Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-14
State Debts-ConsututionaI Limitations.

A vote is to be taken at the August Election, in
this State, the question of convention to revise
the Constitution. This is of the least mpor-
tant matters involved in the election The citizens
OF Indiana, especially the Democratic portion of Them
should not for a moment lose sight Of it. The time
has now come when, by the proper act6n the people
viii be able to incorporate into their constitution
such guards and guarantees, will eectually protect
them from the cncroachmcnt of the Legislative DOW.
er. That which we regard one of the most inpof,
ant of these Guarantees is the limitation Of the debt
creating power. II is matter which we deem in
ITSELF and apart from any other subject of sufficient
moment to authorize the calling Of contention. II
is true in the present situation of the State of Ind-
ana-laboring she does under crushing debt of
Millions which presses upon Der Ike an incubus and
shackles the right OF her industry-i is true the
matter cannot, at the present time, be of so much
practical importance il would have been ten or if
teen years sinceThe credit of the State Is too DEER
" compromised TO admit of new loans being created
and new burdens imposed upon the people, for years
to come, even surprising the Legislature willing
create or impose them. But now, we maintain, is
the time-when the people awake to the impor-
lance OF the measure, when they admonsshe bv
the results Of previous legislation and warned by the
bitter experience of the past-now is the time to press
the matter before it is lost sight of, and secure
those constitutional guarantees that shall shield the
State of Indiana and its citizens for all time TO come
from the abuses and encroachments of improvident
legislation. Once embcdy in the constitution pro-
vision that the Legislature OF the State shall make nj
loans or emit evidences of debt Except in cases
of invasion) without submitting the question
to direct vote Of the people, and you establish bar
rier to the debt creating power that can be brcs
ken down. The people will never surrender up this
power again, for experience has taught them that it
liable TO abuse unless exercised by themselves di.
recty The people of indiana, like the PEOPLE of all the
other States, delegated this great power; without linz
it, 10 the hands of their representatives,. The nwise
exercise of it has brought number of the States and
our Own among that number; TO the verge Of bank
ruptcy and ruin. An aggregate Indebtedness of up
wards of S200,O00000. has been fastened upon the
citizens of the various States. The people are now
becoming jealous and disrustful of leaving this pow
or any longer under the entire control of their dele
gates. They ask to have it placed back into their
own hands, and they have right to demand it, The
democratic theory recognizes all political power and
authority springing from the people and that
power which experience shows cannot be safely exer-
csed by the rulers or rather the servants Of the peo-
pie, the people have right to demand and will take
back 10 themselves. New York; under the democrat
ic ascendency was the first Of tie States we believe
which moved in this matter. II has not yet been
thoroughly carried through there, but will be- by the
convention that is about to assemble in May Mich
igan has already adopted similar provision in her
constitution, and the constitution that prepared
for the new State of Iowa embraces like one. One
other States, believe, have followed the ex-
ample We hope to see Indiana not behind. The
rights of the people, the security of their property
from oppressive taxation, TIE best interests Of the
State and its citizens require and demand the further
limitation of the Legislative power in this respect
Lafayette Courier.