The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-23

ages OF four and twenty We s." Even the
old fashioned State OF North Carolina says il
her Constitution that the Legislature shall pro.
vide for "the conv enient instruction of you.h,' p
saying nothing as to color, because it was un.
derstood there, as everywhere, that white
children alenr were intended 10 be the recip.
tents of such favors. And, although Wiscon-
sin has of late years become perfectly aboli.
tionized, yet no one has ever heard of black
children being sent to the same school with
white children in that State--nor will il ever
be so here. am oppossd to the blacks COM
ing among US at ALL would prohibit theiI
coming by law--buE being here, and subject to
taxes, it would be safer for ourselves and bet.
ter for them that schools should be provided
for them. We can find no Justification in
treating them as brutes-they can be educated
and should be educated in schools especially
provided for them. ."
THE APPENDAGE.
THIS is no part of the Constitution, and there
Is no danger thai. ii ever will be. 1t is what
might probably be e,:ned 'side issue,''
having nothing to do with the i1aln question
"ss tub thrown to the whale" by the KeIub-
lcan leaders who wished to do something TO
concillate The abolitionists, and yet leave
in position with the main branch
OF their psrty who are opposed to negro suf-
frage. No Democrats will vote for it-no
will vote for it excepting such
Of them as are also ayowed aboltionis.s-and
no old line Wings will vote for it. BY the
wording of it, it must have majority Of all
the votes cast for and against the Constitution.
If there should be 10000 votes cast--say Co.
600 for the Constitution and 80, 900 against il,
Il think that will be the proportion) the ap-
pendage must show vote of As ,0C0 and up
wards to make it part of the Constitution
1t must show these: :Inany figures in its favor
Where will you find 5000 negro suffrage
men in the State? / venture tue prediction
that it will not receive 5 500J voles in the whole
State! If it formed part and parcel Of the
Constitution, would say, "down with the
whole instrument'--but this is not the fact,
and as is apparent to every one, nsve. can be.
The Republican press throughout the State
oppose 1.-THE Republicans as party oppose
it--how, then, can II possibly be adopted? 1t
may simply be added. as matter of history,
that the idea Of this appendage was borrowed
from the Michigan Democratic Constitutional
Convention, who submitted the same question
in precisely the same manner. 1t was voted
down overwhelmingly, whilst the Constitu-
tion was adopted almost without any opposi-
ton.
A few words now as to the propriety and
advantage of some of the minor amendments,
or rather those which have not called forth
any remark, though important in themselves.
All special legislation is prohibited, and gen.
eral legislation alone provided for. The OBJ
vious sound policy of this provision in Kidding
the General Assembly of this species of legis-
lation, by which the grossest injustice is frs-
quently inflicted, neeGs no comment. 1t was
voted for by every Democrat in the Conven-
ton, including Messrs. Hall and Robinson, of
this county.
The Governor is compelled TO sign bills, or
veto ;hem--no more pocketing bills or skulk-
ing responsibilities in tine matter Of the
pardoning power he is compelled to give his
reasons for exercising this privilege. His
term, too, is reduced 10 two years in Office
All these changes were adopted by the unan-
imous vote of the Convention
Another very important and valuable amend
ment is section IL, Bill Of Rights, which pro-
vides '.that all offences less than felony, and
in which the punishment does not exceed a
fine of one hundred dollars, or Imprisonment
for thirty days, shall be tried before justice
of the peace, or officers authorized by law on
Information under oath, without indictment
or the Intervention of grand jfry, securing 10
the defendant the right Of appeal" The ad-
vantage Of this position besides securing sum-
mary justice, is in keeping our jails rid of men
who are constantly being confined for petty
Offences, ard who frequently lie in Jail for
months before trial can behad. The saving
in this way would amount annually through
out the State to hundreds of thousand Of dol
lars
The election of the supreme judges by the
people is also a new and important feature,
but one SO generally expected and desired that
it has not caused any particular comment.
The fixing of the general election in Octo.
Der is certainly an Improvement, and will be
very generally acceptable.
For these reasons, then, and for those urged
in my former article, | think | shall be dong
my best duty as q citizen by voting for the
New Constitution. My object has been
throughout to state facts and treat the question
candidly, not as partisan, but as an individu-
al, looking only to the best good of the State
have been from the beginning, and am still
in favor Of keeping the question out Of party
leaving to every man to vote as his judgmsn
and sense OF duty may suggest without refer
ence to party predictions. | have ne doub
that this is your own wish, and that YOU sc
design to have the contest carried on. know
that your opposition is honest--I know, too
.hatitis ardent-and you will take it as friend
ly from me if suggest that you guard you
zeal in the premises If you wish the Constitu'
tion to 60 before the people 7on its merits, ane
not before party heralded by prejudces.
Having shown, as well as am able, that tn,
Bill Of Rights is identified with that Of all tn,
States in those portions which you assaii, an.
that the negro testimony provided for is n,