The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-31

We publish to day, commencing on oul
!, outer form. so much of the New Constitu'
f from of this state as is really new, and
> nointing out what has been retained OIL
!, omitted on other raticles which We have
no. copied. To have laid the document
; before our readers in such a way as to
enable them fully and fairly to judge OF
its merits, the two Constitutions-old and
new-ousht to have been printed in par
allel columes; but this our space would
not admit Of
1t was our purpose. when the convention
adjourned, to take up each week a portion
of the constitution, and by carefully dissect
ing it, enable our readers to form pretty
clear Judgment ofits merits; but the meeting
of the Supreme Cours in April threw upon
us so much labor outside of our sanctum
that we fourd this impracticable.
In laying the documenf>before ourread-
ers now, the time and spacs allowed us
will of course not admit of such review
of the instrument as its importance de-
serves; and, indeed, had we even the
space we have been able to give the sub
ject so little clos investigation and thought,
| that we feel wholly incompetent to do it
Justice We think it unfortunate that
the convention gave the people no longer
! time to deliberate on so grave a matter.
| In passing somewhat deliberately through
the new constitution, however, in prepar-
| - &c
have occurred to US as worthey to be taken
into consideration in connection with it,
which we shall dot down.
We must be PERMITTED, in the out set to
express our regret, that the question of
! the adoption or rejection Of the new con-
stitution has taken such turn, that it
will be decided almost wholly as a party
issue This arises from various causes:
| Ist The people in their wisdom thought
| proper to eject a majority of democrats to
the convention, to amend the constitu-
ton; and that majority were by no means
over cautious to conceal their political
sentiments. This had the effect, in adj
vance, to prejudice the republican party
against anything that body might do; and
when further, that majority proceeded to
smoke out some'ot the questionable doinGs
of our republican state administration, The
hostility of that party to the convention
| became confirmed. and We doubt whether,
after that, any constitution the convention
could have made would have been approx
ed by that party.
| IDLY. The action of the convention, if
| approved, shortens the term of our re-
publican state officers two years, and as
the party appear to be hopeless of again
carrying the state, this ousting them be-
fore their time, is pill they are unable to
swallow. 1t is true the convention that
made our present constitution, cut off two
years of Gov. French's term in the same
way, and the people reelected him; and
| there is no law to prevent Dick Yates,
Auditor Dubois, &c, from being reelected
| in the same way but in the present
clouded condition Of republican prospects,
considerations like these seem to afford
that party little comfort
And 3dly. The convention made new
apportlonment of senators and representa-
tives, which the republicans aver is unfair,
| but certainly not more unfair that the
democrats aver that to be which the last
republican legislature made
| For reasons like these. we say, the issue
threatens to become purely political. The
democrats favor the new constitution be-
cause they believe democratic conven-
ton would make a democratic constitu
ton; because they feel like ousting Gov.
Yates and his colleagues in the state a6-
ministrat,on; and because they prefer the
new apportionment to the old; and the
republicans, without looking further, reject
the new constitution from like political
considerations.
This is all wrong. A very superficial
glance at the question will show that
there are interests of immensely more
Importance involved. Let US look at
some of the changes made in our funda
mental law.
We have on a former occasion referred
to the Bank Article, which is to be voted
upon separately; and while we expressed
the opinion that its provisions, excluding
all bank bills from circulation, and pre-.
hibiting the formation of any association
for receiving deposits, loaning money,
dealing in exchange, &c, were too sweep
ing to be practicable; yet it is certainly
a grave question, that must outweigh in
Importance all the puerile political con-
| siderations to which we have alluded,
whether the real benefit that must accrue
to our people by Kidding US of the present
intolerable public nuisance called free
banking system" will not overbalance i'm
mensely the evils that may accrue from
adopting part of our fundamental law
certain experimental provisions that can
not be enforced. We have no doubt the
Bank Article will be adopted. Our
people have paid within the last two
wears some six millions to have they eye
teeth cut with reference to the present
banking system-they will vote for any
thing that will cure that evil, assured they
have nothing worse.
The new constitution contains other
new provisions that will prove popular.
The provisions in reference to special leg.
lsiatioa will effect an important reform.
Look at the volume of our statute books
for the last six or eight years About $50
pages are occupied with laws passed for
the general good; and then follow about
2,ooD pages Of private or special acts-laws
to benefit private individuals by granting
little charters, privileges or immunities
Out OF the AZ days of the session 80 are at
least taken up with this sort IF loc;s.: