The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-13


in the Constitutions of New York and Wiscon-
sin, all the amendments, one after the other, that
the people desired to make could have been
made by themselves, and with more wisdom than
will be shown In general revision Of the entire
Constitution, and without any trouble or ex-
pense attending the sane.
In order that this question Of specific amend
ments may be fullyunderstood by your readers,
We give below the plan Of amendments adopted
by the people of New York and Louisiana. In
the former case a majority of the members Of
the Legislature may propose amendments; in
the latter case it requires three-fifths, with the
consent of the Governor, and these same rules
obtain, with slight variation, in all the States
except the Old Dominion, which provides no
method of amendment, except in general dec
laIation.
Nothing can indicate clearer than this does,
that the law makers in the free States were will
ling to trust tina people to exercise their power
upon any question after proper elaboration,
while those Of the slave States were not; and
hence the disposition to hedge round the specific
dnichuuicnt Ciaaso WIN Lcs isiutiNc fcslfICtlous
Amendmenfs--Ne,o York and Wisconsin.-
New Nork formed in 1916, Wisconsin in
lS4s. )-"Any amendment or amendments to
this Constitution may be proposed in either
house Of the Legislature, and il the same shall
be agreed TO by majority of the members cleo
ted to each of the two houses, such proposed
anne ndment or amendments shall be entered Cd
their journals with the yeas and nays taken
thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be
chosen at the next general election, and shall be
published for three months previous to the time
of holding such election. And If in the Legsla-
ture so next chosen such proposed amendment
or amendments shall be agreed to by mojority
Of all the members elected TO each house, then
it shall be the duty of the Legislature to submit
such proposed amendment or amendments TO
the people in such manner and at such times as
the Legislature shall prescribe, and il the people
shall approve and ratify such proposed amend
ment OF amendments by majority Of the cleo
tors voting thereon, such amendment or amend
ments shall become part Of the Constitution"
Louisiana formed in 1876, Texas in 1876
Louisana-"Any amendment or amendments
to this Constitution may be proposed in the SEN
ate or House of Representatives, and if the same
shall be agreed to by three-fifths Of the men,
bers elected to each house and approved by the
Governor, such proposed amendment or amend
ments shall be entered on their journals, with
the yeas and nays taken thereon, and the Sec
rotary of the State shall cause the same to be
published three months before the next general
election, in at least one newspaper in French
and English, in every Parish in the State in
which newspaper shall be published, and il in
the Legislature next afterwards chosen such
proposed amendments shall be agreed to by
majority of the members elected to each house,
the Secretary shall cause the same again to be
published in the manner aforesaid, at least three
months previous TO the next general election for
Representatives 70 the State Legislature, and
such proposed amendment or amendments shall
be submitted to the people at said election, and
if majority of the qualified electors shall ap-
prove and ratify such amendments, the same
shall become part Of this Constitution"
Texas does not require the assent Of the Gov
ernor, but requires twO-thrds of the Legisla-
ture to concur in any amendment before it can
be adopted. Here are the modes Of amendment
10 four Of the latest constitions adopted, two by
free States, and two by slave States. There
must be some cause for the seeming distrust of
the people In the case, that does not exist in
the other. The reader can draw his own infer
ence what that cause is, if he will not take
ours. To which of these methods the present
will incline, time will tell If they
are to be governed by their Pro-Slasery senti-
ments they will no doubt follow in the footsteps
Of their illustrlous compeer, Louis Napoleon,
Of France, and give us, instead of an open
clause, shut one; but if on the contrary, they |
intend to keep up with the spirit Of the age, |
hey will give us the New York plan. And |
eally it does seem to us that If the G reat State
IF New York in which the wealth of single
lily almost equals the entire wealth of Kentuc-
~, her 1872 900 negroes and ALL is not afraid to
rust her citizens with the majority open
'iauses-it is little absurd for even as wise a
nan sold Kitchen Knife, or he whose umbrel-
was so previously wounded in his encou inter-
turing his late canvass. TO talk Of the two
hird rule. If any faith can be placed in the
Professions of party il may be considered
ortunate for the friends progress and reform
hat the Democratic party are at this time In
majority in the convention. That party have
lways assumed TO themselve, whenever they
ave had the power, that they have ever evinc-
q Willingness TO trust the people, while their
opponents, the Wings, have ever acted when
power, as though they did not believe in the
apacity Of the people for self government and
we're unwilling to trust them. So necessary
Tas the dissemination of this doctrine thought
DO In 1914, that Gen. Casa was invited from
aichigan to make speech to the Democracy
n That subject; and we confess that for one we
'ere much edited and strengthened by that
Peech, in the belief that this doctrine was
ruei at all events, it was considered strictly
rthodox by the party then, and by none more
than by the President of the Conventions
m opportunity is now afforded in the Con.
en'ion assembled at Frankfort, of practically
'sting the sincerity in these Democratic as
'ruons' OF confidence in the people, by giving
,em' in the new Constitution, ghe majority |
pen clause, and the vote by ballot. and this is
more than has been accorded to the people
all the free States:
IL mas rarely fallen to thelot of any body Of
en- to render such an acceptable se.vice to a
'eat party as these same members of the con. :
milton now enjoy. This great Democratic !
'ctrlne has been felt in the formation of each /
w constitution that has been adopted or /
nende1 In the free States. II remains 10 he