The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-02-04
WILDE driven through this new constitution

The 2lSt section aboishcs the council OF
revision, in whom the old constitution had
lodged the veto power. However much this
blending the judicial department with the
executive and legislative department viola
ted the abstract principles Of strict division
of powers, and however much Objectionable
1t was on that account, it can hardly be Sc
riously contended that it practically exercis-
ed any pernicious influence. 1t violated
more our notions of political propriety than
any practical and tangible interests. twas
well enough to purge the new instrument of
this political inconsistency. But certainly
the people never desired 10 see the veto pow.
er reduced 10 a mere shadow, and TO make
their new Governor and the legislature play
mere farce. The veto, as heretofore ex-
ercised in our state, would, If strong enough,
have proved eminently salutary. The old
State Bank was vetoed, the internal i'm
provement system was vetoed, but these
measures were passed in spite Of the veto.
Can any one calculate the immense benefit
which would have resulted TO our people if
that power had been stronger? And yet
the wise and experienced trainers of the
new constitution have reduced the little
strength which it has under the old, and
brought the whole into ridcule and contempt.
They brought it about in this way. II re-
qures. as the old constitution does. major
ity Of the members elect to pass law, when
the veto has been interposed. But the new
constitution requires the like majority for the
passage of any law. If law them is passed
it is submitted to the Governor. If he as
sents to it, il is all very well, and if he vetoes
it, it makes no sort Of difference, as precise.
ly the samesmaiority will directly pass it
again. What Governor will be simple
enough to place himself in this ridiculous po-
sition. twas reserved 10 our state, sin this
age of the advancement of political science"
as the committee recommending this won
derful project of constitution SO ieliciiously
remarks, to make this grand discovery. for
which they are certainly entitled TO patent,
Is its originality, is undisputed.
In discussing the merits Of the new con-
sttuiion, and comparing it with the instru-
ment for which it is sought TO be substituted,
as proposed in our Introductory article, the
changes in the legislative department Of the
state government, will first claim our atien.
ton. In no state Of the Union, has the
complaint of bad legislation, been louder,
or in general better founded, than in The
state of Illinois. A glance at the histo-
ry Of the legislation of this state for the last
twenty years, will show sufficiently plainly,
that something las been ''rotten in the
state Of Denmark :" and will lead to an in.
quiry into the cause, and the remedy, ofthe
evils which past legislation has nflic-
ted upon US. Bad and improvident legis-
lation must proceed from one Of three
causes, or from union Of the three com
bined-from the ignorance and viciousness
of the great mass of the people: the dishon.
esty and incompetcncy of those to whom
the people have confided their interests: or
defect in the organic law Of the state.
Neither of the first named causes. if they
have assisted at all, would be found suiii.
cient TO account for the evils resulting from
the bad legislation which Illinois has suffer-
ed for 40 lllinoian, we presume, is willing
to admit that the people Of this ST ate are
less virtuous, and intelligent, than those Of
other states; or that their representative
have possessed less integrity and talents,
than those Of other states of the coniedcra-
cy. The evil lies, then in a defective con-
stitution. To say that the constitution OF
Illinois is positively bad, and radically
wrong, wou!d bc sayingtoo much. To say
that it is perfect, and could not be improved,
would be equally erroneous. The objection
to it is, not that its provisions are positively
bad, but that those provisions are not sufli-
ciently guarded not that bad legislation
is the direct consequence Of our fundpmen-
tai law, but that it is not checked and re.
strained by proper limitations and prohibit
tons. The new constitution is proposed az
a remedy for the evils that have resulted
from the defects of the old; and it is now
our business, by comparison of the two
instruments. 10 ascertain whether the end
at which il aims has been attained.
| Under the present constitution, no limit
! is fixed to the number of members Of thu
general assembly.-The consequence has
been, that the number of members Of the
house of representative had swelled, under
the appor,ionment previous to the last, Il
one hundred and twcnty-a number too
large for the despatch Of business. or har.
monious and efficient actiOii--and this
number is liable to be enlarged at any fu.
tire apportionmclt. and 10 any extent tha
the humor or caprice of the Legislature may
dictate. The new constitution limits the
number of representatives to seventyiive
and of senators, to twenty-five, until tn,
population cf the state shall have amountc,
to one million of souls; when five addition
al representatives may be added for ever,
five hundred thousand souls until the Who'll,
number Of representatives shall amount Il
one hundred, after which the number sha
neither be increased or diminished; tn
number of senators never to be less thai
one. third, or more than one half, the mum
ber. of representatives.
At present, a person must have arrive
at the age Of twenty-five years, and hav
been one year resident of the county o
district from which he is elected, to rende
him eligible to the office of senator; and b
, twenty one years Of age, and have reside
in the county or district one year, TO be el
igible TO the Office Of representative. Tn
new constitution prescribes that person, I
be eligible to the Office of senator, shall b
, thirty years of age, shall have resided il
: the state five years, and III the district on
, year; that TO be eligible to the office of rel
, rcsenta,ivc, he shall have arrived at III
, age of twenty five, shall have resided
, the state three years, and one year in III
district from which he is elected The ol
: constitution leaves the compensation
!, members Of the legislature TO be fixed b
themselves the new one prcscribes aud |
| mits it. Whatever opinion may be for'nc