Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-08
WHY we need Convention.

The Parke County Republican. pa
per that makes its own opinions, anu
turns out a very good article generally.
to amend the Constitution Is 10y means
of Convention, but vows its willing
ness TO hear argument. Ii will, there
fore. we doubt not. give full consiera
tion to some reason which we will try
and give for the calling Of aConvention.
The only mode in which the Con-
stitution can be amended without a
Convention is by Legislative enact
ment, carried through two Legisla-
lures. and finally approved by the peo-
pie. There are several objections to
this mode.
1st. The amendment must pass
tuo Legislatures. 1t must consequent
ly be approved by two different sets OF
men, elected at different times, under
different states Of popular feeling, and
upon issues, local and general, involv-
ing different interests. Like every
other Legislative measure, it is likely
to he connected with one or two or a
dozen other measures. Men with pet
projects will demand the assistance OF
the supporters OF the amendment as a
condition of voting for it, and others
will vote against it to get the help, for
some other pet scheme, of those who
oppose it. This log rolling" is no
torious, hardly single measure passes
any Legislature without encountering
its help or hindrance. The amend
ment thus complicated with personal
aims. and party claims, may be lost,
or thrown ov er, or passed by, though
its necessity may be admitted, as it is
by everybody. The failure of the ap-
preparation bills two years ago is an
instance, and the passage of the Bank
bills for years ago is another. Hav-
ing to pass tsco Legislatures, its chance
OF falling, under the complications ere
ated bv different set of men each
time, is doubled. Thus a Legislative
amendment is uncertain, and nobody
can see so clearly how great this un-
certainty is as those who are familiar
with the operations of Legislatures
An "unrertainty" in the amendment
of the Constitution is not what we
want. We want it amended, and not
merely put where it may be amended.
This serious objection does not apply
to a Convention. 1t has nothing to
do but amend the Constitution, and
there is no chance to entangle that du-
ty with anything else. A Legisla-
ture has to pass laws, regulate taxes,
settle accounts. investigate frauds,
elect officers. and do a hundred nec-
essary and important things besides.
and an amendment of the Constitution
is only one out of the multitude. A
Convention cannot do anything but
the amending. A Convention. there
fore, is sure remedy. a Legisla-
tive amendment is not.
I'd. 1t is now nearly year and a
half before the Legislature can meet
and pass an amenling act the first
time. Two years more must elapse
before it can pass the second time
Then several months must intervene
before the electiap at which the peo-
pie can approve it. Consequently.
il the Legislative amendment be made
Just as soon as it can be made, it will
take Jetween four and fve gears to put
ii i'm operation. 4 Convention called
this Fall, elected next April. sitting in
a few weeks after, and finishing its
work, as may bo easily done. in a
month, will give all amendment to the
people in less than one year, and put
it in operation in little more than one
year. The advantage of time is on the
side of q Convention therefore, as well
as the advantage of certainty.
81. n Convention consisting OF
100 mum hers. who are paid SO day.
with say 10 clerks, and doorkeepers,
and walters. and sitting one month,
which is ample, and more than will
probably be used. will cost $3.50 per
day, and not more. or for one months
work, $40, 500. We will say that il
will cost SIS, 1000, and that is a low
estimate. 1t will give MS the oppor.
tunity of establishing free schools three
years sooner than we can possibly get
them without it. Every town or dis
trict that chooses to add by special
tax to it's share of the State School
Fund can do so under the amended
Constitution, and thus while the gen
eral fund can do but little towards
maintaining schools. it will furnish
the foundation for local means to rest
upon sufficient to complete the good
work Thus we shall soon have in one
district and another. in one city after
another, special school tax added to
the State fund, and tlourishing excel
lent schools open to all. rich and poor
free. just as we had two years ago. be.
fore that fatal decision. -Are not three
gears Of such system worM Sl5,.
900? We put the question to oul
friend of Parke county, and ask it,
careful consideration OF it. But the
moral benefit is not the only one. We
shall not only be able to provide cdu-
cation for thousands of poor children
now unable to attend any school, thus
reclaiming them from idleness and
vice. three years sooner than in any
other way. but we shall save forty
times the cost of the Convention IL
money. Free schools can be main,
tanned for about half the cost of pri-
vate schools. The estimate Of the cost
of free schools in this city two year,
ago was s4 2l per annum per scholar
The average cost of tuition in private
schools is 80 per quarter, or IS pei
annum. doutie Mot OF free schools
Tins those who have children 10 edn.