, 1870-05-27
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
Opiaae~>s the Press,

Ahnt II tny tlW6-
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
=. Opinls11-s4 the PTess.
We herewith present another list Of OK
tracts from our exchanges N peBzrd to the
new constitution. It Hi1l BE- sesn thss, "a
whole, they are very favorable to the new con-
stitution, the objections being restricted to
certain actions or articles which are sub
nitted separately:
Ftou. tie Bloomington RuntagrdPh-
It may be confidently &ssarted thst the
proposed new Constitution OF Illinois gnafds
the righta Of the people more fully and. ca<e-
leges to corporations than does thAt Of any
other State Article 4 in the sections coo-
cerning legia1ation, provides that s' the Gau-
oral Assembly shall not pass local or special
laws granting TO- any corporation,
association or individal the right to lay down
te.s for such purposes; !" nor for +" granting TO-
any corporation, association cE individual any
special or exclusive privilege, immunity OF.
franchise Whatever" It is also provided by
Section IL Of Article II - follows
eminent domain Bhali never be 50 construed or
abridged as to prevent the taking BY the General
Assembly, Of the property and franchises Of IN,
su6lecttng them to the public necessity the same
as OF tnllvtduals-r
And Section II Of tho Bill Of Rights pro-
vides that no e. post tdcto law, or law impair-
ing the obligation Of contracts, VI making sny
iTeuocable grant Of special privileges Or i'm
munitiea, shall be passed.
Henceforth, in Illinois, corporations are to
be the servants Of the people, not their Has-
te1s, and they arc TO be placed on IN equality
with individuals. They arc no longer to be
fri yTt1
others may not have, but must receive
their privileges md immunity from gen.
eral laws, Of which all others mAy
have the benefit who choose to comply
with their provisions Their privileges
the aubjecte Of the State, and subject to legis-
lation and the laws, like ali citizens. Verify,
as to future corporations at least, We are to
become . free people. And as to those
"yeated Tghts' Of corporations already e1-
clare are sacred and irrevocable, courts cannot
long resist tho spirit Of the new constitution,
and must soon conform their yleWs to the de-
u,aad OF the peoplo for relief against any such
legal fiction. Corporations are the agents Of
the State, intended for tho public, vastly use
says Of fire, make good servants, but very bad
masters. Let them be established, and by
gencraa laws, as provided in the new conshtu-
ton; let them bo nurtured in all just ana
equitable ways, subject, like al citizens, to the
rights Of others and the regulating power OF
the law.
From he Alton Telegraph.
The next IN order Ii one relating to ware-
houscs.
Although this Is subject in which our read
ested, still We strongly inHist that the article
should be adopted. All restrictions on compa-
MES. which do them no injustice, while their
object il to protect tho people from the grasp
ing and e1tortion usually practised BY such
monopolies, ehould b sanctioned and
approaching, unleaa this question il
promptly met aud :ebuked, when Individuals
will be left completely at the mercy OF the VT
tious companies and combinations which are
now in existence or in process Of formation,
for tho purpose Of a1sosting the hard-eazned
tho State. It is to protect the people from the
sharp practices Of tho warehousemen in Chi
caso, and to compel them to doal fairly, that
this section is proposed.
The next matter to be submitted to
separate vote is the clause propos-
ing to require a thrce-ffths vote, in
stead Of = minority, ae provided IN the
body Of the constitution, before county seat
can be removed. This, in our opinion, should
be promptly voted down for While it is true
that unnecessary agitation about the removal
Of county Beata is very undesirable aud while
pleasant results, grow. out Of attempts to ac-
complish this purpose, still there are sufficient
safeguards against the premature and uhWise
attempts being inaugurated for this purpose,
without resorting to this extraordinary mode
OF tying tho hands OF the people.
From tbs Springfield Re9,sttr.
It is particularly gratifying to notice tho
unanimity Of public opinion, as expressed
through the public press, in favor Of the work
Of the convention. While it is admitted that
tbs proposed new constitution is not, in all re-
eIectg, perfect, it is 80 marvellous an improve
OTIS are eilenced, and the prospect il very good
for its adoption by All unprecedented majority
Eute.
From the Jaetsonrts1s Independent.
The Constitutional Convention, after .
session Of ninety-three days, adjourned en-
will be presented in full to our readers next
week, Although the work OF the convention
has received considerable ce1sure from various
sources, tho new constitution il evidently vast
If superior to the old one, and will no doubt,
Ftnrs H.. rsr~iinr.H4 n-.+.----A~
We have carefully read the new constitution,
entire. and are agreeably disappointed with it,
on tic whole. We like it much better than Ue
expected. Some teatures OF il are not exactly
to our liking but, in the main, it is wise, aud
vast improvement over tho present iustra-
ment,
From presout appearances, there Will be nc
considerable opposition to tho body Of the
constitution. Certain interests and localities
viii vigorously oppose some Of the separate
| ciauees submitted.
From tAt Lacon sta.ssmoa,
| It WAS no amal task to revise the funda.
| mental law Of great State like nlinsis, and
I il the new constitution should net prove il
| efe1y respect acceptable TO all tho people, il
T! will be 20 great an Improvement upon that un'
| 1n-s L. r.. 1~.k ~
| years ab to suggest forribly tho proptiety ol
| adoping it, and looking to future Legislatures
for tho correction of those features which We
do not approve
| We publish it thus in elnEla Issue that ou1
readers may the more easily pEeserre the in
strument for reference during the discussions
| which will arise concerning moat Of its pro
! sisions. The time expended in d careful pc
rusal Of this lengthy document will by nc
means be thrown away. and We are Inclined te
| think most persona will find :1,at the new con.
stitntiop, as finally sent to the people, beart
examination better than the peculiar history
Of it's preparation would lead them to antici
4 rats- -
:tprtnaf<'a co5rsspona.nce Of the 81. Louis Repua
| liod,h
No subject is fraught with more delicate ant
vc1ntious questions than the regulation o1
county rnatte1s, tho arrangement Of it's OH
GERS and the mode and amount OF their com
:. pensation. DAYS and almost weeks we're con
sumed in their discussioA, and almost up K
tile hour Of final adjournment they we're rails
cd to be "laid" only By exercising some o.
the most violent constitutional spirits, and get
ting results by precipitating everything to th'
bottom, through the "preTious question.
The convention did wisely in submitting th'
article on counties to separate vote. Ex
cepting, perhaps the sections Of the article Of
corporations having reference to railroads, NJ
one topic or multitude Of topics occasiones
more earnest debate, exhibiting more diver
sltr OF opinion and utter HrecoHcilabiity, thaI
the questions concerning the fees Of count
officers, the removal Of county seats, and othe
cognate matters.
The defeat Of the constitution submitted i
1869 WAS wing mainly to the disturbance 9
county officers. It proposed to turn them q
out OF Office, to limit fees, to create now off
ciAls, and, IN word, to overturn the throne
Of ono hundred and ono county monarchs an
| ecatter their numerous friends and their ii
Vulnerable yaesAls, hangers-on, and de
pendents to the four winds Of heayeu. Sac
a complete revolution, though it nigh henef
tho suitors and taxpayers ger .ause
ali the otice1a and aETsyed ar L. IA IT
| huence against livery e1uene::- tnstrui Ii :
proiting by the experience, the frameEs o. th
present constitution, having prepared the q
ticIe On counties, now submit it to IN Il
| dependent vote.
The Attempted Assassination OF Chas
IL shepard. American Consul
Yetfto, Japnns