, 1862-04-10

Grand Scheme to Defeat the People.
MACAL1STER AND STEB-
BINS AGAIN.

from the Springfield Wl.} Journal, Ap,il6th.l
One Of the boasted improvements which the
corrupt and p1uuder seeking Democracy claim
that the proposed Constitution possesses, con
sist il the provision which it contains for
bringing suits against the State. They are at
tempting to Hatter the people that it is in
tended to guard and protect their rights,
Guard and protect their right, indeed! It is 8
carefully and adroitly devised scheme to
p1under the Treasury Of the State Of Hi
nois, and evidently was concocted and ma
tured BY dishonest sharks for that very pur-
pose. Until npW such 8 provision Was un~
heard Of and unknown In the Constitution
al history Of the State. No such grant Of
5titution under which We DOW live, nor was it
In the previous Constitution. In order to Sc
cure the State from Pandora's bog Of frauds
and fraudulent schemes, and on the well known
principle that an honest government is always
willing to pay its just debts, the people have
ever strcnuous1y refused to sanction any such
extension Of power. Butthe late Constituti-
onM Convention, either badgered By paid lobby
members or Influenced by some unknown
hocus poeus, now proposes to open the door for
all manner Of vi}lajnous legal proceedings
against the State. And the wording Of the
provision is remarkable and full Of meaning,
It is as follows:
SECTION 81. Suits maT be brought against
the State in the Circuit Court Of the county
where the seat Of government shall be
located; and upon proper affidavit fled, either
party may have the venue changed to some
nfhfr cnUnfC 1frouft '1c y,r1n1iHa1 Jns
And in all cases either party shall have the
right to appeal to the Supreme Court, whose
decisions shall be final and conclusive as to
the rights OF the parties. And the General
Assembly SHALL PROVIDE FOE TIE PAYMENT
OF ANT JUDGMENT so RENDERED, ut such time
aud In such manner as, in its discretion, shall
be warranted by the financial condition OF the
State: Prouided, That the General Assembly
shall hare no power to allow or pay any
claims, demsnds Or damages presented agafnst
from the time the claim originated OF the
cause Of action shall have accrued, EXCEPT
ON THE BONDS OF THIS STATE AND
TIE INTEREST ACCRUING ON TIE
SAME, HERETOFORE ISSUED or hereafter
to be Issued By Or under the authority Of this
State.
We ask the people to mark the import Of
this langnage. Suits may be brought against
the State, bnt the Legislature shall not pay
the claims after the expiration Of fTe years
a red T M eS On .: TIE 4f:'R BoSps S
TIE STATE AND THE INTEREST ACCRu-
ING ;ON THE SAME HERETOFORE
ISSUED, or hereafter to be issued by the
state.n Why this clause, cutting of smalt
claimants, and extension in favor Of big bond
| holders and large monetary interests? Is 1t
TO protect the peoples rights And why this
express provision allowing suits to be brought
| on certain "bon6S heraQfo4r issued The only
bonds Of this description now contested or
are the Old Macalister and stebdins bonds
! which the State has time and again refused to
I pay, and which justice requires ought never
10 be paid. And it is e1sctiy these defunct
claims which the provision Of the pro-
posed Constitution is intended to meet.
! holders Of these bonds that the plunder seek
| ing Democracy have graeiouEly, for the hene-
1T Of the people ~ allowed the State to be
| sued. It Is not necessary for US to 60 into q
history Of these bonds to shoT their character
| Or the circumstances under which they were
issued and hypothecated. They hare become
80 familiar to the people from the constant
| but unsuccessful pressure which has been
made upon the Legislature to allow them, that
al are presumed to know how unjust it would
face; But to: show he BASIS on which the
State has for years been willing to settle them,
Ne publish the following from the laws Of
SECTION l. Be It enacted BY The ptopx Of tx
State Of Illinois, represented IN The General As
sandy, That upon the surrender to the Gov
eInor, by the said Macalister aud Stebbins. o1
the balance Of the said eight hundred and fous
interest bonds, with thl4r coupons, hypothe
Gated With them on the 17th day Of June, ons
thousand eight hundred and fort and
now outstanding against the State, aud a1ac
other Internal improvement bonds and scriI
subsequently, obtained, and amounting, at ths
time they obtained them, to the sum Of On.
hundred and nine thousand two hundred ant
fifteen dollars and forty-foux csnts, over aud
above the eight hundred and four interest
bonds first received by them, Is Aforesaid, witI
the coupons upon said bands, ana tie interesi
upon said scrip, from the date they were re
ceiyed BY them, It shall then be the duty O
the Governor 70 issue bonds Of not less fha1
one Thousand dollars each. and payable: aftel
The year ons- Thousand eight hundred ani
sixty.iye, bearing interest at the rate Of 81,
:. per cent, and payable seml;aanuany IN ths
. city Of New York, pro rsta out of the tnteres