Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-04-05

the Legislature and the various and unforeseen
influences that might operate. We have had
amentable evidences of this in pennsylysnia
before to-day. Instead therefore of giving the
power TO the Legislature and vestlno them
! with supreme command, give it to the people,
where 1t rightly and legitmately belongs for
IN shortening the terms you do but increase the
power OF the people. And | am amazed that
the friends oi this resolution, who seem to be
so purely democratic in their notions. and who
seem to entertain such horror and disgust of
| anything conservative, should involve them
selves in such glaring inconsistency as 10 ad-
vocate term of ten years.
These are some OF the objections, together
! with many others which | have not time to emu
merate or dwell upon. | have made these in
/ no captous spirit, with no mere view of throw
! ing anything in the way of the passage of this
! resolution; they have been made honestly and
| IN good faith, and now ask whether this re-.
! form IS so lmperatively demanded by The people
! as 10 require the immediate passage of this
| resolution with all its manifest defects and in
separable objections-taken in connection with
the fact that if we DO pass il we must labor un-
der It's evils without remedy for a period of
! five vears1
| so careful were the trainers Of the Constitu-
ton, SO apprehensive were they of hasty legls-
atlon on this subject, that in the Tenth Article
| they provided with great wisdom, that any
amendment or amendments to this Constitution
may be proposed IN the Senate or House of
Representatives, and if the same shall be
agreed to by a majority OF the members elected
10 eacn House, such proposed amendmen: or
amendments shal be entered OH their journals
with the yeas and nays taken thereon and the
| Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause
In ha nttkf hal H., I
the next election in at least one newspaper in
every county in which newspaper shall be
published, and il in the Legislature next after
wards chosen, such proposed amendment or
amendments shall be agreed to by majority of
the members elected to each House, the Secre-
tary OF the Commonwealth shall cause the same
to be again published in manner aforesaid and
such proposed amendment or amendments shall
be submitted 10 the people in such manner and
time, DC. Now ii will Ne seen that the assent
OF two legislatures is required. and why
That care and deIberation, time and reelection
should be bestowed Those distinguished men
seem TO have foI eseen what has occurred in
period or twelve years, for never was the fore
sight or sagacity of that convention more man
fest than when it incorporated this provision
into the Constitution. They seemed to foresee
the state OF things which existed here at the
session OF 1919; a proposed amendment to the
Constitution brought into this House and in
moment Of tumult and excitement, without
either consideration or deliberation, passed upon
as though II was matter of no moment.
Well might they incorporate such provision /
IN view of such a state Of facts. But if this |
resolution is 10 pass in its present shape, and /
without amendment, and if we have no right 10 /
go behind the action of the last Legislature, /
IF hat sval ~ :
but the action Of one Legislature instead oftwo,
as required by the Constitution And such |
action a5 that was The design of the trainers |
of the Constitution was, that in subjecting it to .
the inspection Of a second Legislature, the de- /
fects of the amendment, If it had any, might be
perceived and the objections to II obviated by
wise and proper amendment. That this reso-
luton Is defective Is generally admitted that
the amendment Of the gentleman from North
ampton Is proper and right, is as generally con-
ceded. Why then will this House not pause
why will i: not deliberate
Thus much IN regard to the resolution itself
now, sir come to the principle itself, the prin-
clple OF an elective judiciary, and DO think the
Droprlety OF adopting II may we'll be doubted
IL becomes US 10 pause and refect--io take a
calm survey of all that 4 around Us and about
US, and to weigh well all we are about to do /
II ls easy to tear down, II requires neither sci
ence nor skill to PROSTATE the fairest temple
ever reared by the hands Of freedom, but il is
a dlfilcult task to rebuild, re-organize and re-
We are now happy and prosperous,
THIS ,oe knoio; IN the history Of mankind there
IS nothing approaching the public and private
that we possess, and yet we are net
satisfied. What more car we ask-what more
have we right to expect than our institutions
alFoaHv fpnn 10 WI,
Or even foresee the consequences that NAV flow
from the adoption OF the proposed reform,
whether it will benefit the people, whether it
will end sooner or later in anarchy and confu-
sion, in the whole and entire overthrow of all
We hold most dear! No man can tell, sir. No
nan can penetrate the veil. We know the
State is nOW f0urishIng, that its citizens are
and secured in all their rights, that
ustlce Is now administered without - le de-
nal or delay ;" is II wise then, is it prudent. to
,ut all the blessings and privileges we enjoy in
eo9ardy, 10 hang the tate Of this people on the
hazard Of die, on wild and untried expert
nent! What would be thought, sir, of that
nan, who was in n sound and healthy condition,
With all his organs performing their appropri-
lie functions, 1t under such circumstances he {
hou!d call IN physician and desire to undergo =
evere medical treatment-a treatment tha,
night weaken. If not bring him down to pre-
nature grave! Why, sir, he would be called {
fool, nadman, and yet we, in a sound and
eaithy condition, with all the functions of the
oyernmcnt performing their appropriate du-
les, are about 10 DO the same thing The sub |
ect, sir as before stated, is surrounded on all
Ides with everything to invest it with deep
nd solemn importance. The judiciary 10 MS
everything; 10 it we are mainly indebted for
II we have, and ON il we must depend 10 it
.e must look for all we hope to have. Let US {
q careful then, beseech you, how we tamper
.ith II. lest IN an unguarded moment We strike
fatal blow.
70 a free people and people who desire to 1
emain free, tcrt!te't constitution with Justice
nd equality for ITS basis Is absolutely necessa-
~ at,nt k.,.,.n1.cr ,r-on