The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-28
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THE CONVENTION.

ought To excite deep interest IN the
minds Of all the residents Of our. young
and fourishing state. VA Revision Of the
Constitution has been voted for, by avery
large majority. lThe changes which arc
expected to be made in the organic law,
are in many respects radical ones and they
should therefore be discussed by the press
and people as literally as their high i'm
portance demands. AS yet, we have seen
no reference to the objects to be secured
by the Convention, no allusion whatever
to the necessity of its call, except in the
columns of The Express d. Herald. That
journal headed it's Editorial columns, for
day or two, with a short platform Of
opinions showing its views on a few Of the
questions which will doubtless be agita-
ted but in all our other State Exchanges,
and they are not few, we have discov-
cred no reference to the subject. "
Either the Convention was uncalled
for or the necessity for its call was SO
universally regarded, and the objects to
be attained so we'll understood and agreed
upon, that discussion is useless. If
there is no difference Of opinion, of course
it is not important to talk about it. All
the convention will have to do, is to as
semble at the time specified in Governor
Grimes Proclamation, elect its officers,
appoint committees, and in one week a
New Constitution will take the place of
the present one, provided the people rati-
fly it at the ballot box. That it will be
approved there is no doubt, because there
is no diversity Of sentiment as to its neces-
sity, nor is there, any conflict of opinion,
as to its provisions. Judging from the
silence of the Press, we say, this would
seem to be the probable result and yet if
Ill sections Of the state are like ours, there
are nearly as many opinions as towhat
the Convention will do, or ought to do,
as there are persons to be affected by its
action. There are Free Bankers, State
Bankers and Anti-Bankers,-"Ge General
Law men for almost every thing, and
Especial Law men for ditto,-Ten- per-
eent-intcrest men, seven per cent men,
and some who advocate an entire aboli-
ton of usury or interest laws! BIZ
ennial Legislature advocates and Annu-
als---Some for limiting the area of coun-
ties, and some who insist that county
should remain precisely as it was organ
lied, -Some State Debt (for Internal
Improvement advocates, some who in
sist that no debt shall be made by the
Statc-some who are clown" on the
Grand Jury system, and others who re-
gard it as the great panaceaei in detecting
crime and protecting society. These are
only sprinkling Of the issues discussed
in this section.
Many more, some probably Of less and
some of greater Importance, will come
before the delegates, and why is it not
proper for the press to speak out its SEN
timents upon them all. Having the
discussions in advance Of their
deliberations, the members will enter up
on the duties assigned them, with a high
er appreciation of the importance of their
positions, and possibly, better knowl-
edge of the questions which they are ex-
pected to settle. To make Constitution
for rejection, will burshen the State with
a heavy expense without an equivalent.
To make it for approval. they should
have some means of Judging what public
opinion demands. The Press in it's char
acter of cleaner and diffuser, is the only
agent capable Of making these matters
known, and We hope to see our cotempo-
raries open, at once, on "The New Con-
stitution."
We have no hesitation in announcing
our views upon the questions above re-
ferred to. Among all our faults, we have
never been accused of lodging an issue
in National or State Politics. If we
have been less fortunate than those who
have watched the current of events with
an eye to profit, even at the sacrifice Of
opinion, or the smuggling ola thought. We
are amply compensated in the possession
of consciousness that an open hand is
less Troublesome to play. and infinitely
more consonant with self-respect.
We believe then, that the interests of
Iowa require Banks Of issue, and in CIV
to system, we are decid-
edly in favor of General Law" author
izing their establishment, and regulating
their powers and duties. The State Bank
System. in our opinion, is less secure,
less Democratic and more likely to involve
both State and people in difficulty, and
subject them to losses. It is partial in
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