The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-02-11
["Cato"-rrom the State Reri>,cr.I

managed. T0rcn LIGnTLy.
"Cato''-fromth the State Rcg>tor.l
The 9th article concerns the right of sur
rage, the first section of which limits tn,
right OF voting TO "cifsenS,n who have re
sided one year next preceding an election
and inhobitGm residents of the state Mt In,
time Of the adoption of the constitution
I This change has been so much debated il
the convention and elected SO much news
/ paper controversy at the time, that deem
unnecessary to say anything aboutit. But
! cannot pass this section without deplornl
the great carelessness of language, whicl
VIII perhaps defeat the whole object in view
What is citizen? Is there no citizenshi,
but one OF the United States? Does tn,
term citizenship necessarily imply either
| OF the United States of America? thinl
not. Such has not been the construction %
that word under the old constitution. Tn,
seventh article ofthc old constitution pro-
vldcs thata convention TO amend the consti
tuition shall be called, if it shall appear tina
a majority of dRMe citizens ofHte state vot
ing for representatives, have voted for con
vention. Now the right of inhabitants ha!
never been questioned TO vote for call Of Z
convention under this clause. Under thi,
constitutions, the legislature of lSiO'and ~
passed an act providing that inhabitants o
| six months residence shall vote al ann am
all elections. They did not understand cit.
izen to mean citizen ofthc United States
Suppose the next legislature, under the new
constitution, were 10 pass an act declaring
that every white male person, having resi-.
ded one year III the state, and paying taxes
should be deemed and considered TO be n
citizen. who can doubt that all such persons
would he entitled 10 vote under this new
constitution? To say the least about il, the
language is ambiguous and will sooner OF
later give rise 10 much trouble aud excite
ment.
Again, and OF this there can be no doubt
every man who is in Illinois at the time Of
the adoption OF the constitution. becomes en-
titled TO vote here .torerer. although he may
have left the state for years, or have moved
over the lin into Missouri, Indiana. Ken.
lucky, Wisconsin, or Iowa. lie can exer-
else this right whenever he chooses, by this
new and perfect constitution, the product of
a highly advanced state of political science.
as the members say in their address TO The
people. To be sure the convention did no,
mean all this, but nevertheless, they have
said so, and what they said in plain language
does stand III law, while their intention A.
mounts to nothing.
Twill dismiss the article seventh on ooun-
ties with but few remarks. am satisfied
that il any one will attcntivcly examine all
the different sections Of il and calculate all
the many and important consequences flow
ing from these curious provisions. he will
come 10 the conclusion that the inconvCpi-
cnceS arising under them will hc moustrous
aud ihSulierabie. Instead Of taking poquia-
ton as the basis, whereupon 10 found a re.
S'rctlon IN tho decision of counties, space
alone has been made the measure. The
third section holds out premium for diSor-
gari>CrS. and was no doubt introduced for
the special benefit Of the asi-ators in Mar
qnette or Highland counties. who have set
the law of the legislature repeatedly al def
ance. The sixth section is the most obiec
tionable of the whole, however. in compel.
ing the legislature 10 provide by law for a
township organization. under which any
county may organize or rather disurGaniZe
INTO townships. Now, this is most lamen-
table compromise Of views Of the members
IRON the different parts Of the state, made
with view 10 make this constitution accep.
table 10 every body, but which, in effect,
cannot Int have a most unfortunate opera.
ton. The south, as general thing. prefer,
the old county organization, the north the
township system, as il exists in New Eng
land, from which the citizens Of that region
mostly came. The convention had not the
courage TO decide upon the one or the other
Under the new system one county will have
county organization, another will hate
township organization. Now this is certain.
~ an unheard Of thing in the same state.
What confusion will be thereby created. and
what constant agitation will be in all the
counties 10 change and rcchangc these two
so very different systems.
BY the seventh section no sheriff can be
reelected IN succession, or in other words,
whenever he has commenced TO become
qualified for the discharge of his important
and multiiarouS duties, in the proper per.
ionnancc OF which tho public is much more
interested than the sheriff, he goes cut of of.
fee. But, is is only Of piece with the
many other checks and restrictions on the
elective franchise,
The tenth article treats Of corporations.
The very first section opens wide field for
moS' endless agi;ations. Corporations not
possessing banking powers privileges may
be formed under general laws, Lu, shall not
be created by special acts, except for mu.
nicipai purposes, and in cases whrrc in the
Judgment Of the General ASScmbiy. Tie o5-
jeciS Of The corporation cannot be attained
Under general lars. Does not every one
see that continual efforts will he made TO
range almost every case of a corporation un-
der these exceptions? And there is no rem
edy in the courts against the most arbitrary
construction adopted Wy the legislature, a,
their Judgment must be final
BY this article the power Of the legislature
to incorporate banks, of any number. is linn
tied only by the fifth section, which provides
that before law establishing banks shall
go into effect, the people shall have APPROX
ed OF II at the next general election.
1t is true that the people may prevent, the
establishment of Incorporated banks, but if
they for once (and under state of peculiar
excitement this is not impoSSible) should
sanction snch an institution, the hood.cate
for letting in whole litters of banks is open.
ed, II Chicago succeeds in getting one, Al.
ton, backed by the whole people ofthe south,
from loca! interests. and supported by those
who have been so fortunate or unfortunate
as 10 have obtained one from motives even.