The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-20
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY,, APRIL 20, 1858.

We learn from an advertisement in one of the
morning papers that con the fourth Wednesday OF
May next" the people of Maryland will be requlr-
cd 10 vote "upon the expediency OF calling Con-
vention to frame a new Constitution and Form OF
Government for this State" When the precious
instrument by which ''our rights and liberties are
at present controlled was formed in 1851, the hope
was fondly cherished by its trainers that it might
last at least, ten gears These very moderate expec-
tatons it seems are in danger of being disappointed.
The Constitution is not yet seven years DID, and is
already thought to show symptoms of premature
old age and decay 1t has begun to grow loose in
the JOINTS and, it is feared will not last even the
brief term to which the reasonable computation of
lis authors, and its provisions had limited its
existence. 'The sense of the people, is therefore
to be taken "upon the expediency' of trying once
the experiment of reform, anticipating by
period of at least three years, that natural and
periodical dissolution of the bonds of society,
which is at present, provided for only at intervals
of ten Should the 'sense'' of the people be in
favor of Convention, the election of Delegates to
the same, is to take place on the second Wednes-
day of October. The Convention when elected is
to assemble at the city of Annapolis, on the first
Wednesday of January, 1852 ''and shall continue
in session until the business for which they were
convened shall be fully completed and finished"
On the first Wednesday of November following,
''the sense of the people, is to be further taken
'for or against the adoption of the Constitution
which the Convention shall form. Such is the
programme arranged for us by the late Legislature
Tho &c l.
bill' contained in the advertisement
In view of the prudent silence observed by the
local press in respect to this important matter-the
most important upon which the people of the State
possibly be called to act, it is perhaps unwise
in us to venture upon any expression of opinion in
regard to it, until after ''the sense of the people
shall have been taken, and ascertained Since
our youth and inexperence in journalism, how
ever, have already betrayed us into the indis-
erection of saying what we think about this pro-
posed change in our organic law we see no great
harm in repeating now our views upon the subject
While the bill was yet pending before the Legisl.,-
turc we declared ourselves decidedly in favor of
Convention. After the passage of the bill by the
Senate, we reiterated our advocacy of the measure
and expressed the hope that it would meet the
assent of the House. When, by the concurrence of
the House, the bill finally became law, we con-
graduated the people of the State upon the oppor-
tunty thus afforded of removing some of the abuses
which are inherent in the very plan and substance
OF the present Constitution, and of introducing
changes, which may prove in verify, reforms The
near approach of the time appointed ''for taking
the sense of the people, upon the subject, while it
docs not alter our own position in reference to the
question, only admonishes us, as it should our
readers, ofthe Importance of the step which we are
about to take We do not suppose that any sensi-
BILE man will have one word to say in favor of the
present Constitution. 1t has been tried, and found
wholly wanting in all the requirements of good
constitution. The only consideration which can
make any citizen hesitate to cast his vote in favor
of change would be the fear lest in going farther
we may fare worse. This apprehension we do not
entertain. We are disposed to look upon the
movement in favor of a new Constitution as one in
which the more conservative and intelligent classes
of society most thoroughly sympathise We do
not care to consider with whom the measure oriei-
mated, or with what selfish or sinister motives if
may have been proposed. 1t is enough for us,
among the best men in the State and relying upon
their patriotism and wisdom to give proper tone
and direction to the movement, we give to it our
cordial support. Whether in the sequel we shall
derive the advantages from revision of the Con-
sttution, which we are disposed to expect, must
depend altogether upon the spirit in which the
work of reform shall he undertaken by those to
whom the people may delegate the task IF it is to
be made party movement, or if the question of
reform is converted into party question: the con-
dltlon in which we shall be placed by the adoption
of Constitution framed under such auspices. will
be infinitely worse than our present plight. An
alteration of the organic law of the State proposed
undertaken and adopted as a measure of party
tactics, and with view of perpetuating the Assem-
dancy of particular faction, will only augment
thousandfold the evils under which we at present
suffer. In such event, we may expect with each
change OF administration in the government of the
State, change in its fundamental law. Instead
OF mere rotation in Office we shall have con-
slant rotation of constitutions, and worse than
biennial Legislatures biennial Conventions The
only thing that can possibly avert catastrophe so
fatal to the interests of the State and so destructive
of good government, will be sufficient good sense
and moderation, on the part of the people, to keep
the question of Reform entirely separate and apart
from all other political questions and from party
issues. In that light, we regard it, in that light
we propose to discuss it, and in that light. we
declare ourselves in favor of Reform i
MIISIC AMI THE DD,,t,