The Placer herald., 1870-03-26
CONSTITUTIONAL CON-
VENTION.

The absolute and barefaced frauds perpe-
,ratsd on the people Of the United States in
the declared adoption Of the tbireenth
and fourteenth amendments 10 the Federal
Constitution; and the intended announce.
ment of the ratification Of the Fifteenth
Amendment has alarmed the better, more
thinking and patriotic portion Of the voters
Of the country. They see the government
Of our Fathers fast passing away, and would
save it without blood-lettipg, if possible
10 lurtherance Of this pat riolic desire. Sena-
tor J. w. Vaudeville. OF Tuolumue county,
has introduced joint resolutions into our
State Legislature, asking Congress to call a
National Convention; the Delegates to be
elected by the voters Of the several States,
to propose amendments to our Federal Con
stitution. These resolutions are timely and
carefully drawn. aud should meet with i'm
mediate endorsement and passage by our
Legislature. We give the resolutions below
and ask for them a careful consideration
from our readers:
WHEREAS, II satisfactorily appears to the Leg
islature Of the State of California, in Senate and
Assembly convened. that the ratification of the
so called Thirteenth, Fourteenth an Fifteenth
Am endmcnts 10 the Federal Constitution has in
several instances, been obtained by means of
coercive conditions imposed upon the States ra.
tifying, and serious doubts must necessarily arise
rs to their legal validity; that it is in the high
est degree inexpcdent that doubts should exist
in reference 10 the validity of any clause of the
fundamental law; that such, nevertheless must
be the case as long the present practice is pcr-
sisted in of amending the Constitution b. vote
OF Congress, and exacting ratification as a pre-
cedent to the restoration of rights of which no
State could ever be lawfully dcpriycd that since
the spir it OF innovation is still abroad we have
every reason to anticipate that other amend
ments, equally radical in character with those
already referred to, will be declared to be parts
of the Constitution in the same Objectionable
manner, unless the people shall interpose to pre-
vent it; and. whereas, in the opinion of this
Legislature. the trainers of the Constitution, in
providing two modes Of amending that insru-
ment, obviously intended that the mode adop ted
in any case should correspond with, and bear
some proportion to the importance of the amend.
ment proposed, that rs respects matters of formal
AMI comparatively unimportant character they
were content to delegate the power of amendment
to Congress, conformity with State Legisla lures;
that, on the other hand, respects amendments
OF fundamental character, which seriously af-
feet the relations existing between the Federal
and State government, which curtail or impair
the reserved powers Of the inherent rights of the
people, they as clearly intended that the power
OF proposing amendments should reside in a
Convention OF the people Of all the States, and
the power OF ratification in Convention of the
people OF each OF the States; that when the pro-
posed amendment is Of great importance. and
resort is had TO the congressional and legislative
mode, the people are deprived Of q voice in what
may work complete and organic cnange in the
framework of our system, and our institutions
thereby he wholly subverted, not only without
the assent Of the people, but in direct opposi-
ton to their manifest will, and, whereas, al.
though this Legislature is content with the Con-
stitution as it has heretofore existed believing
that so long as its provisions are properly con-
strucd, and its limitations respected, Federal
authority cannot be endangered. nor States, nor
citizens be oppressed; yet it is fully conscious
that recent events in our history have gone far
to obscure, or even obliterate the lines dividing
State from Federal jurisdiction and authority. as
well rs those separating the functions and pow
ers of each of the departments of the Federal
Government from those Of the other and is
also conscious that such lines of division ought
again to be established and clearly dclined that
the un limited powers now claimed by Congress
should be curtailed and restricted within proper
bou nls; that particularly in laying mposts, or
imposing other taxes, it should be restrained by
the letter, as it has ever been the spirit of the
Constitution from sacrificing one State or Gee
tion to the interests or avarlcc of another that
barriers should be erected against its interfer
ence with or dictaton to the executive and judi
cial depar tments of the Government. aud that
those coordinate members of our system
should be restored to their pristine dignity
Al. ii
10 the power Of amendment ITSELF lest by means OF
this subsidiary and subordinate power the Con.
stitution may by degrees be lrittered away and
our Government be subverted, without single
appeal to the people-the source of all power
for their assent and lastly that the doubts en-
tertained respecting the validity of the recent
amendment should be dissolved and forever set
at rest by the paramount authority OF the people;
therefore, be it
Resoircd, by the Senate and Assembly, That
the Legislature of the State of California does
hereby make application to the Congress of the
U. s., in pursuance OF Article V. of the Federal
Constitution, TO call a Convention, to be elected
by the people OF the respective States for pro-
posing amendments to such COnstitution-the
call to be made rs soon as suffc lent number of
States shall concur in this application, and the
Convention to assemble as soon thereafter as may
be.
Resolued, That this app pication be communi.
called 10 the congress oil The United States, and
to the several State Legislatures and that each
of such Legislatures is hereby earnestly request
ed on behalf of the State of California 10 concur
in the same.
Resolued, That his Excellency the Governor
be and be is hereby requested to transmit cer-
titled copy Of the foregoing application to the
President of the Uuited States, to each house
of Congress, and to each of the Legislatures of
the respective States, and that our Senators and
Representatives in Congress be also furnished
with copy thereof.
A REVOLUTION IN MEDICINE.-It is not gilded
pill to deli ght the eye or please the fancy, but it
is true medicine placed in The hands of the
people for their relief, and no person can take
ii according to the directions, and remain long
unwell. 1t may seem incr edible that many cases
considered Lopeessly ncurable, have been fire.
quently cured in few days or weeks and we
cheerfully invite the investigation of the liberal
minded to the cures it has made. Such is Dr..
Walkers Vegeta6ie Tinegar Bitfers, a safc and
harmless remedy. Buy it, try it and be cured.