, 1862-01-09
A CRAVE PUBLIC DANGER

1t is unfortunate that the very first act Of
the Constitutional Convention, at Spring
held, should have been the appointment Of
committee to consider and report !" how
lar tie act Of the Legislature calling the
Convention limited the action thereof
Tue inquiry might seem to be proper
enough if The act prescribed any other
duty than that the action Of the Con-
ventien should be submitted to the people.
NO other restraint, that NC can discover,
was t'joined. It was even left with the
Convention to determine whether tile vote
should be taken at special or general
election; a wide discretion, certainly, and
IN Itself sufficiently liable to abuse. But
that the people should have vote, in one
way or another, was an absolute reserya-
ton. The act was passed by two successive
Legislatures Democratic and Republican
and was ratified by an immense popular
vote at the great election Of 1860, Not un-
til BOW has the danger been forced upon
al as:onishcd people that their re-
served rights were to be tramp1ed
upon, and Constitution that may or
may not be acceptable, be forced
upon them. It is Leconpton over again.
The inquiry how far involves public
calanli'y: 1t is nothing less than the first
stcrin grand scheme to reyolutionize the
State. And If the attempt succeeds, in the
Convention, it seiU rcyolutionize the State
in Il way they little dream OF, and to the
extent Of results Instantly disastrous to the
delegates who thus bid defiance to an
awakened public zeal The committee
who are instructed to make this inquiry,
and upon whose report hinges the whole
question, is composed Of the following gen
uencn:
1. Anthony Thornton, Of Shelby, Democrat.
2. William ]. Allen. Of Williamson, Democrat
g. julius Manning. Of Peoria. Democrat.
4. Benjamin S. Edwards, OF Sangamon. Democrat
s. Elliott Anthony. Of Cook, Republican.
1t Will be seen that majority Of the Com
mlttee are from counties south Of the line
Of 4o5 degrees, and that the immense popu-
latlon no1th Of that line, (being more than
hall the statc.) arc represented by only one
-'As >AnN olV IepuuuCdu. 1uc SGaL
OF one Of the committee, (A1len, Of II illiam-
Son,) is contested.
The movers in this inquiry claim that
the old Constitution simply clothes the
Legislature With the power to call Con-
Tention, under certain ior,ns and that i.
makes no reservation in favor Of a popular
Totc upon the new instrument that might
be made. Under this construction, tlcy
claim that, being sovereign Convention
Of the people, the act Of the Legislature has
no binding force upon them. That act pre-
scribed a popular vote in these words:
SEC. +. The proceedings of ea1d Convention
shall he fled in the Office Of the Secretary Of State
and the amendments alterations to the Con6ti
recorded In his Office. The said a1aendments, re
visions or alterations, ehau be submitted bF tht
Convention to the people for theiE adoption, at
election to be called By Eaid Convention; and ey
ey pttEon entitled to vote By the Constitution
and lAWs in force at tie time fxed for said elec
lion; IN! Eote on the question Of adopting or re
1ect1ng raid alterations OF amendments. etc
1t "ln indeed be sorry day for Illinois
II al obligation 80 sacred ns this, anG
which was an implied condition in the cast
OF every delegate chosen, shall be treated
with contempt and disregarded. But K
do this seems to be the scheme an font anf
we warn the people against it. There i
danger ahead