The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-03-12
THE SHASTA COURIER.


The Convention Question.
This question has attracted more attention
than any subject yet entertained by the present
Legislature Mr.. Crabb's bill providing tor the
submitting the question of Convention OF No
Convention to vote Ut The people, gave rise in
the Senate, To the most earnest and animated
-dIscussion that has yet characterized the Iro-
ceedinSs Cd that body Our very able and dis
tinsuislied Senator, are pleased to perceive,
das t'ken Sesn stand i'll opposition to the pre-
R'osed convention. while at the same time he
warmly aduncntt.s certoin amendments to tlat.
-c"itsiiiution b Legislative enactment The fol
lowing is ii synopsis of the amendments pre-
posed by Me. Sls.tsne IL substitute TO the bill
.of Mr. CrablJ:
]. 10 abrogate re much of section 18th of the
rith article embraced la the words follow
lnc.: And no law shall I've revised az amended
10y reference Ia lis title, but in such case the act
revised orauiended shall he re-enact<zl and pub
.iISned at large"
= That Tie census Of this State, as prescribed
10y law, and That OF the uui ed States he taken
as the basis at representation in both branches
ot Tue legislature, aud Lluch of the 2Glh sec
ton, article 4Lh OF Constitution, as is inconsist-
<.nt with this amendment is abrogated-
D. HAT Il eeGreialw of State, Comptroller and
Treasurer shall be eiecied at the same time and
place and III sbe saline manner Goveruor and
The term OF office aud qualliica ions of each
shall be tie same
4, That so 4nuch az section sth Of art 9Th of
the CousutstIon rs embraced Ia the following
words tx. ane,gat,sl- .'The County Judges
with TIVE .us.ccx III the Peace, to lie. Jesisna-
ted according To iew, shall hold Courts OF Ses-
sIons, Mth such cE1nIiIal jurisdiction ldae Lee
slslllure shall prescribe; and he siiaI perform
suclr o,her duties lnay he prescribed by law"
Anailshsw the oice of superintendent ot
Public Instruction Amends section , art SO
1nt The Legislature may regulate The time of its
mcetiug and amends sc art SO tllat The Le-
sIslIlure nny ny iaw determine Tie cvsal,neuce-
iicut cat tnc ,ilscal year.
o. Makes the sessions of the Legislature BIZ
.ennIal
I. Anpolits the first Tuesday of Qctaber for
the elcciIun ri Members of the Assembly.
5. Makes the term of Senators four years
8. PfeNId4S.ilsai the number al Senafurs shall
not he less tl,'.n aue-hird more than
half nf leA ssuYIbly
10 Gives pheer 10 change the boundaries of
the State by lam'; provided that sucir law be
passed with the Concurrence of three-tourlhs OF
ilIc menbnrS el.cI IL each House of ule Legis-
lature.
The Senator accompanied the Introduction of
his substitute nilA the following remarks:
My object il Proposing this substitute is to
prcscui Ia .le .seaate and the people simple
p.ln and dlrtsci Propositions TO remedy all the
real illi,s.ii NARY defects in organic law
These alnee L,neriS, sir, embrace all that have
been suggested by Tie Governor, aud the Sena-
tor whngepnrieJ the bill nudcr consideration,
with two exceptions; aud these two ameul-
aurnts suggested, III The honorable Senator'S re-
,,nrt, to Sd of act I, and the other to
81 at ART. 4, | cannot consent should be
s:.sde- lae power coti!,rred on The Executive
10y sec. Sd OF art z '.iu cali forth the militia To
execute t,e.lstwS vt the State, 10 suppress nsur-
scction asi rreptll Ipxasinns is absolutely access
s:,ry to thessocurity and xotection OF peo-
tlc, and should ROT be changed. See. 81 of art
l. prohibiting, l,scal acts of incorporation is
safeguard Natal newer wall aid III destroying.
i.-r,sss ihat ANDY lew amendments OF our pre-
sent consultations Is seucraly admitted to be de-
zirable asd aeessssry, but taaat convention 10
accomplish tiss object is authorized by the con-
sstiiution, uAsersssEy desirable. comparatiyely
few are willing To admit Sec. I'd of art 10th
breads fellows: =. And III at any time two
t1hirsls "f tie Sesate and Assembly shall think
atAecessary 10 regise and change this entire con-
sttutieu hey shall srece2mcnd to the electors
at the next election, fo, Mensbers of the Legis-
iature to vete.tor .aiRst Convention" &c.
Now. Sir, apder this plain axd positive provision
bill under outsider sfi0u wsko does not upon his
OATH believe 1T necessary te revise aud change
the entire.cunSs'tntion. | six, am among those
who believe tLat all the Substantial defects in
our organic law car be fully remedied by few
simple amendments to that instrument, submit
ted In distinct aud separate propositions or artl-
cles, coHcared IN by the two houses aud by
them referred directly to the people for their
consideration ard judgment. This clearly is
1.-THE most simple, safe aud speedy method Of ac-
comprising the desired ansexdanents; all can be
accomplished without excitement, without ex-
penss, and to the entire satisfaction of the PEG
plc III eighteen months from this date.
But to adopt the convention plan the revision
could not be nllisled short of two years
Alsi dad, and ,ise expenses OF d rUnv rn5iou
would not tall short.ef two hundred thousand
dollars. This expense do not believe the peo-
pie are prepared te incur, unless some import
ant object can be accomplished Again do not
believe the people al thektate have asked or de-
Ire this legislation to provide fer submitting the
question to them. Ike question has Never 10
my knowledge been injected Ivy the people. II
never has been agitatcd outside the walls lof this
honsc- For these reasons, Mr.. President, II have