The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-05-06
The New CONSTITUTION.

The New Constitution.
In the remodeling of the Constitution the
wisdom of the State should be consulted
TO improve an instrument under which Indl-
ana has. within a few years increased in pop
ulation from few thousand to over million
inhabitants. At the time of the formation of
the old instrument, it was one of the best
Constitutions in all its parts. possessed bv
any State. Under it, Indiana has rapidly
grown, till she is now the filth State in the
Union, and probably is increasing now as fast
in all the attributes Of prosperity aud great
ness as any other. But time has revealed
the fact, that although we have fourshed as
a State and people under this Constitution,
YET there are defects in the instrument for
which the progress Of the times suggests rem
edies. These defects are few They should
be remedied CT utously. and as we nave SAID,
the ariSdonl of the State should provide the
remedies. No man should find a seat in the
Convention, unless he possess those abilities
and that knowledge, which will permit him
TO enter upon his duties as Delegate in the
wisdom of full information as to the defects
Of the old Constitution and the remedies
which are suggested by The progress of the
period.
These remedies must have in view two OBJ
jects-to secure their adoption by the votes
Of tie people-and to effect benefciny the
interests of our rapidly growing State for all
time to come. As we have before heard re-
marked, the attainment OF the first OF these
objects, will he an almost certain guarantee
that the second has been secured. We be-
lieve the matter can be safely submitted TO
the common sense of the people. with conf
dence that they will only ra nfy that which
is good. In the formation of the new consti-
tuition, there should be nice distinction made
between that which is matter for State egs-
lation, and in those things which may proper
ly become objects of Constitutional engraft-
ment. In the newspaper discussion of rem
edies to the present Constitution, subjects are
introduced as prominent constitutional qups-
tons, which we think should be left to the
Legislature. Although the Homestead Elk
empton law has been introduced into sever
al lately formed Constitutions. yet it is Doubt
full whether 1t should not be left with all It's
details for legislation. So with the Judicial
System. The establishment of Banks should
be expressly prohibited in the Constitution
or else the powers delegated to the Legisla-
ture for their proper establishment under
suitable restrictions, &c. Let all Constitu-
tional barriers that can. be thrown in the wa
of special legislation about which every body
is complaining. as the evils arising from
which are monstrous. Yet there can only
be few provisions in the Constitution TO rem
edy the evil while upon the Legislature must
fall the work Of providing the greaE remedy.
And this will never be done till We end men
OF industry and ability in the place of those
ignorant demagogues of which cur last Leg
isature was principally composed. They are
blamable more than the Constitution for
this special legislation which is cursing all
legislation in this State All restraints thrown
upon the Legislature, are restraints thrown
upon the people. The voice of the Legisla-
ture is considered the voice of the people
The acts of the Legislature must be viewed
as the wishes OF the people. But the people
have yet to learn, that their great remedy
against this special Legislation, is not so much
with the Constitution as from themselves
Let the proper kind Of men be sent TO repre-
sent them IN the Legislature-men selected
for their wisdom. integrity and industry
and they provide the remedy to that evil
against which the Constitution may in vain
issue its edicts