The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-28
nae A11eghan1an.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1867.
Constitutional Convention.

Legislature for the purpose of considering
the propriety of calling a convention to
amend the Constitution of the State, have
framed a bill to be reported Immediately,
in which they commend the wisdom of
afording an opportunity to the people of
deciding at the next October election
either for or against convention. Dele
gates to the convention are to be elected
at the same time ; and in case the popular
verdict is ia favor of holding the conven-
ton, they will be convened by proclama-
tim of the Governor
OF the necessity of such convention
st the present juncture, We have no doubt,
though from some sources it will meet
with opposition and be styled a radical
maueaver, which in truth it is, but not,
perhaps, in the sense in which the oppo-
nents of tho convention intend, being q
maneuver not to sntrap the guileless, but
to afford the people an opportunity of
reforming their constitution if they so
desire. We are glad convention is
proposed, and not bundle of amendments,
which must be accepted as offered, what
rs bad as well as what is good, or else
rejected.
The topics that will come prominently
before the convention for discussion can
searcely be enumerated at this early day,
bat thoae most important in their charac.
ter are:
Some constitutional guard against the
vast and expensive amount of special
legislation enacted at each sitting of the
Legislature. At the session of '65, some
nine hundred and nineteen different acts
were passed by the Legislature and signed
by the Governor, yet of that large number
not over Gfty were general in their char
acter or of interest or application to the
people of the State. AT the session of
'66, the number swelled to between elev-
en- hundred and twelve hundred, of which
perhaps one in forty or fifty was of gem
eral Interest.
Other aud more efficient means thar
are now provided for guarding the purity
of the ballot. Yhat the permanent dis
franchisement of those unfortunate, delu-
ded men who fed the country OF remained
In hiding places to escape the draft will
be seriously proposed, we cannot say,
though we hope not, disfranchisement Of
large portions OF the people being to our
mind productive of more evil than good.
Yet OF the necessity for additional guar
antees of the purity of the ballot, We have
abundant oYidencs in our own county
For instance, some rowing, characterless
character, who never remained year in
uny one community since ho was set adrift
from his mother, obtains employment at
the iron mills in the south of the county
dozen days before the annual elections.
He knows nothing and cares nothing
about the interests of the county, and will
sell his vote for glass of whisky yet he
has the same influence on election day as
the steady mechanic or thrifty farmer
Ought he to have?
We mean to be the author Of no piece
Of burlesque in saying that it is seriously
proposed to ascertain if possible some
means to prevent the future Legislatures
OF our State from being bribed or in any
way eorruptly influenced. A proposition
has been made to increase the pumber OF
members in both houses so greatly that it
will be impracticable to buy them or a
controlling portion of them.
II will also be before the convention to
change the basis of suffrage throughout
Vhe Commonwealth by expungiug the
word "schic" from the Constitution. We
need scarcely say that in our opinion such
a change is altogether right aud proper.
color of skin is not and never can be
arue or safe basis of suffrage, but is the
offspring of prejudice whose root was in
slavery. 1t was an sppendage of slavery,
born Of it and nurtured BY it, aud ought
now 10 be plucked up by the roots and
thrown into the same grave as its progen-
iior. There are enough voters-more
likely TOO many than too few but we deem
it wiser TO increase the number rather
than exclude men for reason that will
probably be the wonder aud laughter of
our children.
ReconstructIOn.