The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-07
A New Proposition.


We extract the following from the
Louisville Courier:
The proposition for national con-
stitutional convention appears to be
the only outlet, if indeed it is an out
let, from our present embarrassmants.
Upon the demand of the legislatures
Of two-thirds of the States, Congress
is required to call q convention.
When that convention is elected and
assemblies, the whole subject Of the
Constitution is in its hands. It can
amend in whatever respect it sees
proper, and can in effect make new
constitution. 1t may be objected to
this, that it will be dangerous ex-
pertinent when such careless views
concerning the rights of individuals
and States prevail, to venture upon
the reconstruction of the constitution.
But the reply to this objection is,
that It will be much more safe to en-
trust the matter to the control of dele
gates fresh from the people, and rep
resenting the whole country, than to
permit Congress any longer to tinker
with the constitution for the gratif-
cation of its unreasonable malice and
for the promotion of its ambitious
schemes. Delegates SO elected will
be free from much of the prejudice,
and will have no connection with the
schemeswhich guide the policy which
controls the members of Congress.
The natural presumption is that they
would proceed to the discharge of
the trust confded to them with an
honest and impartial purpose to re-
store the Union and put it again on
the high road to prosperity and great
ness, and, controlled by such inten-
tons, they could not fail to agree
upon some compromise which all Of
the States could honorably accept.
This is precisely what we want
1t has been suggested that the Ian
guage of the Constitution recurring
Congress to call q convention upon
the demand of two-thirds of the
States is indefinite. and that as there
is no restriction, Congress might at
tempt to fix the qualification of voters
as we'll as Of delegates to the convcn-
ton. The iron-clad oaths and dis
ordinations might be made which
would defeat the very objects in view
in calling the convention. We admit
the danger that such things might be
attempted, but still insist that if such
au iniquity was consummated it would
not put us in worse condition than
we are now. Whatever work the
Convention might do, would have to
be submitted to the approval of the
people, and be ratified by thirds
of the States. The fear expressed
that the Convention itself might, in
the new Constitution they framed,
change the mode of ratification, we
regard as altogether groundless.
They could not do it without repudi-
ating the authority which brought
the Convention iuto existence, for
the Constitution expressly requires
that amendments be ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the
States, or by conventions Of the peo-
pie in three-fourths of the States.
Thus, it will be seen, that the South
ern States are secure against the
adoption of any amendments not &C
ceptable to them. The time will pro-
badly never come when those States
will not be able to prevent q three
fou,ths vote against them by States.
But, it may be asked, is there any
likelihood that national con vention
would adopt such q constitution as
the South would be willing to receive,
and if there is not, what advantage
will there be in the Convention pro-
ject? We are compelled to admit,
after calm and candid examination
of the whole subject, that the pros
pect for q satisfactory adjustment in
this way is not as fattering as we
could desire, but there is a chance,
and that chance should not be thrown
away. If the effort failed of success,
we should at least have gained time,
and that we conceive to be matter
of no little consequence. III that
time there might occur q sufficient
change in public sentiment in the
North to check the spirit of radical
ism, now so fearfuily rampant, and
IN Difference to public manifestations,
Congress might revise its programme,
and recede from the extreme ground
1T now assumes.
MARYLAND A MEDIATOR letter
in the New York Herald says that,
for many reasons, a plan is being
considered in hTarv1apd loor;pn