, 1862-04-07

. When the people have thoroughly exam
ined the proposed Constitution and CON-
pared it With ths one NOW in force, they
will find it comes far short Of what they
had right to expect from the talent EN-
plored and money invested, and very far
from being such an instrument as their in
terests demand. ::
Without entering into details, ne find
the amended instrument presents two no.
ticeable features One is complete relax
ing Of restraint upon the Legislative power
inregard to the expenses oftle Government,
and the other is that Of special and local
legislation. These alone should condemn
thewhole thing.
As we understand 1t, one Of the principal
objects Of written Constitution Of this kind
is to restrain or limit the Legislative power,
that the people may know with certainty
what kind Of laws may be enacted, and how
far they will remain secure in their rights,
from inconsiderate or designing legislation.
A prudent man in setting out to con-
duct his own business affairs, first ascer-
tains the expenses to be incurred, OF, as it
is said, "counts the cost" and then gov
ems his action accordingly; and this is
said to be one secret of individual success.
How important then it is that govern
ment, in the administration Of its affairs,
should adopt like precaution to insure
success. We do not find in the amended
Constitution the salary OF compensation Of
a single officer or department Of the gov
eminent fixed OF limited in the least, sage
that Of members Of the General Assembly
| at the first session after the adoption Of
the Constitution. The Legislature are to
fix their Gsen compensation after the first
session, and that Of oil other State officers
and departments, without any limit what
| ever. Thus We have no means Of deter.
mining with any degree Of certainty, two
years ahead, What our State expenses are
| 10 be.
We have heard Of one or two men who
were urging the adoption Of the Const1tu'
ton, claiming it to bea "poor MANS Con
stitution, as they call it. This term may
not be altogether inappropriate, for if The
| new Constitution is adopted, it must in
turn beggar every man in the State who
pays taxes for the support Of the Govern
ment. But to call it an office-holder's Con.
stitution, would be decidedly appropriate
from the chances afforded them for higt
salaries.
Not only has all restriction been taker
off in regard to salaries, but new officer:
arc created and new machinery in tht
government introduced to addto our Stat.
expenses. There has been 8 time whe1
the people Of the State could have born
additional burdens Of this kind, but it is no
now. We are in the midst Of O terrible re
belGon, and what share, or how much, G
the enormous expenses following ar
to fall to Illinois, no one can as yet forn
any conception.
The people Of Illinois are in no conditio
at this time to take any hazard Of increa*
ing their State expenses, or Of adding
their taxes for State purposes. They d
not forget that they have credit abroa
to sustain. Capitalists will look to Il
administration Of the government Of
, State with the same scrutiny that credit
looks to the conduct Of his debtor # al
:, law is adopted whereby our expenses q
: greatly increased, or are liable to becon
- SO, GUT credit is impaired in proporto
II Ourpresent Constitution is an economic
:, instrument. 1t has limited our State e
- penses, and worked a financial refof
which has brought the State out Of ban
ruptcy into prosperous condition. 1
!. us therefore by all means hold on to tn
under which We have fourished so we
- until our national peace is restored, VIII
= we will be prepared to judge better VT
, changes We want in our Constitution.