The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-08

they would receive your hearty and unmls-
taken condemnation, deferred them from
il.
Third, under this head was the PROPOSE
ton Of MIR. Benton to create another prince
~ School Officer for the State, with anoth-
CT comfortable Salary Of two thousand dol.
lars and contingencies. This was glori-
GUS conception, and cminently worthy Of a
gentleman who usurPs tho privilege Of pre-
siding over the common School interests Of
our State. How very agreeable would j,
have been for Mr.. Benton, (who canno,
live on $1,000 year, with interest aud
contingencies for some other faithful par
titan, 10 have obi aimed this office and lived
in luxury, doing nothing.
But we have other ynntters 10 speak Of.
and must needs quit this part Of our Ad-
dress, which VIC lear is already too long
You can clearly see from the instances
given. that if new offices are to increase
expenses and eat out your substance, the
majority Of this General Assembly have
not been wanting in efforts to create them
Our taxes must increase. The more hands
you have ia the public crib, the more they
will steal. We have too many offices raih-
or than enough. Let our object be 10 de-
crease rather than increase them, aud our
word Tor il. our State debt will decrease, our
County and State affairs will be more pros
porous, and many ,ncn will be compelled
to obtain living by honesty and industry
instead Of hanging rs leechcs around the
Halls of Legislation; and other places,
where ofiiccs are dispensed.
Another matter in which we believe
your will Inns not been carried out. The
circumstances under which our present
Constitution was adopted. ore we'll known
That there are many elaring defects in
il every unprcjudiced mind mus, admit
That il tends TO cripple our unbounded re-
sources. md hangs ms an incubus on those
who might be disposed 10 employ their cap-
i,al in objects ofpublic good and importance,
is as plain ms noon dey. That il will for
ever prevent the formation Of companies
for purposes ofin.ernal improvement, md
other objects Of great public utility, canno,
successfully DO coniroverted. Believing
this, and very confident that there could
be no improperly in giving the people On
opportunity 10 express their opinion on the
subject IL calling a Convention 90 amend
the Constitution, especially when that cx-
preston, il against Convention, would be
attended with no expense, bill Was in
PRODUCED by Whigs Of the Assembly 10 give
YOU this privilege. A proposition so plain
and reasonable, il was confidently hoped
would meet with general, il not universe
favcr. But strange 10 say, that but ous
Democrat in the Senate, aud three in the
House, could be found in favor Of the bill
To us ], is strange democracy that de-
MICS 70 the people the poor privilege Of ex.
pressing their opinion ms to their organic
law, and particularly when the taking oil
TINT expression WINS to DO attended with
no expense. II is hoped that this bill will
be published. BY il you will see that little
expenses would have attended the Convcn-
ton il il had heen called; and inasmuch
as the people themselves had decided on
calling that Convention, they Of course
would have been willing to pay the expense.
But you nre TO have no such privilege "a
long ns things remain NJ they now are
With an extraordinary icnacity they hang
on to our present Constitution with al its
defects. Protesting to believe in the doc.
irine that to the people belong oil power,
and the right TO change the fundamental
law in the manner pointed out therein.
they invariably practice different doctrine
-cxempliiying the truth that democracy
M professed and pr0cfiscd arc quite die.
ferent things. We say take these matters
into consideration; If Won wisha change in
your Constitution. or believe il 10 RICH,
that the people should have the privilege
Of expressing their opinion thereon, cleo,
men hereafter who will carry out your will
and the result will be what the best wisher.
Of our interest ms State so ardently desire
One other matter and We have done. w.
now refer 10 the unparalleled attempt 1T the
the majority to place beyond the pale o.
our laws four thousand citizens Of our State
and to deprive them Of the RICH, Of suffrage
or the privilege Of being heard in our Courts
The history Of Legislation # any age OF
any country shows no parallel TO this a.
tempted outrage. Il was no less ihsn a
deliberate and arbitrary attempt TO deprive
a numerous population of the inalicnab'e
rights Of American citizens. Il was moth
ing lcss than an attempt to WELD the arm
Of power to crush and degrade portion ol
the freemcn Of this State fos holding opin.
tons differing from those who BY this a.
tempt have prostituted the name Of democ.
racy. The people Of Posswsismie county
have chosen 70 act the part Of freemen in
accordance with the law, and for this, theil
political rights are attempted 10 b wressst
from them. and bv this attempt tho rights
a =. Ri r..