Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-15
From the st. Joseph Valley Register.l
The Vote on the Convention Ques-
ton.

The Vote on the Convention Ques-
ti0n.
We had hoped that the voting. at
the October election on the important
question, whether the organic law of
the State needs revision and amend
ment. would be entirely untrammeled
by party, as it should be. But the
fact that Democratic Conventions in
many counties have taken ground po-
litically against it, impairs this hope.
though one of them Tin Spencer Co.
we were glad to see refused to adopt
a resolution of that character. The
Republican Convention, as far as we
have noticed, have passed no rcsolu-
tions upon it, desiring that the peo-
pie Of all parties should vote for or
against it, on its merits, irrespective of
political crecds.
We shall vote for it for the follow
ing reasons:
/. The Supreme Court have. by
their decisions, made the present Con-
stitution bundle of Inconsistencies
and contradictions. Under the sec
ton authorizing the Legislature "to
provide by law for a general and uni
form system of Common Schools"
they have decided that no town or city
can levy an additional tax, beyond
that imposed by the State, to continue
Free Schools for longer term. They
can levy such taxes rs each town
chooses, up to certain maximum, for
streets or roads, to pay officers. and
even to build school houses, the Court
decide; but they can not do it to keep
school in them! If School Fund.
equal to 81 per scholar, is sufficient in
some remote township, every other
township must bring down their
schools to the same pccuniary point. so
as to be uniform"
9. Each party often charges the
other with importing votes; but when
any attempt is made in the Lcgisla-
turc to prevent these outragcs by re-
quiring certain length ofrcsidencc in
a township to entitle a citizen to vote.
or q Register Law, it is rejected be-
cause it is unconstitutional" ETvery
friend of pure ballot-box should de-
sire the Constitution so amended tha,
illegal voting could be e!Iectuaily pre-
vented.
9. The limitation Of sessions to a
certain number of days, compelling
the Legislature then to adjourn. wheth-
cr the business is finished or nn6nish-
ed. has worked very badly. Limiting
the pay they should receive, instead of
the term, to the same number of days,
as in New York. would enable them to
remain in session If necessary and fin
ish up their business at their own ex-
penSc.
1. So also requiring two thirds for
a quorum to do business has proved a
great mistake, as we predicted when it
was adopted encouraging and enabling
minoritieS, (and neither party has been
guiltless,) J to break quorum and stop
the wheels of legislation.
| 5. ~ political Supreme Bench has
proven n great evil. Elccting the Su-
premc Judges by Districts. as the Com
vention of 1880 resolved, till John
Petit made it a party question to elect
them by general ticket. wonld have,
beyond doubt, avoided this; as we'll as
given the people Judges who would
have stood higher in their confidence.
BY this plan. nearly every man would
know the Supreme Judge lie voted for;
and would be governed in his choice
more by the candidates S qualifications
than his party
We might add that as power should
often return to the people. Governor
should be elected ofiener than once in
four ycars-that submitting laws, in
volvinS new and important principles,
to the popular vote. is certainly not
unwise in a Republic. although deci-
ded to be unconstitutional in Indiana.
But we have adduced sufficient rea-
sons to justify our vote. If these
amendments could be made by the
Legislature, we should prefer it to q
Convention. But it takes five years
thus to amend the Constitution; and
when the last Legislature was appeal
cd to, though nearly every voter ac-
knowledges the imperlcctions of the
instrument as constructed by the Sn.
prcme Court, they suggest to the peo-
pie Convention, and the Governor
endorsed it 5y his signature; preferrine
this to attempting the work them
selves. Hence, as this appears the
only mode of reform, we shall vote
Aye.
If we do not learn to love the beau