The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-18
Constitutional Convention.
SPRISsPllLp, June 8. 1917.

SPRiN6FikLn, June 3. tS4I.
The third days session has tLse b / no.
silhou, much j, bate and opposition. The prin-
cipal difficulty has been to dr'ernine tie powers
Of the Con,, niion. Il is l,ll by the wings, tba
tie Convention is above all powcr-that it pos
sesses the power TO 0broga,e al laws lha, have
been pnss, by the Iegslature-thai i, can draw
,nIuey from the Troasaury-thatih the 20 q secri,
If SECOND article # tie constitution, which pro
vldes that "no money shall be drawn from the
Fr.asuIy unless appropriated by law cannot
affect this body-lhat the old constitution Is sb-
rogated, and that the Legislature bad no RICH, TO
make provision for the poymeu, Of the expenses
of this convention; consequently, the conven-
ii has no right TO couHtenance such an act
Much has been said BY the wings on this side OF
the PRESTON. On the contrary, it is hell by the
democrats, that this convention has been called
under, and according to, the III article OF the
constitution as provided for by the Legislature,
not contrary to the said act, but accurdn. to the
spirit # that auicle-lbat no Inleresuum can
occur, and that the NV constitution is (aiier
made imperative, until ratified by the Peu.l, (;
nseq uently, no act or resolution Of the cpnven-
ton can have any bearing on the Treasurer, who
cannot pay one dollar urless provided iurby law,
while the present constitution continues in force.
fhe following is a copy Of The resolution JeclaI-
ltory T This point:
X so{pd, That the Convention have lssen BLEED
fol the purpose Of revising, aiIenbg or amending
he & Institution OF this state, aud that the pow
ers and duties Of SAID Convention Offer its pop.
ar organizl,io,) 10 such objects ouiy.
The opposition to this was principally by the
wings, who claim for the Convention power un.
limited being, as they say, the Pep!I, ia their
sovereign capacity, without check ~ re.irpint
not ev,n auswerlb!e fur their conduct, suborul.
nate to 10 superior anl even duubtIhe T, ference
to the People Of the contemplated rev coaslilu-
ton for their approval ~ ri ciion.
II seems to me little singular that men should
at this late day, entertain such anti.epubcan
notions /, might have been excused il f,rmer
times, in the days of the elder Adams, When the
ibilily OF the People to govern themselves wa,
not we'll understood, when our present frm Of
yovcrnmeh, was Termed "a iouh.ful Ell pedlency."
But as the leopard cannot change his spots, no
more crn the wings their principles. We are
willing to NEE, this question as they have made
the issue, aud let q dectins and incl gent CO IN.
nuni'y be tie judges.
The pretended excuse has been 'reirenchment
They have occupied two days to reduce the pay
five officers assistants Secretary and Door
Keeper at about 800 per day, to save, probably,
5 co They will not join snd reduce their own
pay, nor do they contemplate taking one ceni
less than the sum fixed by law
The convention adjourned until Tomorrow
there being no business On sccoun of The ap.
poin,ment Of COMMITTEES, which viii not be re-
ported bef.re Monday. a committee on Militia.
and ON Miscellaneous matters has been added TO
The other committees.