, 1861-01-26

C3NSTETJTsOIAE CONVENTION.
AJtl,os,r1 1,i.,n ,o1t 1..,scf n!.,,1ca aFnra

EGNSAEEGEiO.h4ALG G0A xEN.XAONH
Although nine months m,,zt c'apse before
the people can vote for delegates 10 The:
Constitutional Convention, the public at
te1iion has bccn drawn quite closely 70
..,c subject Iy the passage oit!ie bili there
for in tho Legislature 1t is not proposed
to make {: new Constitution, but 10 "a:ter
or amend" the present Constitution. Til:
Convention Will not be restricted in the
number deliberations or amendments wll;cI,
nl:y seem advisable, but Ut the election for
:.ltftying the work Of tie convention each
amendment or alteration must lie voted for
separately or they must all be voted for TO-:
gctller-that is, no two Or tllrce amend.
:nents can be grouped together 10 bc yoted
for in s lump and separately from any otll-
TT amendment, or parcel of amendments:
Tie object Of this provision is, Of course,
10 prevent tue Convention from putting in
Improper or unpopular measure o. rs L
rider to !. necessary and popular orc.
The matters Which hare bccsl chiefly in
S:1alncntal in procuring The call 70: the
.Cea7cn,ion, as is we'll known, arc tie coz
sti'ut;onal two-,nills taa, the present cs,..-
stiaciion Of the Judiciary and the in:dc-
',ts;!:o salaries Of The judges and State ctli-
ee-s. Article XIV Of the present Ccnstitr-
,ion IS as follows:
'.7EeTe shall he annnally assessed and collected,
II 1ac s.ac .nsnef o'ieI State rcycnuc n.ay bc
sss::s*ed and collected, lax OF two mills u;:oa
eac:s Collar worth of taxable In addition
10 Ill other taxes, to be applied Is follows, 10 wit
The fund 50 created ska'l be kept separate, and
sha'l ANNUALLY, Oh tt. t;-5t Iay Of January, be ap-
ror.ioucd and paid over ;7rv rata upon eli such
Stale Indebtedness, zraar, Tor that purpose. l
presented 1 thel1uders Of the sane, 10 he entered
as CREDITS n1on aud to that. extent i extaguis.l-
meet OF ihc principal Of sa;d indebtedness
The l,ealthful operation, in times past. Of
this provision i'll our Constitution, is shown
j.; Inc fact that it has 1aiscd the value Of
l!liiso:s securities to :: point wl.erc the
hollers cannot afford to accept the sinking
fund tll1is created. In other words, they
cannot afford 10 sell their bonds 10 the
State OF Illinois at par, when they are
worth Il premium in the markets OF tho
world. The result Of this slate of things
has bccn an accumulation Of idle funds in
the hands Of the Treasurer, amounting at
this time to about half million dollars.
On the 1st day Of January, 1861, no boads
were presented 10 the Treasurer for re-
dcnlption, and therefore no diln;nution Of
the fund was effected. Tic question was
properly r:lisca whether it were desirable
10 continue this process OF locking up SO
large q sum Of fmoncy annually, comforting
10 benefit upon any one, but Withdrawing
it from the capital Of the State, and dimin-
is:,ias 10 that extent the 3nsount OF gold
and silver III ti,c banks. or caurse, no
gootl reason c:tn be shown for continuing
II. The object for wliici, it was adopted
lt:s been fully attained. The integrity Of
ll}ine;s, and her ability 10 meet her obliga-.
tio:,s, has l'cen ab;tndantly shown. Her
bonds command a premium, everywhere,
and t;:ere is no further necessity for taxing
the people 10 crcasc sinking fund, unless
there be some way 10 compel creditors 10
accept it, and surrender their securities.
The reconstruction of our judicial sys-
tenn, and tho suitable changes in the rate
Of compensation to public officers. will
occupy 4 good share Of The attc,l-
tioa Q. tie Convention The present salary
Of tie Governor is only $500 rcr ::nncia;
something less than that Of good book
keeper in 9 wholesale store. The compcn-
sa.ioa of-judges Of the Supreme Court is
only 1900, and Of Judges Of the Circuit
Courts only 1000 per annum. Tic Won
der is Thai We should he ai,1u TO procure
!lc services Of any bu. third class lawyers
On the bench for this pitifi,l stipend.
There will lc other and important mat
ers, sonlcwl.at Of a political character.
entering into the choice Of delegates to the
Convention, but these tits: needless to dis.
:;lEs SO ion. in advance Of tic election.