Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-01-14
STNBURY Pa. SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY H. 1871

Ol loDt, COnltrllnp Unc rlInJ OF suffrage
upon those engaged in the military service
ofthe State, or nation, and imposing sundry
restraints an the power of the Legislature.
| These amendments, though important and
valuable, give an incongruous and sort of
patchwork character to the constitution,
and are not consonant with the require
mcnts Of the times.
This is n progressive period, and our
State has outgrOwn its fundamental law.
That law should therefore, be made to
keep pace with the age in which we live.
The existing constitution, including the
amendments of 1857 and 1864, impose
many wholesome restrictions on the power
and jurisdiction of the Legislature, but ex-
pcricnce has demonstrated their inadcquacy
20 protect the people against the evils n-
tended to be rcmedied, and especially those
of corporate power, and of special and local
legislation. The pamphlet laws for the
last four years show that the general laws
for each session made only about one hun
drcd pages. whilst the local and special
legislation for the same period amount
annually to about thirteen hundred and
fifty. The resulting evils are manifold and
aggravated and, prominent among the
reasons and suggestions why q remedy
should be applied, l respectfully submit the
following
First. Different systems of laws for
roads, bridges, schools, elections, poor
houses, and many otherthings, are enacted
for the several counties, townships, and
boroughs, on subjects which ought to be
regulated by general laws, operating uni
| formly upon all.
Second. 1t is impossible for the citizens,
Judges of the courts, or members of the le-
gal profession. to acquire or retain an ac
curate knowledge of the varying system of
laws in their respective districts and fire.
quently, on removal from one county to
another, our people find themselves under
almost entirely different codes.
! Third. Practically. the whole theory of
our constitution and government is subver
/ ted and destroyed by the present system of
local cnactments. Representative govern
! ment is bascdon the idea that the laws shall
be framed by. and be the result of, the col
4 lectivc wisdom Of the peoples representa-
/ tives. But whatare the actual facts The
mixds and efforts of the members are so
wholly absorbed by private ana local bills
/ that it is almost impossible to get n general
or public act considered or passed. The
| special and local bills are usually drawn by
! the member representing the locality, or by
/ some one from the district interested in the
proposed law. BY what is called courtesy,
/ it is considered a breach of etiquette for any
member of the Senate or House to interfere
with ur oppose a merely private or local bill
T Of any other member. The result is, the
bills are passed as originally prepared.
without examination or comparison of
views. often crude and ill-digcsted, and
without regard to constitutional require
mcuts or sound public policy. Some of the
worst of these hasty and badly-considered
enactmcnts are arrested every year by
, Executive intCrposition but in the nature
of the c;Isc, tine veto at best can only be
made n partial restraint upon the evil, and
nothing can eradicate it short of constitu-
tional prohibition.
Fourth. Special legislation is the great
and impure foundation of corruption, pri-
vate spcculations, and public wrongs. Ii
has become IL reproach To republican gov
crnmcnt, and is one of the most alarming
evils OF the times. Judicious amendments
to the constitution would arrest and destroy
the growing evil and it is the duty O
every patriotic citizen to cooperate in al
lawful measures to effect so desirable con
summation. In the enactment of laws 4
radical change is demanded. Every bill
presented for adoption should be read, a
least once, in full, and the yeas and nays b'
recorded on its final passage.
FIFTH. l. is important that the STATE
constitution SHblllu bc ulittlc 10 CpulOllu u
the Constitution of the United States ~
recently amended.
SiTt6. The subject of minority repre3cn
tation is now much agitatcd, and is receiy
ing large share of consideration anon.
thoughtful and considerate men. IT EN-
braces problems of great political impOr
tance, and its manifest justice commend
: ii to public favor. Whilst some OF the ob
iccts it proposes might be oblaihed by leg
} islative enactments, the general principles
involved are so elementary and radical
that they should. il adopted, be incorpora
ted into the fundamental law.
tSer0tth. The members of the Genera
= Assembly should be Increased in number.
EghH. There should be Fundamental
2 limitation to the powers of cOrporators.
; NHdh. There is absolute necessity fo
| greater security for the public funds ant
Tor their proper distribution.
; Ttnh. The State Treasurer, Superin
g tcndcnt of Common Schools, and n Lieu
l tcmnt-GOyernOr, the latter to preside owe
{ the Senate, and perform the duties of tn
% Governor, in case of his absence, slckues
$ or death, should be elected by the people
The Attorncy-Gcnrral, Secretary OF State
! and the AdutautGCucral should
| for obvious reasons, continue To be appoint
G ed by the Governor.
= Ercnh. The day for holding the an
Y nual elections could, with great propricty
: be- changed from the second Tuesday il
G October To the rsme day in November, %
which nearly all the surrounding state
y now hold theirs. This would disEns
G with one election every fourth year, an
j. prevent invasion from other States for IN
= purpose of interfering with our elections
y as the citizens of each State would he o,
i cupicd with their own. The season, Ia,
e would be- more satisfactory To the people ,
T. the agricultural districts. ms It would u'
Il interfere with the harvesting of their cor
70 aud other summer productions.
II The necessity constitutional reform
n appreciated and admitted hy all who haN
S reelected upon the subject, and Wlil'utt III
ID tiuctiuu ut party, tho prcss has been ou
BE- spoken, and has almost unanimously sa"O
toned the calling, at AN early day, ut
Constitutional (unl tutl0n.
D.. For these rasuns, aud many uthy
40 equally important which might be enumrr
i. ted earnestly recommend that The legt
M hturr make proyisioN iur convention
y thoroughly rtNlsg and amend the tonsllr