Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-04

plan to suggest, will come forward
and offer it.
THE sentiment of the Conservative
press of the State seems generally to
be in favor of ratifying the action of
the State Convention. The new Con-
stitution is not what we want, but the
best we couldget, and better than that
! of 1866. It took US two months to
make this. When, if ever, we have
the true liberty of former days, it will
take us no longer to make another, in
which all rights of all classes will be
duly recognized and conceded. The
issue is not now one between the Con-
stitution Of 1884 and that Of 1870, but
between that Of 1865 and the present.
IF we do not take this we shall be re-
mitted to that now in force, and
this, with all its faults, is preferable,
and we can see no other judicious
course to take but to adopt it. Avery
small poll tax has been adopted,
which if it should be objected to,
should be on the ground that it is too
little rather than too much. The re-
striction Of the Legislature to seventy
five days for regular, and twenty days
for called sessions, is a good feature.
Legislators will only have to be a lit
tie more industrious when they meet,
and besides, the world is governed
too much.p Requiring bills to be
passed by a majority Ofmembers elect
to each House, with the restricted
veto power is well enough. Making
all property-real, personal and mixed
taxable alike, will work equally
and Justly while the exemption Of
personal property up to $1,000 viii re-
Iieve the poorer classes, and the ex-
emption Of property used for religious,
educational and charitable purposes
is proper and eommendable.
Setting apart revenue from the poll
tax to the purposes of education
should satisfy the poor, who pay no
other taxes, since they are especially
benefited by it, and none others
should complain for the reason that it
costs less to support schools than it
does to do without them. The pro-
vision which takes from the Legisla-
ture power to pass private acts OF in
corporation, and substitutes the power
to pass a general law under which
corporations may be formed, will save
expense to the State, and answer as
well for the citizen. The prohibition
Of issuance of bonds to ~defaulting rail-
roads is all right, and 50 is vacating
the judicial offices and adding to the
number of Judges of the Su-
preme Court, that its business
may be disposed Of. The pro-
vision to establish counties, to pre-
vent the State becoming a stock
holder in any corporation, and that no
legislature or convention shall ratify
any amendments to the Constitution
of the United States unless the menu
bers of the same are elected after the
amendments are proposed, can do US
no harm. And with the exception Of
the franchise, with permission of ne
groes to hold Office; allowing the pos
sibility of a privilege" tax on mer-
chants, and the requisition that cOun-
ties shall not be pledged to loans and
give credit thereto without the assent
Of twO-thirds Of the voters, these are
the principal new provisions OF the
Constitution before US for ratification.
The provision as to the franchise and
Office holding which is not prevented
is all wrong. But we regard that as
presently ~irremediable, and the result
of force, under which the best we can
do is TO "accept the situation" The
singing out Of the mercantile commu-
nifty for unequal taxation as COM
pared with other classes and interests
is unreasonable, and Indicative of a
s~elfshness and narrowness of view in
the Convention which is shameful
and Notifying. Nevertheless, it
may be borne, because the power to
Cypress does not involve the necessity
Of its exercise, and we may trust
that future discussion and elucidation
of the principles which underlie the
prosperity of the State will inform the
people on this subject more fully, and
control the future action of Legisla-
lures. The provision which prevents
the credit of counties being pledged
without the assent of tWo-thirds of
the voters may bear hardly on enter
prises now on foot. But it is better
that the peoples money should not be
voted away too literally without their
free assent, and it is to be
expected that improvements will cas-
lily command a two-thirds vote, when
sufficiently valuable and beneficial to
deserve a majority vote. The weight
Of some objections which exist, and
which we have hitherto made, to the
Constitution, We sensibly feel. And
if the time had arrived when we could
act as a perfectly reasonable as well as
free people, we would advise its rejec-
ton, and the prompt assembling of
another Convention. But, as the re-
suit of the war, we are a demoralized
people, and probably have done the
best we could. Like the French, Aus
TRANS and Africans, we are qualified