, 1862-04-25
Ebe Ttihtt&tr.
FRIDAY, APRIL Is, 1869.
TIE NEW CONSTITUTION.

FRIDAY, APRIL Is, 1862.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
Since the breaking out Of the rebellion |!
the general expression has been, from all
parts Of this State, that there existed no
necessity for any changes in our present
Constitution, and it was hoped that the
Couvention would adjourn sine dc on the
day Of meeting. 1t was conceded, how
ever, that some few changes might be
made IN the present Constitution with good
results. These we're in relation to thejudic-
iarY department.. It has long been urged,
by lawyers in particular, that the present
Constitution was too naTow in its provis-
ions in regard to our Supreme Court; that
three Judges was not sufficient force on
the bench IN writing ont opinions; that
our State had 80 fur increased in impor-
tance that the reports Of cases adjudicated
in this Court had swelled to two large vol
umes, yearly. But what Of this: it did not
rt4uirc the machinery or expense Of Con-
rention to remedy this evil, nor to amend
the article Of the present Constitution con-
cerning the judiciary in any particular
whatever. There is a provision in the pre-
sent Constitution providing for making
amendments By submitting them directly
toa vote Of the people, after being pre-
pared BY the General Assembly. Under
this provision the whole judiciary article
could hsye been amended. II the people
should vote to haye it amended, with COM
parat1vcly no expense at all, why was not
this done? Why have the people been
putto this enormous expense at the instance
Of reckless politicians? We shalIhcrcafter
sec why When the Convention decided
to 80 on and amend the Constitution gen
orally, il became their duty, 1st, to so con-
duct their action as to make as little cx-
pensc IS possible. I'd, to make as few
changes as possible, and no more than were
actually required; and Sd, 10 submit the
result cf their labors to the people, tairly
and without reserve. But how have the
Convention performed their duties ? Lctus
sec: As to the expenses incurred, it is diff
Gull al lll1@ L1u1G " LA Lux dk40uAL VI ALA CC1~
tainty, bat the complete cost Of the Con-
vention is estimated to be not less than
100000. The Constitution is submitted at
q special election, instead Of the regular
election next fall, which will costnot less
than $4,000 more.
As to the changes made, it seems that al
most an entire new instrument is produced.
The most important changes made arc
such us were either already enacted by
the Legislature under the present Con
s6tution, Or arc very Objectionable to
the people; aHd as to The fairness
Of submission to the people, VIC have al
ready expressed to some extent the franz
committed, by reference to the manner o.
voting on the Banking article.
Wc have before referred to the fact that
special and local legislation was noticea-
bic feature in the new Constitution judy.
ing from the debates Of tie Convention,
that body seems to have lad a great horror
Of special and local legislation, and mem.
bers drew largely upon their imag,
nation III criticising the course
of former legislatures in this respect;
but when the work of the Convention
itself is examined in regard to this subject,
deccncy must blush at their inlpudence and
Inconsistency. Take the Judiciary article
foriustance, which, above all others, should
have general application and lave been
uniform in its operation over the whole
Statc-and it is full Of local and special
provisions from beginning to end In
stead Of creating five Supreme Judges, as
they clearly admit they should have done,
they have left Us with only three
But they throw out silgar-coated pill to
Chicago and Peoria, by way Of special
provision, giving them each annually term
Of the supreme Court, prorided they aoa'
pay the erpenses tderegf Themselves. Will
some one explain TO the people why five
grand divisions we're not regularly proyid
ed and judge created for each-or two in
addition to tile existing three-giying q
regular term Of the Supreme Court
10 Chicago and Peoria, the same as
;no,,,o o,~ean.a ~ ~ ,seo,7. - s,s:1 e:.:1s.
e.. +;,;e nam fa.s,ss - s.sasa,. y. s 49,. ~.
slitutiop, or mans poor Constitution, as i
49, 1;++7a 49, ~ 49, 4-a.~ ..F. ae ~
m, can ho ,,,de ~ ,o1,tor - !. <..a.,, ~ =;
r;s;nn ,,d haze co,,rt ,,o,,sa Ehr,rr- .r,
oil ,,har oo,ran;a,oo, Of +,,a ona.so =
Tho STATE b,t poori, and c,,;ooco thot-
aro,, ao,as.o.1;s, a:,;a- ~ ~. 60 W. WV
nrorro ;udooe ,,,oo 1ra,r ~. ro,;rn g,
= ~, ~
A. Aue 4oAto"11iS u @uc sSettol1 VI tue 0eh