Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-03-30
JOLIET SIGNAL.
Tuesday, March SO. zsA7.
The Constitutional Convention.
JOLIET, ILL.

The constitutional Convention.
The people of this state by large ma
jority, decided that our present constitution
was inadequate to the existing state ofo
affairs. The preliminary steps to the
formation OF new one have been taken,
and the people will soon be called upon
to ect in reference to the matter. 1t is
now high time that each individual who
will hare voice in this election, should,
have his opinions formed, and be prepared
to vote understandingly'
Among the many propositions which we
have sesnsuggested from different portions
of the state, none occupies more promi-
neRt position than the one to have clause
in our new constitution prohibiting the
re-charter of a State Bank. The propri-
ETY. of adopting this proposition, must be
obvious to every oRe who desires the
prosperity and welfare of Illinois. The
evils which this State has experienced
from banks, need no tehsarsing, for they
are fresh in the memory of its entire pop.
ulation. All, III a more or less degree,
have suffered by the failure ofthese rotten
institutions, and will the people again try
the dangerous experiment Of leaving our
constitution SO that another State Bank
will curse our State. But independent of
the losses which follow subsequsnt TO tho
failure of banks, and which we consider
the greatest objection to their creation, is
the immenso fluctuations which they cause
In the value Of property. All must DO
aware that bank by increasing its loans
and issuing greater amount of paper
money, can enhance the price of every
thing-while by recalling their loans the
effect will have direct reverse effect from
this. They have tin their power by
loaning freely at one time, and by sudden.
ly contracting them at another, to render
great numbers of our inhabitants bank.
ruPt, and by this means affecting the whole
community. But at this late day, all have
examined, and are satisfied of the cause of
the sudden fluctuations which have blight.
ed the prospect of thousands. And we
trust the people will 80 act that we may
apprehend no further evil from these most
dangerous Of all corporations.
There are other amendments, which
deeply affect our state and which should
Likewise be attentively examined by all,
proposed for the consideration of the peo-
pie. The chief of which is to place the
election of every officer directly in the
hands of the people, whore it rightly be-
! longs. This has long been called for, and
doubtless will be adopted by the conven-
tion. Taking from the peoples the source
ofpower in this country, the choice oftheir
own officers, is contrary to our free insti-
tutions, and should not be tolerated.
The Judiciary needs recognizing. and
the Council of Revision should be abol.
ished, for we view il as clog to Iegisla-
ton. And the Judges should not be eli
gible to any other office during the term
for which they were elected. The prin.
ciple of promoting from one Office to an.
other, is injurious to the rights Of the
people, and therefore sheuld be avoided.
Our Legislature has always contained
too many members, and the new coastitu-
:ien should specify the number.1 wo.thirds
our present number would be sufficient for
alllegislaiivs purposes. The per diem OF
members should also be fixed. Gould not
all the affairs that require ieglslation, be
attended in shorter time than is now &C.
cupied !; if SO let the constitution define a
period 10 which the Legislature shall re-
main in session. But above all let all
unnecessary expenses be retrenched, fer
| this should be our highest aim in the pres
ent embarrassed condition Of the moneta-
ry affairs of our State.
! 0TTAe capacity of the United States
| for supplying the wants of Great Britain