The Placer herald., 1861-01-26
The CONSTITUTIONAL Convention.

the call for Constitutional Convention,
when, by the Constitution and law relating
to the same he has nothing to do with the
matter. Under this head his Excelency says
that, "For the third time in the short history
of our State, your predecessors deemed it ad-
visable to submit the question of revising
our Constitution to a vote of the people,
and for the third time it has been again de.
feated-plainly showing that the people are
satisfied with our organic act" Here, the
Union, which has been ndefatigable in its
opposition to the measure, pats him on the
back, and declares him "emnently sound"
1t may be that the measure has failed, but
as yet it does not appear. And, in the first
place, the measure submitted was not the
"revising Of our Constitution" but whether
they would take the Incl pient steps to con-
slider revsions. Not, whether or no they
would revise and amend it-but whether or
no they would authorize the holding of a
Convention to suggest the same. All admit
that i, needs revising; but the enemies of re
form cast every obstacle in the way of it,
and ra.se all possible technical objections to
accomplishing the object in the only feasible
and really democratic plan proposed, viz: by
the people deputing representatives to a Con-
vention for that express purpose. They
argue as if The people would necessarily
adopt whatever a Convention would utter,
and, as if the Convention would necessarily
utter some monsrosity, whilst in fact, the
real issue is only made on the vote to ratify
or reject its work. They suggest all manner
of enormities-paper money, extravagant
systems Of internal improvements, ETC., etc,
and insnuate that the mere giving the peo-
pie an opportunity Of considering any i'm
provemen:s whatever, will be vote upon
and in all probability, the adoption OF, these
bugbears. This is not the fact; but if it
was so, we are better prepared now to CRAP
pie with these monsters-the off pring OF
concentrated capital and its cunning friends
than we shall be in years to come. 1t is
not in old communities where m ney is in
the ascendant, that the ballot of the poor
man is most efficient for good. But we said
the Governor had no right to decide the
question now at issue. An officer with his
position and inhuenceis wisel V xcuded from
meddling with that point-at this stage of
the case, at least. The second section of the
tenth article of our Constitution says, "if at
any time, twothirls Of the Senate and As
sembly shall think it necessary to revise and
change this entire Constitution. they shall
recommend to the electors, at the nert cleo
ton for members of the Legislature, to vote
for or against Convention, and if it shall
appear that majority of the electors, yoting
at such election, have voted in favor of calling
Convention, the legislature shall, at its
next session, provide by law, for calling
Convention to be holden, ETC., etc."
This section was added to our Constitution
in 1856, and is borrowed from the Constitu-
ton of the State of Michigan. Un Ter the
provisions thereof, tie people of tha. State
acted; the Secretary of State submitted an
abstract of the vote, upon the one point in
issue, viz: for and against Convention; and
the Legislature on that showing (here being
majority voting for, over those voting
directly againsO declared the Convention
carried and provided by law for the holding
of it, 1t will be seen that unless the Cover
nor is required "to make it appear" by
showing OF the votes of the Legislature, he
has, thus far, no part nor lot in the matter.
In 1857, the Legislature passed an act in
substance, if not rerbatim, like the one pas
sed by the Michigan Legislature, submitting
the question to the people. When the Sec
retary of State (whose duty it was made by
law) submitted "a complete abstract of the
whole number of votes cast for. and the
number cast against a Convention" there
was large majority of votes for over those
against, and the friends of the measure in.
sisted upon the Interpretation given, under
exactly similar circumstances, in Michigan.
But the Union, and other wiseacres in and
about the Capital, had found new rule by
which the will of the people was to be inter
preted on this particular question. Some
people are so uncharitable to insinuate that
those amiable gents, in that vicinity, had
axes TO grind; the which, it's said, will oh.
scure the otherwise clear perceptions of right
and wrong. However that NAV be, the
Senate of the ninth session, decided by
vote of twenty to ten that the Convention