The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-04
oOpen Glnuse y

We have received a copy Of circular address
sed 10 the vOtep Of Caldwell county, by LIv-
ingstOn Lindsay, a candidate for the Convsn-
ton. We extract some f0rcIbIe remark. on the
"open clause"
"Now, my friends, am one Of those who
believe that the people ought never TO surrender
their right Of voting upon any subject which
may affect either the present or future welfare
of the State. The gentleman who opposes me
in this election 10 willing that the open clause
should be adopted 90 far a. everything else il
concerned. Bat be Is opposed to the right OF
the people 10 act upon the subject Of slavery, at
any time, upon the ground that slaves are prop
erty, and any action upon the subject would be-
| o disturbance Of Vested rights, and therefore
unjust. Every other species Of property is held
by q vested rishf, as well as slaves, and can
see no reason for giving that kind of property
q Constitutional security over every other spe-
ciss Of property. Like all other property II
should be acknowledged ~ property, but can
see no justice nor propFiety In raising up con-
stltutional bulvarks for the protection of that
property. which 10 not equally extended to ali
other property. 1t argues a distrust Of the ca
pscity Of our people for seif-goversment. lam
one Of those men who believe that the people
are sovereign upoa the subject of slavery an W. eli
as upon all other subjects; that any attempt to
sbridge their right Of voting upon that subject
by constitutional regulation 10 an attack noon
the principles Of Republican liberty. lam
favor OF leaving the Constitution open upon
that well as all other subjects. NY opponent
Mr. Mschen, assumes the opposite ground. He
10 willing to leave the Constitution open uoop
all other subjects, but 10 Tor closing II up upon
the subject Of slavery. cannot see the Justice
nor propriety Of It. regard Il a. snti-Repub.
Ilicsn, restrictive Of the rights Of the people,
and therefore make battle against IT, II those
who have no slaves should tsmeIy surrender
their right Of voting upon this, they may
after while be called upon to surrender their
right Of voting upon some other subject,
liberty altogether. Against this. a. Republl.
can, wage an eternal war. am for the rights
Of the people, the whole people, and not part
Of the people. have no fears that the people,
in retaining the power Of action upon the sub
iect, will use that power unjustly. When they
do act, fever they do, they will act wisely, dis
crsetly, and without injustice to the masters OF
slaves.
The "open Clause" then, my friends, ia
nstbing but a retention Of political power in
the hands Of the people, and as the matter now
stands, "a re-assertion of the principle Of their
espabiity for self.goyernmeni.
be against III What 10 its dessnl and how
will IL operated 1t 10 only intended 10 give the
people an opportunity to alter, change or amend
| any defect which may hereafter be found in the
working of the new Constitution, without the
necessity and expense Of calling another Con.
vention- That defects will be found In Il, nc
one, who knows the erring wisdom of man,
can for moment question. Why, then, should
we be driven 10 the necessity and expense OF
getting rid Of those defects, when discovered,
by calling another Convention, whsn they could
be- 90 easily and 30 cheaply rsmedIed by the
heslth-ipfusing power Of the people Mt the bal
lot-box7 Whenever any defect h discovered In
the Constitution where there 10 an "0peu
Clause" all that Is needed to apply the remedy
10 for the people to instruct their representa-
tives TO the Legislature TO mould an amendment
into form, and submit that amendment 10 their
action at the polls at the following elections and
should they, BY their vote say, II shall become
q part Of the Constitution, II will then be made
part Of the Constitution, and rot otherwise
This process would be plain, simple, quiet and
economical, and would be much nearer sp
preach 10 the principles OF free, republican in
stitutions than those whish We row ep joy unde
the present "shut up" srist,cratic Consultation
ander which We are nov living.
Yea viii ~, therefore, fellew -etsissps, that