American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-28
Amerjlon 4epubliton,
AND
BALTIMORE CLIPPER
SATURDAY. MORNING, FEB. aa, 1886

the llousr OF Delegates and SOME very good
seeechgs have been uAdo. 1t appears to US,
however, that speakers ou both sides 20 to eX-
,remes 1t rs been conteOdei Ivy some dele
gates vino are opposed t" calling convent'Cn
-frst, that the legislator possesses no power
{, authorize the seusa Of the people to be TAX
en- on the mattor-aId secondly that nothing
can be done unless 10y the uniui0'ons vote OF
the people. On the ct ier hand It is contend
ed, that the people have The inherent right 10
amend or abolish the constitution at pleasure,
without recurrence to the Legislature. we
hold both opinions to be GIlaciouS. Tnat the
legislature does possess the power to take Ihe
sense Of the people upon the propriety oil hold
ing c0uvention, Or upon the expectancy OF
any proposed change ia the constitutions, we
consider undcuiablC-ahdr as All evidence that
this opinion is Sustained by the action oil the
legislature, We refer to the fact, that bill to
change the cous tuition SO as to substitute bl-
eunal lUr annual sessions was heretofore pass
ed. with Il clause referring it to the popular
vote--lmd such bill has again been passed, we
baHeVs, dIrn5 the preScGt session. NO" Il the
power exists to consult the people as TO the
expedency Of waking any change III the con-
sliluton, Why should 1t be denied in reference
TO tho formation Of all ontre constitution. -
We have never cOutendod that the cUnStltu-
ton could be altered or abolished in any other
than the mode prescribed in the Instrument it.
soIG but the people may cgtimately be called
upon in convention, to inform the Legislature
of their wishes in relation to the organic law,
and have the power to elect delegates with tho
express object Of carrying those wishes into ei-
feet. In word, the convention might frame
must be passed at two successive sessions of
the legislature. That is the mode, and the
only mode, which has been prescribed by the
instrument which the people have adopted and
bound themselves to support.
"But," says a learned member, "thc people
may delegate power, but cannot ALLEVIATE
rights" There are certain rights which have
been declared to be ina lenable, viz: Life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness" and yet, in
the formation of every civilized society, pow
er is Invariably delegated to the constituted au-
thorlties to deprive us even of these rights I'M
der particular circumstances. individual right
must not conflict with delegated power. 1t is
necessary to be governed by laws; and these
are not to be violated or abrogated 10y one or a
thousand indivld uals; nor to be annulled Or
changed by any other than a legal process.
Let US take a case. The legislature passes
a law TO have biennial sessions. rnis coutcm-
plates a change in the fundamental law, and
has to be submitted to the succeeding legsla-
ture for It's sanction But in order to ascer-
tain the sentiments Of tho people upon the sub
ject, they are required to vote for or against it.
Suppose the vote TO be unanimously in favor
by some gentlemen be correct, viz: That the
simple vote OF the people can change the Com
stitutlun, then there can be no necessity for
having the bill passed upon by second Iegjs
latute--and yet we venture to say, taat not a
single gentleman who has maintained, what
we consider the monstrous doctrine, that the
whole Constitution can he subverted by the di
rect vote of the people, would neglect to have
the bill in question acted upon by a second leg
islature.
The only political right which may be con-
sdered as inallenablo, is that Of revolution
the right of resolving society into its original
Il. a. &
be began de nopo. Resort to the exercise Of
this right can hardly be contemplated by any
man in the State of Maryland, who has proper
ly considered and weighed consequences. We
should be exceedingly sorry, much as we desire
to have reform, to sec it reached through this
medium--for it would set US aaoat upon "a sea
of trouble" without compass or landmark
We believe that consitu onal reform can and
will be had, without convusiGg the order oil
society We think that the Legislature would
act justly and judlciously to let the question of
a convention 60 before thepeople. The denial
of this request would manifest distrust of the
people which should not be entertained; and, it
the expense of holding convention be an OBJ
stacle, (and we admit that it is a matter winch
deserves considoraton,) let the delegates to the
convention serve grstuitousy. We have no
doubt that intelligent and public spirited indi-
viduals would become delegates on these terms;
and hat the result would be mare advantageous
than if compensation were allowed.
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THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PirrsBURG. The
Senate of Pennsylvania, on Thursday, rcsum-
ed tho second reading of the Baltimore s. Ohio
Railroad bill Various amendments, says the
U. 5. Gazette, were proposed by MIR. Crabb
and others, all of which were voted down, and