, 1862-03-26
'EbE1Ctihumt.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH %. 1ooa,
: TRE NEw=UoNRYs1TI51T0W. :.

x2k& Anew CONSTITUTION. >; :
,One Of the most vital objections to the
new Constitution is, that it brings on gen.
e:l election ID this State at time when
psztixan politics Of every description should
be laid aside, aud all efforts directed to q
Vigorous prosecution Of the war for the
restoration Of the Union. . :.
The Convention, while complimcnting
The Governor and other State officers for
their management Of the war, cuts off one
half of their terms Of Office, and thus sets
them ad1ift, like sailors sending of thei1
commander in storm. ii the same time
all the Circuit and County Clerks In the
State, the majority Of whom are Demo-
Gratis, are retained in Office. The Clerks Of
the Supreme Court, all Democrats, are also
retained, az are the County Judges, the
great majority Of whom are Democrats,
It will be remembered that at the late elec-
tion large majority Of clerks and Judges
elected throughout the Republican counties
in the northern portion OF the State, were
Democrats. They went in on Union tickets.
is this the way to bury pa1tizanship in
politics, in time when every man is call
ed upon to stand by his country, not his
party? The Republicans generously, but,
as it turns out, most unwisely, abandoned
their party organization; and what has
been the result? The Democratic faction
controlling the Constitutional Convention,
taking advantage Of this, have framed a
bitterly partizan Constitution, full Of all
manner Of special legislation, designed to
punish Republicans and turn over the
State to rro-slarery faction, or wing, Of
the Democratic party. This faction is. in.
deed, Us bitterly opposed to the Democrats
who are now fighting the battles Of the
country, as it is to the Republican party.
Ndesies to rule the State, and to do SO, it
knows that it must portion out the Offices
before the war is oyer.
Here is the great secret Of the action Of
the majority Of the Convention, in ordering
new election while the country is engaged
in a struggle for its very existence. And
what must be thought Of men who will
thus prostitute the high Office of statesmen
to such base ends SIS these?
What has Gov. Yates done that he
should be sum1narily cut off in the midst
Of his useful labors, which have been
crowned with such brilliant results as the
victories Of Forts Donelson and Henry;
victories which did more to establish
nF +Ea
inspire the country with renewed hope
and confidence, than all other actions of
the war put together? But what cared
the men that framed this Constitution for
these victories? They took several days
to pass resolutions eulogisdc Of the Fort
Henry triumph; and only the potent vsice
Of public sentiment calling to them in
terms Of menace not to be mistaken, COM
PEELED them to act in the matter Even as
it was, some ten OF twelve Of the members
took up their hats snd left the hall, rather
than vote when the yeas and nays were
being called.
This is the Convention and this the Con
sdIutlon that the people Of Illinois are
called upon to ratify- They are called upon
to endorse partizan document, made by
partizan hands, at 3 time when patriotism
should rule supreme; when every man
should forget all party predictions and
remember only that he has a country to
save at any cost and any sacrifice however
great.
We call upon every honest man in the
State then to bury the cursed instrument
out Of sight for ever.