The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-13
-----------77----T- = = 80 ~ 81
Dailp Argus.
yridsy Evening, August IS, 1869.
ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The Chicago Journal of recent GATE
contains an article on this subject which we
commend TO our Republican friends through
ont the State, and hope the whole people,
ir,o.pectiye of party divisions, will be ami
mated in the choice of candidates for dele
gstes to the convention, by the high purpose
of securing for the state constitution that
will command the support Of all classes who
have an interest in good government One
political party should not attempt to put into
the constitution its distinctive poliuea! plat
form or creed The very fact that either an
amendment to the constitution Of the United
States or that of state, commands tue
support OF only one political party, IS PROOF
conclusive that the amendmentis lII'ad'iseo,
and should be rejected. Thesame should be
said with more force and justice Of an entire
constitution, which should be the work Of a
pon.panizan body, and should commend
itself to intelligent men of all parties. We
hope the question will be dealt with III this
spirit by both parties. The journal says
We rejoice to observe that the Republi.
cans of the various legislative districts Of
this State are selecting, or preparing TO Sc
lect. good, sterling, first class men Tor dele
gates to be ele5ted this fall, to the Conyeh'
ton which is to frame a new State Con"l.
tuition. The Republican Conventioa OF
Sangamon county, for example, yesterday
nominated NJ lion Hay, Esq of Snr,-s. ,;on
TO reprogont mat county In tho Coh'oIs' w.,
Mr. Hay is acknowledged " be one oi 'HS
ab!est LAWYERS in the State, apda gentleman
of excellent ,ractical judgment upon all
matters Of law, equity and pubic interest
We want no mere politicians, ambitious
adyenturers, or representatives OF class IN
terests, in that Convention. We wans able
man with comprehensive minds, ample ex-
nerience, and practical knowledge Of what
great Commonwealth requires for its organic
law and basis of government. We trust
that our friends in all the districts Will pick
ont the very best men for delegates men
who will frame q Constitution that VIII bear
the scrutiny Of the sharpest legal critics,
and meet tho approval OF the people who
will be expected to ratity aud accept it as
their rule Of government for the future
Let us avoid the mistakes made by the Con-
venton which framed the new Constitution
that was 80 Overwhelmingly rejected by the
people several years ago. That was an lm.
perfect and tungling affair The mere pol,
iticians had too much to do with it, and the
consequence was that the labors of the Con
venUon we're in vain. Their work was re
puiiated, aud We are not sure but It deserv
ed to be.
All agree that we need new Consttu
ton. The present one was framed wheI
Illinois was in its infancy and fails to NEE
the requirements of great State, such as
Illinois has grown to bo. But the old one,
with all its def. cts, might be better than a
new one that would be either too cumber.
some or full Of Objectionable features. Ey-
crythjng depends upon the composition and
character Of the Convention. Let the del.
egAtes chosen be the very best men to be
'oond. A good, acceptable and popular
Constitution will he the result, and its rati
tcation a certainty.