Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-02-02
February End 1852.
Gov. Hempstead's veto Of the sec
Ond Bill providing for Il call Of
Il Convention to amend the Con-
stitutiOn of the State.

We publish TO day the veto message of His
Exesllency Gov. Hampstead to tho Bill intro
duccd by Mr.. Grimes authorizing vote of tho
peoplo. upon tho question Of q convention to
revise the constitution. We do not consider
j. 10 be necessary 80 ontsr into an argument in
defense of the Exec utive, in relation 10 his &C.
ton on ihis bill. lie is constituted by the
people. by delegates chosen for that purpose as
neo.ordinato branch Of the law making power
under She Constitution Of this State. His
power ana duties ase we'll defined By tina. in.
strum'nt adopted but a few years ago by a
majority Of the sovereign people after full de.
liberation, aud against tho bitter opposition Of
the same school of politicians, who during the
past winter, have perseveringly urged the pas
sage of an ct,thrus;ing this question masked,
with slight exception, upon the people.
His e1csllcncy feeling the full force OF the
high and important trust imposed upon him
hy the people and the constitution of the State,
has taken upon himself the responsibility of
d'sSharging his duty honestly and fearlessly
by inscrposing the conservative power thus
conferred upon him. In doing this he has
checked upon the threshold the magnif
cIrnt schemes Of men, who desire to bank
without 'apital-who desire special privileges
by legislative enactment, and who dosirc TO
remove the restriction which the people hold
ut the ballot box upon the creation Of State
debts. l, is q maxim that no one pretend. to
dispute. under this republican goverumen,
men of all parties ndmttlat the people have an
,ndefcasablc ri ght to alter or abulst their form
"f government and their fundamental laws
whenever they see proper So TO do. This right
'srrP'icisly acknowledged in the bill of rights
embodied in the present organic law. But ,hi.
acknowledgement is very far from authorizing
or requiring shis question to be thrust upor
the people. ay the minority, at every session
1T the General Assembly. held since a maiori,,
ofthe people at the ballot box decided in fayo
Of the present contribution.
1t ha. been bu,a little more than eight year
since the adoption of this instrument, time to
sissrt to test the new and important feature
eugrafsed INTO it for the benefit and protection
Of the people. Al the influence of that elias
of men who seek to benefit themselves at III
expense Of others by procuring the grant
special privileges under plausible pretenccs
public good. has from the menccn,cnt bcc
arraycd in open and secret hostility to VIII;
wcconceive 70 NO tho mos. salutury provision
that could be engrafted into human instit,
tions The prohibition against making "oLos,
IN action" instead o. intrinsic value. the GU
rency Of the country. The prohibition
special laws Incorporating companies for p
cunlary profit. the prohibition of heavy Sta
debts except by vote Of majority of the pc
pie.
These are provisions that embarrass al
ity Of the people. bat who make up in moi
and Glamor, in intrigue and cunning, what tn,
lack ihnumbcrs. This class Of persons who
distinguishing feature is supreme sclti.hne.s
peculiar to no age or nation. Tho history
States and governments is almost exclusive
the history OF The Vaccinations by which til,
have cajoled ,he mass of the people out of Il
power which is inherent in them alone land the
struggles to maintain power by fraud al
force and by fire and sword. Monarchs'
say its advocates. rules by dirinc right FOR d
happiness and glory of the nation, but the Il
butte collected administers alone to the luxu
and nagniticicncc of Royalty, and the absoll
nccessaries Of life are denied the people tn
wastcfnl extravaganza may have ineXhaus
bio supplies. Aristocracy has learned, al
successfully ineu Gated Il theory 81 guycrnme
which regards only the paramount interests
the rich and well born, and leaves 10 their h
mainly and wisdom. the care and protection
the poor, and that care is extended by exactit
all the avails of productive industry and bu
denrg the laborer to the exten: of human G
duraucc, with the provision OF a charity prise
for irfirma.y AID age. In infinitely modiii'
variety of appearances and presences. is Il
same object sought in our own republican 60
crnmeni by those who are clamorIng To han
eApurged from the fundamental law, the q