The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-12

worse. Much of that in the new is the same
as in the old, some is already IN force rs law
and regarded a- settled policy; some OF the
most pernicious in the old il left out in the
new some is submitted in separate articles,
and some is improved.
find fault with various specific provisions,
also, but they are in articles which on the
whole, and notwithstanding such provisions,
are better than the original
! could find the strongest objections how
ever, if permitted myself to be addressed as
u partisan; ia the composition Of the conven-
ton, secured by no-party action Of the repub'
/ ican-, in many instances whore they had
| powcr,wlth the hearty approval Of the demo
/ cratic minority On the one hand, and the strict
party action oi the democracy, in many in
Stances, where they had rower, against the
patriotic protest Of the republican minority;
/ in the organization Of the convention, which
excluded from Office even liberal democrats;
in the great swelling words OF vanity and as
sertion- Of power with which it opened; i'll
the rule If caucus; in it, bitter hostility to
the state officers; it. hypercriucism Of the
method. and means employed by the general
and SKATE governments for supprcs>ing this
/ rebellion and in the di,,rcting for state leg
i,lature All that | condemned at the time,
and now condemn.
Parties are useful in the proper times and
places. Then aud there | am republican
Of faith unshakcu by any new lights Of doc
trlne or experience. But here and now, it
seems to be my duty to watch aud restrain
the impulses Of the purtl2an, and take no
counsel Of prejudice | Thought from the
first, and still think, party organization, Spir-
it and action, entirely ont OF place in Il CON
ycntion, called not to settle questions Of poll.
cy, but to frame the organic law Of the state.
This. because OF the nature Of the work and
more especially, when in addition to that con
sheraton the condition Of the union was such
as 10 appeal with special mphaSis for harmof
ny among its friends. ! was not aware Of
any division Of parties, since came 10 Hi
nois upon such questions. Hence, | con-
demned such action and spirit in the majori-
ty of the convention. The same reason for
bids the ike spirit and action in me. These
objections are not pertinent to the considera-
ton Of the proposed amendments. They are
TO he Judged by and Of themselves and as
: compared with that for which they are offer
cd as substitute.
One other point. 1t is thought by some
that if the new constitution De voted down,
there will be hope Of another convention soon,
while if adopted that hope will be indefinite
~ postponed. have thought OF that But
p my experience and observation Of this, leads
me to fear as much as to hope from another
: soon TO be called. if another should be. The
1 most disastrous influences in this grew out OF
I party spirit. Outward circumstances are not
: likely soon to be better calculated to restrain
+ and rountcract it, 4 new convention, equal
, " partisan. whichever way the minority
might be, would not proably do better,
would have been glad if the late convention
= had adjourned for n .tcr months, in order t
c get an expression from the people in refer
{ cnce to what seemed then to be the chic
r points Of danger, but not until parties every
+ where should be reorganiaed and antagonist
e ic as before the war. Besides, some expert
/ ence, especially Of the first, ana therefore
y toughest working Of the new constitution, vii
:. not only not interfere with that hope, but vii