Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-04-28

aFThe Cleveland True Democrat, paper
that, while it has aspired to be the leader of the
the Free Soil party in this State, has ever given
laid and comfort to federalism, and upon all e.
mergencies played into the haads of the monop-
olists, is out against the adoption of the new
Constitution. The main objection which that
paper urges against its adoption is, that it does
not extend the right of suffrage to the negro pop
ulation of the State and it claims that its rejee-
tion on this account would be 30 triumph, NOR
al victory, such as has not been won since the
days of the Revolution This is but a pretert
and a very fimsey one at that, for aiding the
wings in continuing in existence the old Con-
stitution with all the abuses that have grown
up, and sre fast increasing under it, for that
print is aware of the fact that, vote to reject
this Constitution is not only vote given direct
~ in favor of adopting the same provision in the
old, but of continuing it in existence without the
least possible hope of amending it in this or any
other respect, for half century to come
While under the provisions of the new Constitu-
ton, the adoption of all reforms which may be
demanded by the people, is rendered cheap and
easy. We are glad to see that most of the Free
Soil presses of the State which aided in procur-
ing the calling Of the Convention are also urging
the adoption of the new Constitution, notwith-
standing it does not, in all respects meet their
wishes. We copy the following paragraphs from
the article in the Star of last week, which fully
answer the frivolous and absurd objection which
the True Democrat has made the pretext for
opposing the New Constitution and again pros
tituting itselfto the purpose of aiding whiggery
and the privileged classes in this great struggle
between the people and the monopoly power:
'sOn the subject of free suffrage, it is defect
i've; in this respect it is precisely like the old
constitution, and hence on this point no improve
ment is secured. Suppose, for this defect, We re-
ject the new constitution as whole? We GER
tainly gain nothing, and lose much. Substantial,
and greatly to be desired, and much needed re-
forms, are certainly secured in the new instru-
ment, and such, as, if carried into effect, will
tend, in our belief, to lberalize the public mind,
and gire it progress and thus have the influence
to secure other referms which may be needed,
at much earlier day than could be hoped for
under the old.
Suppose. on account of this defect in regard
to the principle of free suffrage we reject the
new constitution? When, under the old consti
tuition. may we hop to secure it? We all know
how difficult it is to accomplish any amendment
or reform of the old constitution, In the first
place two-thirds of the Legislature must agree
to call Convention-then delegates must be
elected, and at great expense and labor, endeay
or to revise the whole instrument.
We conld not reasonably hope, under the old
constitution, to be able to call another conven-
tion, for the next twenty years. But adopt the
work of the convention, whose labors have re-
Gently closed. and the power of the State is put
at once in:o the hands of the people; the officers
of the State, at once become elective-burdens
arc equalzed, and any specific article of the new
constitution. is open to a comparatively easy
mode of amendmnet, without resorting to the
tardy and expensive machinery of calling con,
vention.n