, 1870-06-07

IL l,oeuaxs II for. the Hcst pszt9rleat
coucje md tSee ho1n the useaeH verbiizs By
WHICH, eTsp oxRE1ic hws are frequently en-
cunbered Not only y ih provisions seem
to be commensurate with the requirements Of
the great Commonwealth fof which It 10 de-
si9e. md the whole instrument gives evidence
OF kaving been conceived aud executed in
spirit Of advanced liberalism
In view Of these facts, and because, further,
il il generally conceded that the present con-
st:tution is totally inadequate to The purpose
to s:5nify their approval Of the proposed IN
strurA9nt The question OF party politics il
entirely foreign to this discussion The peo-
pie are simply to decide whether the organic
standard OF the age. It cannot bo denied,
OF course, that the proposed instrument
is a vsst i.sprovement upon or present con-
Btitution. Even those who nsay Be opposed to
people cannot afford, either TO wait logger Tor
better laws OF to reject this proposition, IN tho
yague hope shat something better VIII bo
offered. Wo owe it to ourselves to vote $50
On the constitution.
From, ~ s.. Lo.sis RxFrttae4.
We are Inclined to beiiere that An impartial
zud untreiudice1 4 scrutiny Of this instrument
will convince very large majority CT the peo-
pie interested, that it ought to he adoptsd-
and from the tone OF our Illinois exchanges.
aud the opinions expressed BY leading men
from different sections Of the State, we think
shere ls no reasonable doubt but that the ro-
salt Of the coming election will go decide.
The people Of Illinois manifested rare wia-
dom in the choice Of members; partisanshlu
was almost ignored, and the best men. ire
spectiye OF political affiliations, were sent to
Springfield. Consequently the convention,
willie very nearly balanced in party complexion.
embraced many OF the ablest intellects IN the
STATE; gentlemen who appreciated the masni-
tnde Of the duties imposed, and approached
them in the right spirit The disc 1saions on tl
leading points were spirited, but seldom. de-
generated into mere captions fanlt-inling,
and each member seemed only desirpus to ae-
cure the end sought by the best means. Thero
was no undue haste in the transaction Of busi-
ness and bat little tinae wasted in useless talk
lhe work was done slowly, aud well done. OF
coarse it cannot bo expected that any constitu-
ton, though framed By conclave Of Solo
mons: will be absolutely perfect, or please
everybody. Flaws must creep in here and
there: Objectionable features cannot te entire
II avoided, and different persons will look upon
the zane subject in different lights, aud reach
different concluEious- The Illinois Constitu-
nevertheless, excellent in plan and detail, and
probably as good as can ba obtained under tho
mcst auspicious circumstances. Its prori-
eions aze adapted to the wants Of q great and
growing Commonwealth, and, in ali respects,
it is fully mp to the requirements OF the age
Those portions upon which popular opinion
is most likely to be divided are submitted
sepa1ately, go that citizens are not obliged to
yoso down the whole in order to get nd Of
certain Objectionable perta; thereby giving
ample room for the exerrise OF discriminating
judgment: Illinois il now living under con-
stitution formed twenty-five years ago: a con-
stitution good enough. perhaps, in it, day, but
totally Inadequate for the present. anI growing
worse and wo1se as tie future opens. Tho
garments which fitted the child cramp and
confne the limbe ct the man, snl mist 10
abandoned for robes suitable to the needs
Of maturity. Tho constitution o: 1878 should
be replaced bv tie constitution OF 1870.