The Richmond Indiana palladium., 1855-04-13

second Sc ession after the adoption OF this Con
stilution. and every six years thereafter, cause
an enumeration TO be made OF al the white
male inhabitants over the age OF Il years
SIC 5. The number of Senator'S and hep
resen s.ives shall, at the session next follow
ing such enumeration. be fixed by law, and
apportioneA among the several counties. &C
cordinr to the number Of white maic inhabI-
tants above ei years of age. IN each: Proraa-
ed That the first and second election OF mem
bers Of the General Assembly. under this
Constitution shall be according 10 the appor-
tionment last made BY the General Assembly,
before the adoption of this constitution.
Now notice that the above sections. which
are all there is on the subject, provide, first.
for the second session OF the Legislature after
the adoption OF the Constitution, which was
the session of 1853, and every six years
thereafter, 70 cause an enumeration TO De
made, which was done
2 That the session nert toiionin9 each Pc
riod of such enume falion, which In TINS case
was the la.e sess.on. should aPport.on the
Senators and Representatives among the seve-
raj counties This precludes the idea of It's
being constitutionaIy done oy an extra ses-
sion We, to be called.
3 Tha, the first and second elections of
members Of the General Assembly under this
constitution. those Of Oct. 1852. and Oct
1854, should be according to the old Appor-
tionment, which has been done accordingly,
and this Limitation precludes the idea of the
third or any subsequent election beng held
according to the old apportionment
If there is any escape from these conclu-
sions-if we can elect by the old aPportlon-
ment, or have aPpor!ionment maize by
called session without great danger Of that
and all subsequent proceedings being held un
constitutional bv the Supreme Court. we
shall be glad TO learn on what principles
Ii then We canno. elect another LIE. .lslature
by the same cid apportionm.ns. and the pres
ent Legislature cannot make new appor-
tionment at called session. what other way
is there for the difficulty to be obvlated, ex-
cept by revision of the Constitution. and
that by a Constitutional Convention? The
Constitution cannot be amended IN the mode
expressly provided therein. without the ac-
ton Of two successive Legislatures, which we
cannot have without an apporuonment. But
we believe it is conceded on all hands that the
Constitution may be amended at any time by
convention Of delegates. provided for by the
Legislature and elected by the people.
The Governor can call an extra session Of
the present Legislature for the express object,
among others, to provide for a Constitutional
Convention, the Legislature at such extra ses-
sion can provide for an apporsionment and
election of delegates to Constitutional Con
vention, and such Convention can revise the
Constitution and provide for the election of a
new Legislature. All this. we venture to
suggest, would be a legitimate proceeding.
and We can see no other mode of electing an
other Legislature that would be legitimate. 1t
seems as if this course might be adopted with
less reluctance or hesitation, from the fact,
admitted by all parties. that our State Cons,i-
tuition needs several important amendments
more than it ever did before. and needs them.
too. sooner than lhey are likely to be effected
in the slow and tedious method expressly pro-
vided.
If the expense that would be caused the
State by such convention should be consid
cred an objection, 1t might be made very hight
BY having the convention consist OF only one
delegate from each Senatorial District. with
just as much certainty Of judicious action as
more than the expense of the convention, by
removing some OF the useless restrictions and
obstructions to legislation, and thus enabling
the Legislature to make better laws in several
important respects than they now can, and to
do all legislation more expeditiously.
We do not p. edict that this course will be
pursued; it depends much upon the views and
disposition Of the Governor. But we can see
no other legitimate course yet nor hear OF
any; and the fact that both parties agree that
the constitution needs important amendments.
and that as soon possible, seems to favor
the idea that an extra session of the Legisla-
ture should be called for the express object in
part to provide for constitutional conven-
ton.