, 1862-06-13
TIE NEW CONSTITUTION.
ADDRESS S
TO TEE
Pe0pIe Of the State Of Illinois.
twenty-five Leading Democrats.

1 0VlAV W tuN RkaI1 VI AA4AVAoa |
twenty-five Leading Democrats.
From the Chicago Post.1
To the people Of The State Of Illinois:
The undersigned, citizens aud legal voters |
Of this state, iiaysug carefully examined the |
provisions Of the constitution framed by the
late constitutional convention, and from such /
examination having become satisfied that the |
adoption Of the proposed constitution would |
be q serious and permanent injury to the vel F.!
fare Of the State, deem it our , duty to oppose |
the adoption of the same. While, Us mem |
bers Of the Democratic party, VIC might desire
some changes IN State and county officers. We
arc unwilling to jcopardize the best interests
to make such changes at the present time
Such changes can be made by the people in
due time, under our present constitution, and
in our Judgment it is far better for them to
allow the present incunbents IN office to hold
their Offices for the brief period Of their official
terms, than to sacrifice the best interests Of
the State for the purpose Of making any
changes Of its officers. No mere party con
siderations can in our Judgment justify SO ser1-
ous an injury to the State as the adoption Of
are, that it does not remedy the chief defects
Of the present constitution, and adds new
provisions to or organic law, that are unne-
ccesary, uncalled for, and destructive to the
public welfare.
The experience of the Inst twelve years has
particulars:
First, It did rot allow sufficient salaries for
the Legislative, executive and Judicial officers
| Of the State.
| Second It did not provide for sufficient
number Of judges Of the supreme court.
| Third 9Fhp fnffpr4inr nf fha onnE+ff1Y.
tional two mill tax was no longer necessary,
as the creditors Of the State did not call for
the money thereby raised, and the State debt
| was being rapidly e1tingni5hed.
It is well known to those familiar With the
Legislative history Of the State, that. could
these defects have been remedied in aug other
/ way, no convention would have been called called
Under our old constitution the State has pros
pcrcd in every interest beyond precedent, and
no essential change was required except in
the particulars already mentioned. Since the
vote in favor Of constitutional convention
great change has occurred in our State and
national affairs The tWo-min tax which was
then necessary, Is now required as q sinkfu.
fund and to pay the increased Indebtedness OF
the State, and if not levied under the proyis-
ions Of The old constitution, must be levied
under an act Of the legislature. The new Goa
stitution does not increase the number o1
Judges Of the supreme court until after lS10
and NC think in time like the present, the
mere question of salaries maJ be deferred 8
little longer, without great detrinent to the
State. The judges Of the supreme caurt IN
! doubtedly ought to have larger salaries, but
il the additional duties and expenses imposed
. upon them by the new constitution are no
| required, We have no doubt that the present
Judges will hold their Offices until their terms
Of Office expire, and thus give ample time tt
tuition in regard to the salaries Of those off
Gers. Under the new constitution, judges 0
the supreme court are to be elected in N,
Eember 1862, and their salaries arc now pre-
scribed by law- The salaries cannot be changed
:, | during their terms Of Office, which arc to b
,, three, six and nine years, and there is no wl,
IN which such salaries can be increased unit
those terms expire, except By. Law to b
| passed by an extra session Of the Legislator
10 be held before November next. The c1
: | pcnse Of an extra session OF the legls1atur
: Should be avoided, unless absolutely requiret
c State afc not suffering for the want Of large
salaries, and there is no Immediate necessit
i for change Of the constitution for their r
: Lief. We cannot now foresee the fntu1
Il wants and necessities OF the State, IN
+ while we arc struggling for our yer
l. existence rs nation, aud G0,N0 |
= | our best and bravest citizens have no tin
5 | to 1na:urelr consider the provisions Of tt
it new constitution, we think it better not
! make any great changes, in our organic 1a7
II tnlt are unnecessary auu uuCilAeu iOT. Ii
y new constitution makes new and importa
Z changes in the laws relating to works Of pu
y | lie Improvements, tending to hinder their pr
y grcss and prevent capital from coming here
assist in the development Of our resource
It is evident that. had the provisions Of +
70 new constitution been in force during the Il
ur twelve years, very few Of our great pub
N works would have been undertaken. 1t Civ
ha to the present banks af tile state perpctr
ID monopoly Of tie right to issue and eirculE
he bank notes in tile state. Under its provisio
ad no Iowa, Indiana or Ohio State Bank no
an | Issuing them are perfectly solvent, and withe
it's t regard to our supply of coin. It ltprovides
# | five places for holding terms Of the 6uprel
a.; court, when there is no need Of more than i
re present number, and increases the number
r. clerks and the cost of the Judiciary. 1t F
attorneys, and many other new and costly {
49, GERS for which no present necessity cxi
- g. The present constitution provides Tint C.
hS' general assembly shall direct by Law IN v
= manner suits may be brought against
Lee State" and there is no necessity for the !
: in vision in the new constitution in regart
ght bringing such suits. 1t is obvious that
as provision Of the new constitution, in this
ad- spect, was intended to allow the holder
cad tie McAllister and Stcbbins claim to Iii
the tie State by suit, after being spurned by e'
ned honest lcgiElltor for the last ten years.
had jurisdiction ofjustices Of the peace may be
,rth ! iargcd under the provisions Of the new
Y or stitntion to IN unwise extent. They ma
all empowered to try all civil suits Of every
scrfption without regard to the amour
controversy, and arc to be restraiued onl
regard to the amount of their judgmcn
DEGREES. They may be empowered to
ish by imprisonment, for time not eXcce
thirty days We think it unwise to allow
the legislature to confer such extensive po
on justices Of the peace. The county col
under the new constitution are to be inve
with new and extraordinary jurisdic
The authority to try offenscs in a sunni
manner is dangerous to every commr
where such authority exists.
tonl Trials in that manner require no VT
N Of complaint, and party charged with IN OF
is entirely deprived ofthe right Of trial by
No record OF the proceedings, except the
~. ~ tcnce Of the court, is preserved AL off.
auo less than felony, and in which the punish
near tbannn;ton+;orr 49, ~ hn tried hr fhis n
Hee- ordinary mode Of trial. There is no limit
~ in regard to the amonnt Of the fine '
;ast ;es4 these courts may be authorized to impose
is4t, as to the length OF time which they m:
ps authorized to i1nrrison. Tnc larger nu
,nnco sle Of offenses mentioned in the Statutes Q
~ State arc to be tried BY these courts, in a
=, S ~ ncr that affords no redress for errors Of
1reAs mcnt, and in violation Of well establ
i one principles Of civil liberty. These origina
H. ~ Jurisdiction conferred upon the courts
+Ao | llkCl3 ~ AufInlG LIZ ~ ~
Luz and their appellate Jurisdiction from, ju
= W | OF the peace will only serve to increas
toiSi @ protract litigation to the annoyance OF
u ns,y good citizen. The provisions for the tr'
~ ~ NY OF business from those courts which arc
rgiye ~ hazard the interest. of those having
" = VI dependent upon the judgments Of
# the 1 1;,, 1,aTa - Dower 5r1,sfcrcr over
}, ~ ~ judgments and DEGREES, and the circuit
= too arc only invested with jurisdiction o1
co1- suits and proceedings as are pending
wares wares time Of such transfar. There IS no pro
11aia- for the transfer of the records of those
oss, which are to be abolished, nor for their
: :, iano ,litication Neither is there any proyis]
IL are The endorsements Of the judgments a
plG | C1ees Of those courts rendered prior
eae1 time when the powers Of such courts
elasA cease, The immense interests dependen
~ ~ the iudgments OF those courts ought no
~ sns .n | prcudiced and perhaps destroyed o5
~ eus and inconsidcratc constitutional PROV
AZ. W " The provisions Of the new constitution
~ 4e,g gard to the supreme court are uncertai
,,on9d our whole judicial system, now well
and understood, is to be unsettled, aut
| remain until it is again established by
tue at | construction.
rider Of While we would, as members Of tue
slaves. cratic party, rejoice to see its Interests
Id can ted in a1l proper ways, We do not thlnl
any Of derive any substantial advantages fro
rest to abortion of the new constitution. Th
we can ocr3ltic party Of this State has not CON
ounci1s itself for or against that Instrument.
'nstitu- der these circumstances, and in view
| obligations and duties as citizens VIC s
b little | strained to say to our fellow crizcns,