Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-09
0nr Constitution.

sCiOW CiuZCu0 ava OdAAs 81 e Cut sOuo " AuOW |
what will be the result Of the deliberations
Of the Convention, because the public mind
is anxious to know, whether Iowa is even
with the age in civil and political advances
ment. 1t is not enough, that our constitu-
ton shall be equal, in point Of perfection
to those of the old States, under which they
have lived for scores Of years, but it should
be what their constitutions probably would
be, if they should be revised, and made to
conform to the wishes Of their respective
citizens. We must recollect that these an
cient constitutions were framed, when, in
comparison with the present, there was
want Of experience, and when civil and Po-
ltical science was comparatively in its in
J fancy. To maintain, that our constitution
shall not 60 in advance Of them, is to main-
tain either that those constitutions are per-
feet, or that mankind have made no pro-
gress since their formation. It would be
going further. It would be maintaining
! that the same constitution and laws. adapt
ed to the Government and wants Of peo-
pie 20, 80 or 30 years ago, were adapted
TO the government and wants Of that people
now, however much their circumstances,
notions and tastes have altered. That this
is not the case, that the public mind ispro-
gressive, and struggling to rid itself Of these
old stackles, become CALLING from change
of circumstances, is evident from the mod
i ern advancement in Constitutional reform.
In New York, New Jersey, Louisiana,
Missouri, Maryland, Virginia, and Rhode
Island, there has very recently been re-
vision Of their state constitutions. or steps
taken by the people and the press, with a
view to the same. In Rhode Island, the
desire for more enlightened constitution
was so strong as to lead to civil commo-
tions, and bloodshed, because the state au-
thorities refused to comply with the wishes
Of the public. In that State new consti-
tuition was adopted some year or two ago.
In New York, the people are completely
in arms, SO anxious are they to have the
abuses which have crept in under the old
constitution, reformed. Louisiana has re-
Gently adopted the most perfect constitution
now enjoyed by any State Of the Union,
while Missouri has one now before her
people for their adoption or rejection, in
advance Of that of Louisiana. In Virginia
the public mind is intently busted upon the
subject of constitutional reform, and New
Jersey commenced operations under a new
constitution on the 29lh Of June 1874, hav-
ing cast off an old one under which she
had lived, without alteration or amend
ment, for IS years. Texas has copied her
constitution mostly from that Of Louisiana,
- tho. IL - ----:l---l.~--a-- 49, { 49,
Nmany other States. Not only in those
. Sses we have named, but throughout the
J. S'as generally, there is beginning to be
dess on the part of the people, to purge
). our los Of government, to place our pub
;. nc omce in situations where they cannot
De dishont with IMMUNITY, to throw round
The rights { the people more substantial
" deiences' to arrow legislation, lessen ex-
|" penses, and a,ume the election Of public
- officers to them.lves. It is evident then
= if Iowa would ntbe behind her neighbor,
). in these particulas, she must take care
" that clear and exlicit expression Of tn.
state and advancemei Of her public mint
re be Swallowed forth in hr constitution.
m But what are the indic,ions Of the move,
IN menss which have been nsde in the State
named9 In New Jersey, te credit Of III,
ne State cannot be loaned in any,ase, the con
ID stitution otherwise placing Ii. most eff
h cient barriers to its future inoebtedness
p Imprisonment for debt, and militn fines i
d, time Of peace, are abolished. This Stat
Up also makes an advane ement in favor Of pop
e, ular elections.
s. The constitution Of Louisiana declare
at "Ihat no corporate bsdy shall he hereaeie
Of created, renewed, or extended, with bank
ing or discounting privileges" Corpors
as tons to be provided for by genera. law,
is and the legislature to have power to revoa
Sc charters after 1890, Of such corporation
Of as do not expire before that time. No
se vosce il to be granted by the Legislator
~ and the Legislature not to pledge the fat
l. Of the State for the payment Of liabilities (;
n the benefit Of any person or corporatio
re &c.. and ''the State shall not become sui
ca scribcr to the stock Of any corporation
in joint stock company" Similar provisio,
DO are in the new constitution Of Missouri
he but more stringent if any thing. Both col
stitutions, as also that Of Texas, make mil
e. listers or clergymen ineligible to Office.
this they are evidently wrong. 3
o. Upon survey Of the improvement