The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-22

THE PRESENT CONSTITUTYON-HOW
LONG BEFORE 1T CAN BE CHANGEDg
MesSr8 Editors AS a citizen of Baltimore, |
have watched with deep interest the efforts which
are making for the purpose of reforming the sys
tenn by which our public officers have been elected
of late. wish them every success, and | would
say nothing that might be thought a reflection
upon the means that have been chosen to reach
that end if careful consideration of the various
causes which have given rise to the desperate cha
racter of our political contests did not me
that the Reformers have overlooked the greatest
one of ALL allude to the Constitution of the
State. Strange as it may appear, no mention has
been made of a change in this instrument, so full
of glaring defects, by the Reiormers. This silence
may be In a measure accounted Tor, by the TACT
that such an effort made and failed some eighteen
months since; and besides, there is an impression
in the public mind that the duration of the present
Constitution is but short, anyhow. Article ri of
the Constitution says: at shall be the duty of
the Legislature, at its first session, Immediately
succeeding the returns of every of the United
States, hereafter taken, to pass law for ascertain
ing at the nert general election of delegates, the
sense of the people of Maryland, in regard to the
calling a convention for altering the Consti-
tuition; and in case the majority of votes cast
at said election shall be in favor of calling a con-
vention, the Legislature shall provide for the as
sembling of such convention, and eecting delegates
thereto, at the earliest convenient day, &c Grant
ing that the returns of the census will be made
before January, 1862 the Legislature of that year
(the sessions being biennal) is required to provide
for taking the sense of the people at the ensuing
election for delegates; and if aOritv shall favor
a CALL the Legislature of January 1865. shall pro-
vide for electng the delegates to such convention,
to assemble some time during that year. We
might, then, expect to a vote taken upon the
Constitution it might frame, early in sc; aud if it
should be adopted to see it in operation in 1867.
Thus see the great length of time requisite to
effect any change whatever in the mode prescribed.
Why shall we delay for seven years a work so ne
ceSSary to give permanencv to reform in State
and city politics? We can accomplish the same
reSult-at the same cOst-in two years, if the
opportunity now offered should be awaited of by
In 1862 there will be held general election
in State, to fill nearly all the offices
appointed by the Constitution. Let us begin
the work at once through the counties and
the city. All agree that it must be done,
in order to crush the elements which, at the pre-
sent day, are formed into such numerous and ne
fariOus combinations that the efforts of honest men
to defeat them almost futile The constable
''works" the ward district to advance has candi-
date for magistrate, who in turn, has his clique,
and becomes necessary agent in the triumph of
those running for the higher places of mayor,
sheriff, attorney Judge; and thus the connection
is regular and perfect, and the dependence made
mutual between the bully and bruiser at the polls
and the police appointed to arrest, or the court
designed 70 nunish him. We must remove the in
pervsing and responsible power the control of the
numerous petty offices that corrupt men aim to fill
and use for their ACKNOWLEDGMENT and the baser
purposes of others. Let the Legislature be invoked
for the removal of the groundwork of our present
complications in politics, and the reform we seek
will be speedy and lasting. Presto.