Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-06-24
Correspondence Of the Free Press and Times.
Letter from Illinois.
CHICAGO, June s, 1870.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

CHICAGO, June 8, 1870.
THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS.
Editor Free Press and Times:
By tO-dsy's mail, send you an official copy
of the proposed new constitution Of this State.
This constitution will be submitted to the people
in July next, and will, without doubt, be adopt
ed, because we mus. hare ner contribution
our present constitutional condition may be repre-
scented by a vigorous young msu forced into
small boys jacket aud pants. Imagine the wide
rents and alarming insuiiciency of the uufortun-
ate garments And the new constitution is
really worthy Of regard Omnibus and special
/ legislation with its incidents, has been the banc
of Illinois, and the msking Of some Of our now
wealthy and respectable citizens. However well
taken the objections of the Governor might have
/ been to bill, his veto amounted to no more
than an adverse Recommendation, for q majority,
after veto, could pass the bill over his head
The proposed constitution is not, in the usual
sense, a political instrument. The convention
was almost equally divided between Republicans
and Democrats The Cook County Chicago
delegation, elected by the joint vote of Republi-
cans and Democrats on a " citizens ticket -" held
the balance Of power. think you will agree
with me, that the fact that such constitutions as
this was framed in convention, reflects credit on
the members Of the convention and the electors
who juliciously selected them; and IS a marked
prooftha much Of the evil and injustice done is
indeed special in nature,-that corruption
has not permanently affected the people Cor
poratons, especially the railroad companies,
. have claimed and procured enough legislation Of
late years TO somewhat satisfy tLeir appetite.
Their friends perceived that any further effect at
ACCOMPLISHMENT might defeat the new constitu-
ton. And rs the convention was made Of better
material that an ordinary legislature, it escaped
railroad influence to a considerable extent.
The convention by small majority rejected
the provision that whenever a Judicial or other
public officer accepted ami used " a pass, 80 his
office should be deemed vacant. They may have
considered this provision ss something more than
a ,aiu'ary r5proaeh TO the present and the fu-
ture. or useless, because il had been eysdei.
elsewhere Things ought TO be called by their
right names The provision should have been
made and enforced The Chicago Lsg4i -Neir.
give some c.muenIat.e features Of this con.t.-
tuition As follows
Our new constitution should be adopted Be
cause t provides that 10 law making an ire
yocahle grant OF special privileges or imnuuitiee
shall ever be passed. Because upon the final
passage Of all bills the vote must be taken by
yea aui nays upon each bin separately Be
cause every tLi must be read At large on three
different days 10 each house, aud the bin and AZ
amendments thereto must be printed before the
vote j. taken oE It's dusl passage Because under
its care'u.y-lrVu provisions, what is now
known l- " omnibus legislation 80 will be Imp1s-
s.b.e Bacsuee n1 law can be revived or smeni-
Ell iy reference 10 IFS title only, but the law re-
y..ci 90 the section amended must be inserted
AZ .yHEth boz the new act Because the General
Assembly can make 10 appropriation Il money
OUT % tAe treasury 10 any private law. Because
the qo5vr oi tle Genera. Assembly 60 pass local
ami special laws is properly limited Because
10 requires fw.-tl.ri- Of the members elected 90
the General Assembly 10 pass : bill over the
Goveru.rs veto. Because il provides that gene
n, laws sha. te passed. for the organization of
ca-f .rlt.ou- hereafter 90 be created Because
p be ~.t-e cannot contract Indebtedness beyond
J. I without sIha .ttiug the az 20 q vote
.l 'ly people.
II, these may De ailel ihe important article
r. minority ,a-.ssa.,.3. 10. which j. 70 he =sr1-
-s...7 -s-r .t.i o. the people.
i.u ai.. sou ,asr, 10 order 90 give women che
? -.. q. vote .- Illinois .+ viii be- ue.ass7-y ID.