The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-05
to the Constitution.

Amendments to the Constitution.
A REAT deal OF unnecessary surprise has
been recently expressed at the numerous
amendments proposed in the national Con-
gress for altering the Constitution Of the
United States, and there are not wanting
class in our community who view these sug-
gested changes Gs evidence of the general in
stability of the times, and predict financial
and polit cal disaster. "rhe alterations"
said the President, 'are becoming as frequent
as amendments to the resolutions of q town
meeting" Such is, indeed, the case; and
while we may deplore the spirit of petty
vanity which leads every member from the
backwoods to endeavor TO associate his name
as an alterer Of the national Magma
Charta, yet at the same time the
anxiety expressed by many is almost as
ridiculous as the behavior of the popular
representatives. Ever since the Constitution
appeared, containing a provision for its own
amendment, there have been persons who
we're actuated by the same spirit as at present
fills the ambitious breasts of our representa-
tives. Every Congress has had its annals
filled with prop sitions to omit, alter, and
amend; ard although such resolutions are
numbered by thousands, yet only thir-
teen have been adopted by both Congress
and the States. To propose is not to secure
their passage, and consequently all fears may
be relieved because of the many propositions
made, and few amendments pass. Let us glance
at those which have become "part of the
supreme law of the land"
The first ten of these belong together, and
were part of batch of twelve submitted by
the first Congress, in 1850. They were re-
garded rather in the light OF an appendix
than amendments to the original instrument
OF these twelve proposals the first and Sec
ond failed to, Secure the sanction of the neces-
sary number Of states, and were consequently
defeated. The remainder, after slowly wan
dering about the country for nearly two
years, were finally ratified, by the consent of
New Jersey, in 1881. To Rhode Island, Mary
land, Virginia, South and North Carolina
the whole twelve were acceptable; but Della
ware objected to the first, Pennsylvania to
the first and second, and New Hampshire,
New York, and New Jersey to the second !;
|
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia, they
made no returns whatever.
The eleventh amendment, providing for the
qualifying Of the judicial power of the United
states, was proposed on the I'd of December,
1893, and before it became law underwent a
rather peculiar preparation. After the lapse
OF ear iom the time of its proposition,
! had
received from New York, Massachusetts,
Vermont, New Hampshire, Georgia, and
Delaware. Two years later, Rhode Island
and North Carolina assented, but as after
four years there had been so little done, Presi-
dent WASHINGTON issued circular, in con-
formity with resolution passed by Congress
'That the President be requested to adopt
some speedy ana effectual means of obtaining In
formation from the States of Connecticut New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ken
tucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina, whether
they have ratified the amendment proposed by
Consress TO the Constitution concerning the
stability OF States;1f they have, to obtain the
proper evidence thereof"
In compliance with this request, Connects
cut, Maryland, Virginia. and Kentucky
granted their assent, so that on the 9Th O
January, 1893, or nearly five years afrer thu
first proposition, the necessary sixteen States
had ratified.
The twelfth was adopted within one year
because of an impending Presidential elec
ton; and as it altered the system of electors
it was rushed through so as to operate on Ia,
coming contest The last and thirteenth
amendment is known 10 1s all to have beef
adopted in eleven months. The abolition O
slavery under it could have been secure,
much sooner had it not been certainty Th
popularity about its ratification is that Mis-
sissippi did in 1856 what Pennsylvania ha
done in 1889. She consented to part of tn
amendment, but rejected the rest. The cas-
is parallel but not similar. Pennsylvani
refused to adopt one of twelve distinct amend
ments, while Mississippi endeayored to Gu
one proposition in halt, which of course coul
not be deemed admissible.
Hence it will appear that the careful safe
guards which the wisdom of our forefatheI
D erected around the Constitution, have prevente
l the general adoption Of the numerous trivia
: amendments, the proposition Of which hav