Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-29

trainers Of our government to forego
their use aud to adopt form
Of expression about which there
could be no mistake. In the first sec
ton, first article OF the Constitution, com
monty called the Bill Of Rights they
say "All political power is Inherent
with the people" Political power in a
government is originally unit, but for
political purposes il must be distributed
among different agencies, and when 10
distributed they are secondary and su.
bordinate. Pie people are the original
source Of poll ical power They include
the Legislative, Judicial and Executive
powers, and by the Constitution they
have distributed those powers and or:
dered them to be exercised by the differ
ent coordinate branches. all Of. which
are derived by direct grant from the
people and are subject to their control.
This power of the people is inherent"
that is, it is not derived by gift or pur-
chase from another, and therefore owns
no superior. II is inalienable," inca
pable of being Sold bartered or given
away, and indeteasible," subject to no
Limitations or forfeitures or conditions.
II is an original, Independent, self-sus-
taining power aud right to alter, reform or
abolish the government 1t exists sat all
times" and may be exercised ''in such
manner as the people may think prop
err" LISA significant fact that this great
truth is thrust forward at the very
threshold of the Constitution, and forms
the first section of the first article And
such is its importance that after dis
tributing the powers Of government to
and among the different functionaries,
they close up their york by recurring TO
this great truth, and guard against trans.
gression or abuse of the high powers del
egated, they declare that this one is ex-
cepted aud shall forever remain inviolate.
Thus, as we see, the people, by their
great charter, have claimed to be the su-
IRENE power in the State, have ex.
pressly refused to delegate that power to
any one else, and reserved the right to
exercise 1t at all times, and in such man
ner as they may think proper. With
these plain provisions Of the Consttu-
ton before us there can be no room to
doubt the right of the people, upon their
own mOllOu anu WltuOut uiu lIOm uuy
quarter, to meet irf convention and re-
form their State government; or to do
it simply by primary meetings Of the
people if "they think proper" so to do.
AS / have said already, strictly speak
ing, the Legislature has no power to call
a convention. But it has the power to
order an election and invite the people
by that mode to meet in convention
representing the sovereignty Of the State.
If the people vote for convention, then
that is the manner which they think
proper to adopt. That a convention
must be held and evils corrected is
fixed fact, and all things considered, this
is the most desirable mode of doing it.
But suppose the Legislature should not
do this, does that deprive the people of
the original inherent right to act them
selves Such "a lame and impotent
conclusion would disgrace Dogberry
and amount to fat burglary" 1t is
true that the only mode Of amendment
to the constitution provided for in terms
by the constitution, is found in the third
section of the eleventh article of that in
strument, and is confined to mere per-
mission to the legislature to propose
changes, and this they are not allowed
to do ofteuer than once in every six
years. But who ever before heard Of
bare permit to servant to speak, having
the wonderful effect of dethroning the
master and clothing the servant with all
the rights of supreme master2 The leg.
isature is subordinate to the people.
They duly exercise delegated power,
and are subject to the people sauthority,
and the latter have expressly reserved
the right to control the former or even
blot them out of existence at any time
in " such manner as they may think
proper"
1t has been said: "The wise man fore
Eeeth the evil and hideth himself, but the
foolish pass Oh and are punished" |
commend the lesson to those who claim
to be in authority in this State, and re-
spectfully suggest that now, when the
thing can be done smoothly, calmly and
sgreeably to all, and with some saving
of honor on the part of those who have
the power and claim to have the author
ity, it is the part of wisdom to act and
act promptly. Order the different sher-
ifs in the State at on early day to open
the polls for the election of delegates to
general convention. Furnish at once
this mode of giving expression to the
will of the people, and you may, and no
doubt will, save years of turmoil by con-
centrating the will of the whole people
into one homogeneous expression, and
inaugurate once more the reign of peace
and harmony in the State.
CAMDEN.