The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-18
Constitutional Convention.
SpRiSsrllLp. June 8. lS47.


The third days session has disc b no.
silhou, much d, bate and opposition. The prin.
cipal difficulty has been TO determine the power,
Of the Conv, nlion. It sI,il by the wings, ,ha
tie Convention is above all powcr-lhat 1t pos
sesses The power TO Obrogae al. laws that have
heen pnss d b. the I.rgislaiure-that i, can draw
money from tie Treassury-that,h the 20.A secul,
If second article # tie constiruuIn, which pro
vides that $40 money shall be drawn from The
Treasury unless appropriated by law cannot
aiItc this body-lha the I'D constitution is sb-
rogatej, and tina, the Legislature had no right to
make provision for the payment Of the expenses
Of this convention; consequently, the conven.
Ii n has no right TO coubtenauce such an act
Much has been said BY the wings on this side OF
the preston. On the contrary, ii is hell Ivy the
democrats, that this c,nyention has been called
uuder, and according to, the III article OF The
constitution as provided for by tie Legislature,
no, contrary to the said act, but according to the
spirit If that ariicle-thsi no lnleTegpum car
occur, and that the NV constitution is (aiier
made imperative, until ratified by the Peu!l /;
.nsequcntIy, no act or resolution Of the conven-
ton can nave auy bearing Oh the Treasurer, who
cannot pay one dollar rless provided iur by law,
while the present constitution continues in force.
The following is cry OF the resolution jeclar-
lIory + his point:
X soiutd, That the Convention have lssen BLEED
fol the purpose Of revising, sheupg or amending
he Z institution OF this state, aud that the pow
ers and duties OF sand Convention Offer its pop.
sr orgauizl.iu') To such objects Only.
The opposition to this was principally by the
wings, who claim foT the convection power On.
limited; being. as they say, the People in their
sovereign capacity, without check ~ restraint,
not ev,n answerab!e f,r their conduci, subUru,.
nate to no superior anl even doubt the r, ference
to The People Of The contemplated rev coasligu-
ton for their approval ~ ri c,ion.
|. seems to me little singllr that men should.
At this late day, entertain such anii.rrpub.can
notions. 1t might have been excused Ia former
times, in the day of the elder Adams, " hen the
,bilily OF the People to govern themselves wa,
aol well understood, when our present form of
government was termed "a doubtful er pedlency."
But az the leopard cannot change his spots, no
more can the wings their principles. We are
willing to meet this question as they have made
the issue, aud let aectins and in gent com.
muni'y be tie judges.
The pretended excuse has been 'rtiyeachmen''
They have occupied Two days to reduce the pay
Of two officers (issisiauis Secretary and Door.
Keeper a, about 500 per day to save, probably,
co They will not join snj reduce thch own
pay, nor do they contemplate taking Que cerr
less than the sum fixed by law.
The convention adjourned until Tomorrow
there being 40 business On sccount of the ap.
poin,ment Of COMMITTEES, which wi not be re-
ported before Monday. A committee on Militia,
and on Miscellaneous matters has been add,d 10
the other committees.