The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-08-05
IND
The Constitutional Convention.


given the following explanations ofthe state
of the question. If it is to be made aparty
issue, the Republicans had better avail them
selves of it ut once; there is more strength
on the affirmative side, among the people,
than in any present plank of the Republic
can platform; at least it is so in this part
of the State:
The first proposition, at the last session of
the Legislature, to amend our State Consti-
tuition, was made by a Democrat The Sec
ond came from an American, and the third,
and successful one, emanated from an "old
Whig.n The support of the measure was
as miscellaneous as its authorship. Some
Democrats advocated it earnestly in the Leg
islature, and such of their papers as said
anything appeared to favor it. The Sentinel
of this city very frankly admitted its i'm
portance. The Republicans generally sup
ported it, and we believe the Americans,
without exception, did the same.
We have rarely seen measure so init
mately associated with party records and
prospects, so entirely loosed from party adj
vocacy or resistance as was this one at its
first appearance. The Democrats, however,
as the debate dragged along, either saw or
thought they saw something of party adj
vantage in opposing it, and drew of, or
rather drew the line where before they had
recognized no party difference, and formed
pretty soIidly againstit Since its adoption
they seem to have compacted their resistance
still more closely, and resolved to fight it as
a party question exclusively. The Sentinel,
with its usual freedom from prejudice, tried
both sides in rapid succession, but from
some unexplained accident, happening to
take the Convention side first, its necesseTy
change of course carried tito the opposition,
and there it is now. The Democratic papers
all over the State lave taken ground on the
same side, and several conventions have re-
solved decidedly against the measure. What
ever expression has been given by the party
in an authoritative shape has been unfavor-
able, and we may as well now, as later, set
il down that the amendment of the Consti-
tuition will never be accomplished by the
help or favor of the Democratic leaders.
Why this is so we can't conjecture. That
it is an afterthought, and adopted solely
from party considerations, though we can't
imagine what they are, will hardly be dis
puted. If it had been otherwise, there
would not have been the non-partisan sup
port of the measure exhibited that we all
know was exhibited. The first proposal of
it by Democrat and the first unframed
expression of many Democrats for it, showed
that the popular feeling was for it. When
they spoke out the first thought-that
which lay uppermost in their mind-upon
this subject, it was in favor of it, and only
changed to opposition as party appeals bore
more directly upon them. 1t took party
discipline to check even Democratic approval
of the measure. But the discipline has
proved effectual this time, as it has SO often
before, and the Democracy, so tar as the
leaders can force them into it, will make the
question party one. We regret this, for
we would rather see the Constitution so
amended as to permit free schools, than
to see the Republican party win dozen
elections. So far as our own feelings are
concerned we should be willing to let the
Democracy take all the credit that resto-
ration of our free school system could give
them, il, thereby, We could insure such a
restoration.
We have enough grounds of difference
with the party, and tenable enough, We
think, to be willing to make common
ground of this important question of amend
ing the Constitution, or even to ennl''de II
ll-.---.L----Mssny republicans expected
that the Democrats would allow it to
be made common ground, and, until within
n few weeks past, we at least had some
hope that the little resistance manifested ms
the discussion in the Legislature progressed,
would disappear, and the leaders would
leave their supporters free to follow their
own opinions without any partisan inter
IL 81; e H..
we have abstained from saying anything
about the matter, for we knew the inevita-
BILE tendency of Democrats to oppose what
Republican advocated, and the danger Of
thus settling them ON a party foundation
against it. We thought it very possible
that if little was said by Republicans for it
little might be said by Democrats against
1t, and thus the great body of the people
would go to the polls 1ninfiuenced by party
consideration.
But the Democratic leaders, it seems, ART
not willing to occupy neutral ground, and
have taken the initiative of decidedly CD
posing it, thus making it party question
and complicatIng the interests CT education
and the wants of Indiana with partisan
purposes and feelings. Whether they will
be as much benefited as they expect j:
doubtful. We believe the great body O.
that party, az well as the Republicans, are
willing to lay party differences ON the altar
of free education, and that they will not al
low their leaders to urge them to destroy
not only the altar but the temple, to secure
fancied advantage or a coveted Office
And if theysare, those, who have labored so
zealoLsly to draw the party closely and COM
pactly against all efforts to restore FIRE,
schools, may find that for once they have
conrted party feelings to their own defeat.
That which is so inexplicable to the In
dianapolis Journal, is pretty well under
stood in this region of the State. Their
are but two parties that have fears of DANCE
to their peculiar rights by a revision of tn
Constitution; these are the recent emigrant
who apprehend change in the suffrag
clause; and the State Bank, who thinks sh
may be deprived Of her exclusive monopol
by a change ofthe clause in regard to Bank
ing. By expurging that section, the peOpl
IN the course of years might hit up
on system Of safe banking and adopt il