The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-11
Amending ths constitutional Con
VentiOn.

Amending the COnsiItuItOn...A Com
VentiOn.
The Monroe Republican. a Republican
paper printed at Union, Monroe county,
and edited with more than average
ability, advocates the calling Of Con-
vention to revise the State Constitution
so as to make it conform:
First. To the altered and improved
condition OF the State;
Second. To the provisions ofthe -Four
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
OF the United States and
Third. To the provisions OF the Fiji
teenth Amendment almost certain to be
adopted early the coming year and
Fourth. 50 as 10 provide better sala-
rIes for public officers, To dispense with
the requirement that Governor, Judges,
&c, shall have been ciLizens of the
Stale five years, &C., &c.
The provision of our Constitution
which conflicts with the Fourteenth
Amendment is that declaring that no
person who gave voluntary aid to the
rebellion "Ahall be citizen of this
"Stnte," or be allowed 10 vote, &c.
This provision, which seems to have
been the result of Il confused notion
that citizenship and suffrage were
synonymous terms, has never been re.
garded as Of any force. The people de-
citizenIzed by its terms have enjoyed
the privileges of other citizens though
deprived OF suffrage. But whether it
eve= was OF force or not, it has been a
nullity since the ratification ofthe Four.
tenth Amendment for that being the
"auprene law" overrides it. This
phrase in our Constitution is, therefore,
mere rubbish.
The Fifteenth Amendment, abolishing
Determinations in suffrage on account
of distinctions in color has been ratified
by this State. II is certain we think to
become part of the national constitu-
tiCn-perhaps within year. When
ever it does, the provision of our State
constitution limiting suffrage to the
white" citizens will be thereby repeal
ed. 1t will be then, like the other, mere
rubbish. 1t will be desirable to make
the language of our constitution con-
form 10 these amendments. 1t will not
make the slightest difference in effect;
but as matter OF propriety it ought to
he done.
In the event the Fifteenth Amend
ment should not be ratified, we should
favor an amendment 10 our own con-
Btitution to the same effect. The Legis-
lature voted last winter in favor Of
abolishing the discrimination in suf-
frage on account of color. There is
Willingness to do this, we believe, on
the pert of Il considerable majority OF
our people; and we think that couple
Of years hence such an amendment
would be ratified.
The Republican i9 right, we think, in
alleging that other features OF our con-
stitution need amendment. For exam
pie those provisions whereby salaries
are fixed unal.eEab!y are manilestly
unwise and !niGsiou.. Something
more elastic X aseGsj, tka. these sal
aries may ba az: .<ssc: sccoTI."Y 70 the
necessities Of SE.s sir..=S a.G cal&sI II:
lowered ns exp.riSmc+ tHsy st.t1 saa:
the grade OF official seryics - s3z7atat:
pensaEiOn. This could he supplied D?
a simple provision putting ths papar "a
regulate salaries in tbs hands r.f ,ha
Legislature.
Here are three hTnsndmentS which
we think it plainly desirable 10 make.
Doubtless the Constitution cnuld he
improved in many other particulars;
but it is often better to
bear those Ills wo have
4hAn NJ 10 others that We Know not O'.
In regard to general overhauinx OF
tie Constitution, it will be we'll to keep
in view The we'll settled truth express
Cd ~ Lis. Jefferson, that Fundamental
ckangss should not be made for light
and transient causes. The evils of
change alone may be greater than those
existing. The erection of separate
State and the adoption ola Constitution
fundamentally different from that of
Virginia, revoIutiOnized the system 10
which our people had been accustomed.
Under the most judiclous management
such a change would have made q good
deal OF confusion. We have not got out
of this chaotic state SO soon as we ought
II those who directed legislation had
been equal TO the work. Oar statutory
system has at length been completed;
but owing to the botch-work of those
who managed the matter in the last
two legislatures, the codified laws have
oeen In force since the first of April,
"hllethey are not only unpublished but
not line Of them has yet been placed
in the hands of the printer. tits re-
lated of cruel ancient tyrant that he
caused the laws of his empire to be post.
ed on the walls of his palace so high that
no one could read them, and yet punish
ed with rigorous severity all who viola.
ted them. Our people are at present in
the same unfortunate condition of sub
lection to unknown laws. It is not time
therefore to talk about general re-