Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-11-12
she constitutional Convea-
ton


she ConsiitutiOnalC snyen-
ton
On last Tucsday, delegates were chosen
~ the different Representative districts Of
This State to the convention to meet at
Springfield, on the first Monday of Janus
airy next, for the purpose of framing new
constitution for the State of Illinois. We
have not received the returns from ali the
districts in the State. 5ut enough is known
to warrant US in saying that the eervention
will be largely Democratic. Nearly half /
the members elected in the North are Dem
oerats, while in the middle portion Of the
State and in the Southern districts scarcely
Republican has been chosen From pres
ent indications, the Republicans viii have
little to say in regard to the character of /
the new constitution.
Such being the facts in relation to the
p,lities Of tie convention, we have Just
reason to believe that we shall have con-
stitutiOn that will meet the appreciation of
he people.
While there are many excellent features
in our present constitution, there are also
serious delects-and it was for the removal
II these that convention was ordered by
cur Logi-hture In reference to banks,
corporate privileges and various other mat
tors Of rclicy, radical change is demand
el.
The paramount duty Of the convention
viii be to guard against the encroach-
nents Of power, the insatiaie ambition of
the wealthy, and to provide against une-
quail legislation, whatever form it may as
sumo or whatever Object it may ostensibly
seek to accomplish Hence let provisions
be made in the new constitution against
banks, high salaries, extravaganza, immu-
mites and special privileges Of whatsoeyer
nature or name.
1t was beautifully aud truly said by the
immortal Jackson that "lhere are no nee
eSsary evils in government. If il would
confne itself to equal protection, and, as
heaven does its rains, shower its favors
alike on the high and the low, the rich
and the poor, it would be an unqualified
blessing" Let tho convention when it
conyencs, rem ember The wise coansels Of the
illustrious man who uttered the above sem
timent. For Of all countries ON the face of
the earth, or that ever existed on the face
Of the earth, this is the one where the
claims of wealth and aristocracy are the
most uufounded, absurd and ridiculous
Yet a casual survey Of society, in regard to
The vast disparity it presents, must satisfy
any rejecting mind that there is some
great and prevailing error 10 our funda-
mental law. What is the reason that such
immense numbers If men cream and sweat
and toll under weary life, exhaus.iug
their very existence as it were, aad yet &C.
cpmulatiug nothing around them to give
them hope Of respite and prospect of resi-
and comfort in old age? Has nature been
less prOdigal to them than to those who
enjoy such superior fortunes? Are their
minds guided by less intelligence, or their
bodies nervel with less yigor? Are their
morals less pure, or their industry less
siduous? In all these respects the great
mass Of the poorer class Of people are at
least the equals, if not the superiors, of
those who are so far above tFem in point
Of wealth and prosperity. This great dis
| parity Of condition, in most instances, can
/ be traced directly to the errors in our sys.
tenn Cf legislation-to that erroneous sys-
tenn, which, instead Of regarding the equal
ity Of baman rights, and leaving al! to the
/ full enjoyment of their natural liberty in
every respect not inconsistent with public
order, bestows privileges aud immunities
on one class and denies them to another,
/ thus compelling the many to pay tribute
/ and render homage to the few
Now We believe that it will be 10 the
! power Of the constitutional convention to
/ lay the foundation for reformation Of the
evils Of which we complain. Let it Limit
the action Of the Legislature 70 its legiti-
mate purposes. Let it particularly deuv
the right Of establishing banks. We are
Democrats in the fullest and largest sense
Of the word, ard consequently are opposed
to banks in whatever share they NAV be
presented. The people of Illinois have
baen ridden by the script nobility long
enough and, as vas indicated by the vote
1 on the proposition for a new bank law one
week ago. are opposed to their existence in
tho State.
Therefore, let the Democratic delegates
Of the convention provide against a paper
money currency. Let the motto be hard
money and equal privileges and we shall
hail the new constitution as the harbinger
Of Il brighter and happier era.
The people Of the loyal States are satisfied
with the old Constitution aud ask M change
! = they prefer 10 live under Constitution
sanciIhed by Washington and Jefferson, to
one dictated by Davis and Steyens.-Tiue
DemOcrGt
OF course we are all willing to liye under
the ''olj constitution" but there is differ
ence 10 regard to the proper authorities to
interpret it, The Republicans mostly in-
sist that the Interpretation given TO it By
Sumner, Greeley, Love- y AMI Seward that
negroes can become citizens u the United
States end that the citizens Of the Slave
States can be deprived Of the right to their
property in the common territories Of the
iisfub!ic, while the people Oft the South and
NEST Of the Democrats Of The North, believe
with the Supreme Court Of the United