Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-07-30
ConstitnliOnaI Reform.

Among the best statesmen of the day no subject is
attracting deep and earnest attention than that
of Constitutional Reform The constitutions of most
of our States drawn up by men of strong minus,
and devoted PATRIOTISM If is true, but of limited ex
perience in the science of government, and without
opportunity of proing from observations of the past
Under such circumstances the wonder is, not that de-
fccts exist but that they are not more numerous and
glaring.
The admission Of several new States into our
federacy within few years has furnished an OpPor-
tunity of arousing the attention of the people TO TINS
great question: and has brought forth several const
tutions more nearly approaching perfection IN their
model than any that have preceded them. Such are
the constitutions of Texas, Louisiana, and the reject
ed draught Of Iowa.
In our own State several efforts have been made 20
arouse public attention TO this subject but matters Of
more personal interest and apparently Of more I'M
mediate importance have defeated them. The politi
cal wbrlwind of 1910, swallowing up in its vortex
every thing else prevented proper expression of the
wishes of the people this subject, and accordingly
1t has again been placed in their power, by act Of
the Legislature, decide upon the calling of
ventIon for the revision of our State Constitution
Fully impressed with the Importance Of such revision,
we have on all occasions urged Its proprlety. With
out going into DETAIL shall content ourselves with
stating few of the reforms which we believe ought
to be introduced into our Constitution.
|. Prohibit the renewal creation of any charter
for Banking purposes after the expiration of the pres
ent charter of the State Bank.
III. In all charters for any purpose whatever require
the insertion Of the individual liability clause
ILL., Substitute biennial for annual sessions of the
Legislature, and thus save some So, eco per
! " Fix permanently the number Of members Of
the Legislature.
| V. Abolish all Poll tax. Let property pay all
taxes instead of heads
VI Prohibit the creation Of any State debt, without
providing for the annual interest," and the payment of
| the PRINCIPAL within 90 wears.
VII. Abolish the present abuses of special egisa-
ton, and require all laws of general nature to be
of uniform application throughout the State.
! VIII. Remodel the judiciary system and provide
for the adequate compensation of the judges.
k Abolish the present Probate system and provide
for the Probate Circuits with competent officers elected
by the people.
X. All Judges and State officers to be elected by
the people.
XII Provide for system of free common schools
XII. Extend the right of suffrage to all white male
actual residents of the State of II years. idiots and
lunatics excepted.
XIII Abolish all licenses for trades and profess
sions all religious tests and prohibit Imprisonment
for debt in all lis forms.
XIV Fix the amount of property to be exempt
from execution and prohibit the passage of all relief
/ laws.
XIV. Guaranty to females the absolute control Of
i their own property.
These are portion of the reforms which we pro-
pose to nave effected by the revision of Constu-
ton and are, most of them, such as will commend
themselves TO the appreciation of candid men of all
parties. Had we leisure, we might enforce each with
appropriate arguments. As it is only express
the hope that the words " for a Convention - will be
found large majority of the Tickets voted in the
NORTH as well as throughout the Statc.-GOshen De