Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-13
Constitutional Reform.

1T is to be hoped that the legislature in
May will provide for an early convocation of a
constitutional convention, so that the members
of 1t may be elected at the next fall elections,
and be convened early thereafter, so as to
have report TO be acted upon at the ensuing
session, which may be an adjourned session of
the Legislature of May, to the winter of 1852. -
The Augusta Age, commenting upon this,
says .,.-.
"The opinion is general that our constitu-
tlon should undergo revision at as early a
day as the condition ofthe finances of the state
will justify the expsnse. The writer in the
Argus, however, forgcts that no state election
Is to be held next September, consequently
if a convention were ordered TO be elected next
fall, 1t would have 10 be specially called
The sciences of government, according to
the will of the people, as expressed in written
constitutions, has made considerable progress
within the last few years, and reforms, which
originated with new States, in adopting their
Constitutions, have been found to be so pract-
BILE and so much in advance of the old States,
that many of the latter have revised their Con-
situations to conform 10 them.
The government of the United States,
which is no more nor less than government
of the people, was considered but an expert
ment in self government. The American col
onists organized society and framed govern
ments suited to their condition and circumstan-
ces. Their self government was of purely
democratic form, and was discharged with
simplicity that was characterized by the princi-
pies of justice ard virtue. The history of the
times tells us that the tchele body of the male
inhabitants constituted the Legislature, and
that governor was chosen by general suffrage,
whose power was restricted by council, orig
finally of FIVE assistants. The State was gov
,erned in form of strict democracy, and the
whole people were frequently convened TO de-
eide, both on judicial and executive questions
But the rapid growth of the people soon pre-
cluded the continuation of such system, and
the present representative system naturally
sprung out of this pure democracy.
When the colonies threw off their allie
glance to the mother country and achieved
their independence, our glorious Constitution
was framed and adopted as the embodiment of
these principles. Many of the States, howev-
'cr, in forming their Constitutions, retained
ideas and provisions in accordance with the
old English charters under which they had
}been living Religious and property qualifi-
cations for office were inserted in the New
in Rhode Island up 10 within few years, the
elective franchise was restricted 10 property
qualification. This was departure from the
principles on which the people started, and
-subversion of rights by the representatives
who held the whole power of the people. 1t
was in accordance with the English system,
which sought, by gradual restriction of the !
powers of the people, to strengthen govern
'ment, and 10 extend by implication, the pow
GERS actually conferred upon it.
But series of years of peaceful experience |
in the workings of our written constitutions, |
has not only developed their defects, showing
that too much power has been drawn out of
the hands of the people, but has also developed |
she difficulty of making Legislators abide by |
them into being. The leading tendency of
our constitutions has been, from their inherent
defects, TO TOO much Capitalization. People
are beginning to see, not only how little legis-
lation is needed for the general welfare, but
how large portion of every session of each
Legislature has been expended in enacting
laws for private purposes, at the expense of
the public welfare. Biennial sessions of the
Legislature have been adopted by the New
Hampshire reform convention, and we doubt
not the people of Maine will ultimately find it
for their interest 10 do the same.
The power and influence of government has
also been restricted in New Hampshire, by
cnrtailing the prerogatves of the Executive, in
relation to the dispensing of patronage, and
the appointing power-ano,her reform which
our State should adopt. To the people of
right. belongs the selecion-not only of the
subordinate officers of the State, but of the ma
ton. Why notl Who can: make better Sc
lections than the people, and who have better
right to the exercise of the power than those
who originate and confer it, -it
4 great source of the inequality in the con
dlilon of men in respect to wealth and comfort,
may be traceable 10 undue legislation. The
favor which has been extended to particular
interests nnder the p-etence of promoting the
public good-allthe result of too much gouen-
"ent-has only benefited the few at the ex-
pense of the many. Who does not believe
mat II all men were left without any special
alu from government, that both land, and the
Plouuc'S Oh industry would be far more equally |
distributed than they now are--for 81 far az
obtaining an animal subsistence uoes there Is !
very little difference in the ability Of all men
10 provide for themselves and families 10
there can never be preserved an eou.,;,n :,
the condition of mentor as there ,ro So
men more industrious, skillful. or econon,;;..,
in their business than their fellows, thew will
naturally acquire larger share of wealth ,nd
consequently enjoy higher privileges. Ri,
the inequality would by no means be 50 great.
if all were left to their own unaided exertions,
and watchfulness against the vicissludes of
life. We might particularize, to illustrate
the creation of corporations for the transaction
of business, 10 which there is no individual IL