Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-27


and sections were adopted, which ii
was kaown were not carefully drawn,
the members voting for the substance
of the provision. But the session was
lprotracted so much longer than was ex-
pected, and the members became so
Impatient to adjourn, that scarcely any
revision could be made, and thus the
constitution was left exceedingly inn
perfect in this respect. Now if there
is any instrument where nice precis-
len of language, and the most method
ical and accurate arrangement is re-
quired, it is constitution. Every
word in il should be the most fit of all
others in the language to convey dis
tinctly and definitely the very shade Of
meaning intended. A single wrong
word, or sentence badly arranged,
may cause many law suit, and surely
if there is any thing which ought to be
perfectly ineligible to the people, it is
the Fundamental law of the land.
Notwithstanding we should bring
upon ourselves these great evils by a.
dopting the constitution, yet the sup
porters Of that instrument say, that still
greater evils are to be feared from It's
rejection. i shall very cursorily. no.
tice all the prominent reasons which ]
have heard in favor of voting for the
constitution.
lst. 'The expense of new conven-
tion.' | have ascertained from the
Secretary of the Territory that the av-
erage mileage Of the present members
OF the Legislature at ten cents per
mile is SIT 60. Supposing the aver
age of the Sc members Of the Conven-
ton 10 be the same, their total mileage
would be S9l5 20. The second scs-
sion called to revise the constitution Of
the State Of Iowa, continued less than
two weeks. But suppose their session
should extend to twenty days, then the
total per diem pay of the members
would be S2,0s0 90. There will be
no need Of standing committees, and
consequently little printing to be done.
The constitution already framed can
be acted upon at once, and such a.
mendments proposed as public opin-
ion shall have indicated to be neccssa-
nv. The whole expenses will not ex-
coed, in my opinion, $4,000. This
sum will not be so great as the unneces-
sary expense of a numerous legislature
for single yenr. But, sir, no COM
parison can be made in dollars and
rents. with the evils which this instru-
ment will inflict on our now prosper
Gus country.
Cd. Rejecting the constitution will
delay our admission into the Union.'-
Not at all. The convention will meet
in June; the people can vote upon the
adoption of the constitution in August.
and elect their State officers and mem
bers of Congress at the election in Oc-
tober. Our Senators and Representa-
tives can take their seats in Congress
at the opening OF the next session.
But suppose there should be a delay,
must we rush Immediately into the
Union, no matter what the constitution
contains?
Sd. Ga new convention will not
make any better constitution than the
one now proposed" There is to my
mind moral certainty that il will
4. ..,.u L. Ioes ,uroo.ons.; - ,.,,ll ~, h..
subject to several evils under which
the late convention labored, and will
have the advantage Of IFS experience,
and besides will have a clear indca-
ton Of public opinion upon the objec.
tionable provisions OF the present con-
stitution, as to most Of which, the late
convention was entirely deprived. -
Some fear that new convention will
not restrict the Legislature in the con-
traction of debts, but ] see no reason
for such fear. Canals are obsolete, and
railroads are the only means Of inter-
nal improvements now considered de-
sirable. 1t is admitted that States can
not manage railroads, and that they
must be constructed and carried on by
private enterprise. do not know Of
single individual Of either political
party, who objects TO this provision 10
the constitution. Even in New York,
where vast and populous region is
Interested in the enlargement Of the
Erie Canal, and in the completion of
lateral canals. the true doctrine has
prevailed. But the great fear is, that
we shall get banks. Sir. have been
as uniformly and as decidedly hostile
to incorporated banks as any other