, "f the editor Of The Ga
xete, from manfully meeting the issue
which We have proposed in relation 10 the
State Government question. All we wish
10 know is whether his paper and the 9th.
or loco fuco papers throughout The Terri
tory. together with the leader, OF the party
whom they represent. are determined IN
the construction of another Constitution
for the Stale Of Iowa, 10 engralt in that
instrument such features as would debar
either or any party who might be in the
majority from carrying out its principles
BY law. To illustrate: -lhe Wing party,
generally, ard many democrats, are in ia.
vor Of introducing capital into the State by
encouraging manufactures and such priv
leges as will operate as inducements to
secure this object. Now suppose that a
majority in the proposed Convention
should engraft clause in the Cons,i,u.
lion, which should discourage the intro
due.ion ef capital in this form, by putting
. prohibition on the Legislature from
granting Charters or Incorporating COM
panies either for banking or other rurpo-
ses. This is one Of the peculiar doctrines
Of loco focoism, we believe; but we are
not discussing the good or evil policy of
the measure itself. All we wish to show
is. tina, in fixing such a feature in the
Constitution it may ac,uslly become an
an,i.democralic measure. There can be
no democracy where a ma ority do not
govern. This is an axiom. Well, then,
suppose that at any time = majority Of the
people should be in favor Of Incorporating
companies for The purpose Of Introducing
capital into the State or of more fully
developing its resources. Suppose they
even though, by the establishment! Of a
Bank, the farmers could obtain better
price for their produce. They mus,
accomplish their objec. through the Leg
isla.urs. They send their Representatives
Those thus sen. are the maj GRITTY for the
time being. at any rate-the Democracy.
A bill granting charter is introduced
A member, opposed to it, moves its
rejection on the ground of its uncons,itu'
tionslity. 1t is unconstitutional; and,
however large the majority nigh, be, who
would gladly pas, it, they are barred by
the Constitution. The Constitution, to
oil inien.s and purposes then, is no longer
4 Democratic instrument, as it prevents
the majority from ruling.
We have given the above single illus.ra.
ton TO show the effect il would have in
one instance TO nullify the democracy
The same effect might be produced in
ENGRAVING any other party measure. such
Is the election Of Judges by the People
the adjustment Of capital punishment OIL
any other question on which the people
are divided. So il the Wings had ma
jori,y in the Convention and they should
fss.en any of their peculiar views on the
Constitution, the effect would be The
same. Such a Constitution would b.
subject to continual change 10 accommo
date itselfto the wishes of the majority
Now we think it would be for the interest
Of the people-it would subserye the
legitimate purposes Of democracy -ant
secure. as nearly as possible, the desirable
end Of having an immutable instrument
for The government Of Iowa-to exclude
the peculiar views Of both parties in
the proposed Constitution. TO accom-
plish this we know Of no better mode thar
for the people to demand pledge from
the candidates for the Conreniion-such 6
pledge, in substance, as we have present
ed in a former number.
What we com plain Of il that The
GaxSAe lodges the main question, and
without informing its readers whether j,
+ = for or against party Constitution. it
simply cavils at and objects to the doctrine
of instruction, on the ground iha. mem.
bers Of the Convention will come from
"various portions Of the Territory and
a. they will bring with them the dfferen,
opinions entertained in The various sec.
tons whence they come, that therefore no
member Of the Convention should be
bound down by particular Instructions
However true such an argument might be
In ordinary cases, i, has no force or even
hearing on the subject which is under
discussion. Abou, minor points ,h.y
may differ As much as they please, and
these differences may be various; bu,
shout The question Of excluding all party
e. IL