Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-28
hegs:ss to The Convention,
SHEPHERD LErFLER,
I'm IS LOWE,
JOHN D. WRIGHT.


l1kkeye 9SeWS uSeu IN favor Of cOnStl- !
lusisa % ksmed ~ not to Illustrate the
win &sle majority Of the members Of the
Leeisastme in any set of circumstances.
We took exceptions to this anomalous doc
trine 4 the wing party, and placed the
dsdasation Of the wing editor in our paper,
where It is still to be found. The editor
prstend<d he was obliged for the favor, but
sssing that we still kept il there, he felt
hinsslf called upon in late Hawkeye 10
explain his position, but his doctrine might
nct be % sweet to the taste Of the people
Is il was novel in the history Of statesmen
ship and peculiar to the views Of that ex-
pansive editor. Mr.. Edwards apparently
in the honesty Of his soul, protests that such
doctrine 10 democratic, because it says the
majority shall rule in every case, do as
they please.
Nov / will Be borne in mind, that q ma
jcrity Of the Legislature Is very different
thing from majority Of the people. The
Legislators being chosen from districts or
ssanties, il i very common thing for .
n.jsvity to Be found Of one political party,
whils there is an actsal majority Of the
people. # the osher party. But were our
Legislation to b done BY the people them
selves. - person, 40 in primitive times,
when The people were few, then and in that
case, : majority Of the people should do as
they please. Providing, however, the
people did legislate in that capacity, no
man will deny but it would be matter Of
prudence, that they should adopt certain
rules Of aciion, for instance, that such and
such lille or motions, should be brought to
The notice Of the assembly. and after thai,
lie over day or two, so that the assembly
might have time to consider it, and there
BY b prepared to act judiciously on the
fnal disposition Of such bills or motions.
This IS the case in al deliberative bodies,
and adopted a. matter Of prudence, being
conscious that all men are liahle snm.-
times, to oct in haste, and not unfrequent-
u With indiscretion.
But since the number Of the people have
become too large to legislate in person, it
has become matter Of necessity to dele
ISL
gate that authority to agents, or servants;
and y prudent people, they ever have
found i necessary to have the power Of
thsse agents properly defined, in order, if
shsy went beyond their authority, their
acts % done should be null and void. Ex-
perience has proved, that power loves
power, that al men are not always gov
ssned BY the dictates Of well regulated
eonseisnce, and that they frequently, and
more particularly when they can do SO with
inPanisy, dissegard the rights and inte-
sssts q those who inlrust them with pow
-. For this resson, il has become uni-
versal custom in free governments, before
he people surrender their rights, or any
'eftheu, to have contract formed betwixt
dc government and the people, in which
Il Is sgreed that the people will do so and
-, and thst such and such things the State
saall mt do. THIS contract, denominated
aStais Constitution. usually, and always
should DO so, enumerates the powers Of
The Stste, and reserves all but those emil
nesated, TO the people. Consequently, il
sny such reserve is made, il the constitu-
don says that the legislature shall do such
things, and that il shall not do others, ex-
capt the people Be FIRST consulted, it would
Be % framed, in that case, that the will Of
die majority Of the Legislators would be
prostraied, whenever this majority should
wish TO do any Of these things which the
people in the contract with The govern
,nent stipulated should not be done with
out their consent.
Now there is move being made TO form
= State Gosernment-the people are about
70 b collected 10 set up power over
themselves. Whether they will do 90.
depends upon what the contract shall be
between this power and the people. We
ny that, - matter Of prudence, the peo-
PIE, before they yield their rights, oneh,