The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-09-14
Vote for the Convention.


Our readers are aware that in pursuance
of an Act passed by the Legislature at its
last session. the people of the State will have
an opportunity at the approaching election
of voting for or against the callingsof a con-
vention to amend the Constitution. In one
Of the resolutions adopted by the Democrat
ic State Convention, which assembled at
Harrisburg last May, the project Of Consti-
tutional Convention was fully endorsed and
recommended to the favorable consideration
of the party throughout the State. 1t is
question of great and paramount impor-
tance to the people, irrespective of party.
and overrides al issues of purely political
character. In the action OF the Convention
every taxpayer IN tie commonwealth has
direct interest which far transcends every~
thing of a mere party nature. The reasons
why convention should be called are so
numerous and at the same time so obvious.
that detailed statement Of them at our
hands is not at all necessary. They are az
parent to every thoughtful and intelligent
doubt about the propriety of such conven-
ton, the disgraceful history of Pennsylvania
legislation for the last five years, admit
ted on all hands, has effectually removed
that doubt and clearly demonstrated the
absolute necessity of a reform convention in
order to protect the interests of the people
and speedily arrest the shameless and trium-
phant advance Of Legislative p!under and
corruption. The blighting curse with which
our State is and for years has been afflicted,
is unlimited special legislation. More than
three-fourths of the time of each session of
the Legislature is devoted to it, and it will
go on constantly increasing, unless it receives
an effective check through the restraining
force and power of a constitutional prohibi>
ton. That is the only sure remedy to ar
rest this growing evil-the only balm that
will heal this spreading and fostering legis-
latite sore.
No more conclusive argument in favor OF
a Constitutional Convention could be pre-
seDted than an inspection of the huge and
pouderous volume just published. containing
the laws passed at the last session. 1t cons
tains I $40 pages and one thousand four
hundred and fifteen acts of public and pri-
vate nature. besides twenty-five Joint Reso-
lutions. 1t is literally piling Pelion upon
! OSsa.
We are firmly convinced that our legsla>
turc should not meet oftener than once in
ttoO years, unless convened by the Governor
for some special reason, and that the Consti-
tuition ought to be amended so as TO bring
about that desirable result. 1t is wise
maxim aud especially applicable to this
country. that the world is governed too
MITCH" We trust, therefore, that the Dem
ocrats of the county will cast solid, united
vote in favor of calling convention. If the
project is sanctioned by the people at the
ballot box, as it undoubtedly will be, and il
the Legislature will throw aside its narrow
partisan prejudices and provide for the elec>
ton of delegates to the convention so as to
produce as nearly as possible an equally di-
vided political sentiment among its mem
bers. and thus divest it of the Objectionable
character of "a purely political assenblage,
the most beneficial AID happy results may be
confidently expected from its deliberations.