The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-12-31
=
From the State Register.
The New Constitution.


The proposed constitution, which will be
very soon submitted 10 the vote Of the peo'
: pie, has thus far met with but little discus
I sion. There seems 10 be much apathy on
the part Of the people, with regard to this
subject. This is net as il should be. The
instrument which is presented TO cur consid'
= Grafton, is destined Ia rule ourselves and oui
! children for long time TO come. The eN-
peIiCncc Of the past, not only IN our own,
but in Our sister states. las shown that III,
: people (and very properly, too) are not very
, apt 10 make any radical changes in their or
ganic laws, short Of twenty-five, thirty, OF
forty years. How important, then, is il ioI
every citizen To examine into the new pro-
lect, and To form an opinion which will sat
i>iy his own conscience and his own iIdg-
mem rs otis merits or dement's. The time
Of those who have heretofore given some at
teniion To matters of government. and feel
consequently justified in presenting THEN
views 10 the public, could not be better en-
ploycd than in discussing and reviewing the
new constitution in all It's bearings. ana IL
contribute in this way 10 the formation OF
correct public opinion. which, as it rules cv-
erythlng in country like ours, ought GER
tainly 10 be Is well advised, and properly
and honestly directed rs circumstances will
permit.
|, for one, after careful, and may say,
arduonS examination of the proposed con>ti-
tuition, have felt myself almost irrc>i>tbly
impelled to reduce my thoughts aud reicc-
tionS concerning il 10 writing, and TO lay
them before my fellow citizens iortheir can
did consideration. ! am certain (judginc
from experienced that ia some points may
be mistaken. perhaps from placing an i'm
proper construction on some of the provis-
ions III the instrument; perhaps from enter
tanning ideas which may not be intriuSically
correct. | claim, however. that am hon
est in my views, and that DO not wish by
taking certain positions. TO suO,crve selfish
interests. If am wrong, the opportunity is
offered 10 combat my views. and truth can
only gain in the conflict, though my opin-
ions might suffer defeat.
I II may be as well To cast a rapid glance at
the condition of things Immediately prcced-
ing the convention which assembled last
June. The question of holding conven-
tiOn for the amending Of the constitution
having been decided adversely by the pco.
pie at various times, was again submitted in
1916, and carried by majority, which, by
some defects in the returns, could not lie pre-
cisely aSccrtaned, but which, at any rate.
was not very large, considering that so ma
ny prominent men of both political parties
had eXertcd themselves very strenuouSly in
favor Of changing the old constitution. The
legislature of 1867 passed law providing
Tor the call Of a convention, only few days
before the close of the session, the said law
going into force the 18th Of February, 1917,
iiXing the day iorthc election Of members TO
the constitutional cony cntion for the Sd Mon
day in April, 1917. and the day iorthe meet
ing Of the convention, the I'd Monday in
June.
It's very plain that in these proceedings
considerable hurry was manifested. TWAS
not before the middle of March that the mass
of the people learned the passage of the law,
and consequently about month was allow
ed to the citizens TO make their selections,
discuss the amendments " hich were eNpoc-
ted to be made, and TO enforce their own
views properly upon their delegates. Many
ofthe delegates offered themselves but few
days before the elections. and hadto be TAX
Ell sometimes Just as they offered them
selves, and many times entirely upon trust.
| am not disposed to disnarage either the
honesty or the ability Of our late convention,
but am borne out by an almost general
. INtHC 'lililti. W ltil L say. litdl u Tue ltb-
pie had had more time TO make their Selec-
,ions for delegates, the complexion Of the
convention would have been materially diff
ierent.
} \ very short time after the delegates had
been elected. they had TO assemble at the
capital, having their own matters 10 settle
beioEe going, and necessarily deprived Of an
opportunity TO prepare themselves for their
responsible task. When met, they were
oppressed by the heat Of the season and their
own numbers, matters. 10 be sure, for which
they were not accountable. but which were
nevertheless not without influence i'll the re-
suit of their deliberations.
Another circumstance exercised pcrcop-
tible influence upon all proceedings connec-
ted with this new constitution. also beyond
our control, but nevertheless unfortunate. as
regards successful result. | mean the
Mexican war. a great many IF our'bcst
and most intelligent men had actually par
ticipated in il. by which they were deprived
from being heard in the first place, when
the call OF the convention was before the
people. They were gone when the DELE
gates were elected. and Of course could not
be members themselves. A great many
others Of our most energetic minds. although
not engaged actually in the war. had enter
ed so fully into the merits of it, that their at
tention and their efforts were withdrawn
from the comparatively less exciting subjects
Of internal affairs. The whole mass of the
people of our patriotic state lad fixed thcir
hearts on the great national questions, the
consequence Of which was an otherwise un.
pardonablc apathy in respect TO our own
state policy, an apathy which is still Ger.
tain extent maniieStiug itself. and will con.
time as long as the war lasts.
tits most certain that taking all these cir
cumstanCes together, not more unpropi
tious time could have been chosen for The
, purpose of radically changing our organic
law, than the period during all which The
, proceedings, rs well previous as subsequen
, TO the contention itself, have taken and are
, TO take place, which is still more eviden
, from the additional consideration that il th
\ new constitution should be adopted. i, has (,
: be put into practical operation Ivy the cleo
n ton Of almost all the officers, executive, iu
\ dicial, and administrative, at time when
. most spirited contes, for the presidency vii
4 be raging, swallowing up in lis vortex al
& minor questions. and making our state cleo
A tons but auxiliary objects for the purpose q
a accomplishing national triumph.
: Surely he who loves his own state, VIII
~