Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-30
Convention 10 Amend The Constitution.


The Resolution Recommending TO the elec.
tors to vote at the next October election, for or
agains. Convention TO amend the Constitution.
was finally adopted by the General Assembly,
last Friday, the 2Srd inst.
Paper constitutions, we have seen, prove to
be very lrail barriers in revolutionary limes.-l
They are TO progressive democrats, what lealh.
er locks are 10 the Indian, they make the TOM
mahawk laugh. "lneyilable destiny" men,
finding their way ObsirucIed by a section Of the
constitution, have seldom hesitated TO "charge
through" it, rather than pass round. The
breach they make, ,becomesa guide forsueceeding
relormers. Every rent is a precedent, that may
be insisted upon as law. Whilst the more solid
earth has been washed away by successive
floods, these rents, like Pats martin holes in the
sand, are left "sticking out" to show where the
land once was.
Constitutions, it has been said, are not made,
they grow. If they but grow with the wants
and demands of the people, the growth will be
sound and healthy. Indeed no political chan.
ges Of magnitude or importance, can prove bene-
fetal, or, for any length Of time acceptable, un.
less their necessity be first felt by the people
unless the people themselves demand the
change. When evils are realized, we are pre-.
pared to judge correctly Of the remedy. The
people have hearts and sensibilities, andtongues,
and are not apt 10 rest in silence under oppres-
sive burhens. There is no hand TO stihe the
cry Of our young eagles. When hunger gripes,
their shril cry is heard on bill aud plain; and
rScks g. vaes are made reverberanl, until their
wants are supplied. But few hair splitting
politicians, and onalical relormers, become legis
lators, and some times prove the existence OF dire
evils, too light 10 be felt by the people. With
microscopic eye, they see, what to The people,
is not to be seen They launch revolution
violate the constitution-trample upon law
traffic with the "baance of power TO disGran-
chise part of the people, and secure TO them
selves the reins of government. They then
with great SoIcitude, point to the fragments of
broken constitution, and enquire Of the people
if il does not need reforming!
1t is possible the constitution, under which
Ohio has advanced with such rapid strides to the
front rank in our conledcracy of States, re-
quires revising. But the people have not given
the best evidence Of this necessity. They have
net, that We have learned, demanded change.
No meelings-no peIIions-none of the ac-
customed means for making known the popular
will, have been resored TO. Their suHerings
under the 'ancent regime" have elected no
gfoans-no general complaint. We hope,
however, that, inasmuch as u voice from the
capitol has told them how intolerable are their
sufferings, they will now open their throats and
cry aloud.
We are not prepared to say that the passage
OF the resolution referred to, is not an act ofl
wisdom on the part of the legislature. We
think, however, that mere propitious time for
revising constitutions, is not far distant,-when
party spirit will be less fervent, and when
more dispasSonate consideration Of the organic
Law of the State could be obtained. A con-
VenIiOu may be called, but we question whether
a constitution will be framed, which will prove
acceptsbIe to the people. hundred thousand
dollars rnay thus be spent in fruilless attempt
tOpersuadc the people that they are miserable
sufferers Of constitutional ills.
We notice that our Representative, Mr.. Har-
desty, opposed the measure as it was originally
Introduced. Whilst it was pending, we knew
he endeavored 10 learn the wishes Of his con-
stitbenls, and we think without success. He
however voted for the adoption of the resolu-
tion; and his constituents will now have an op.
portuhity of making known their views through
the ballot box. In the meantime, we feel as
sured that the subject will be we'll considered BY
the electors of Carroll, and acted upon with
intelligence.