The Lincoln County herald., 1871-01-05
The legislature and the Peopie.


our ranks. Truly, W. T. T.
The Legislature and the People.
We have intimated that the philosophy
on which the Radical party IS founded
anI which runs through its entire policy,
is the assumption that the people have
no right to govern themselves, but that
the Radical party has a right to rule
them at Its pleasure. It may withhold
from them what they ask for, aud it may
infict upon them what thoy do not de-
sire The supreme touchstone by which
the virtues or dement's of all things are
TO be tested is, not the will Of the people,
nor the constitution Of the country, but
the platform Of the Radical party. III
the interests of that party seem to require
il, the constitution may be set aside il
the interests Of that party seem to require
it, the will of the people may be dcfed.
Vast communities may be placed under
the ban of prescription to prevent them
from opening Radical measures; states
may be reconstructed and reconstructed
to compel them to an approval of the
Radical policy and freeborn citizens by
the fifty thousand may be disfrarchised
in state to make aRadical minority the
ruling power. These are the assump
tions proclaimed and defended by the
organs and orators of Radcalism in the
post and these are the assumptions pro-
claimed this day by the Missouri Demo
crat on so vital question Of popular
rights as the proposition for new con
stitution. 1t matters not that the people
demand new constitution with an over
wheming voice. Liberals and McCurg
men, both uniting with Democrats in the
almost unanimous call; it matters not
that b Gratz Brown. chosen governor by
104 900 out. Of $1,000 votes, frankly
responds to the popular demand, and
declares that we must have new consti.
tuition; 1t matters not that full seventy.
five thousand citizens who have not voted
for five years, ask for the repeal Of the
oppressive instrument that has prescribed
and still proscribes them in the face Of
; these overwhelming reasons for new
constitution, the Missouri Democrat,
assuming to speak for twenty one mem.
bers of the state senate, many Of them
chosen two years ago, tells the people
that they shall not have a new constitu
ton, if these twenty one senators please
to deny it to them. We quote its own
7 words
"Our neighbor labors under a misap
prehension. 1t says. "the shaping Of the
] constitution is subject which must come
D before the people" "Must" is a word
not fitting to be used by people who have
not the power. Say rather, "it is sub
ject which will come before the people,
t If the Republican majority in the senate
= pleases to submit it to the people, and
). otherpise not" The constitution pre-.
scribes the method Of calling q convention
" for revision, and the first step is this ::
}, "The general assembly may at any time,
}, authorize, By lao, avote Of the people to bo
4 taken upon the question whether q con-
:, venton shall be held. If it "may au-
" thorize,' it may also refuse to authorize.
c Discretionary power is vested absolutely
o in "the general assembly," How is it
n to be exercised? "By law says the
>, constitution. Now, a law requires the
y assent Of both houses. "No bill shall be
passed unless by the assent Of majority
y Of all the members elected to each branch
c of the general assembly" 1t appears
e then that the subject Of constitutional
\ revision cannot "como before the people
- until "a majority of all tho members
D. elected" to the senate shall have decided
d to submit it to the people.
IN In tho senate there are thirteen Demo
= Gratis and twenty.one Republican nom
IF bers, and We desire our nelghbor to oh
:, serve that the Republican members viii
:" be likely to be governed, in matter 81
T. important, by the spirit manifested in th'
in legislature. If the Republican succeed
'g 10 SO reviving party feeling, and in draw
Ia ing party lines SO tightly as to show tha
:. no Democrats are ready rise above parti-
50 sanship, tho Republicans in the senat
le may very probably conclude that tn
al work of constitutional revision ought no
" to be undertaken at such time, becaus
70 it could not possibly bo expected Il
=. - reach successful issue in the strife o
VI parties upon old questions"
al Mr.. Drake is higher authority in tn
20 Democrat Office than we had been led l.
10 suppose. His potency cannot be entirel.
lost when that paper quotes the languag
Of his constitution to prove that q hand
D ful Of state senators may, If they choos
n. to, refuse an earnest and legitimate de
he mand Of the people. The pretext O
bs undue party spirit" on the part Of Dem
~ ocrats, pleaded as a warrant. for tn
u threatened "block in legislation" is a
r most too absurd to be noticed. Even
tn Democrats were animated by patty spri
il in calling for new constitution in tn
os name Of the people, the fact would be n
" sufficient warrant for refusing the plai
e. wish of the people. But Democrats d
not, aud have not exhibited in this ma
mt ter ono half that party spirit which o
N. parties have right tu exhibit on interest
= - ing public questions. Never was there
,r- rarfu In Missouri nnimafei hu n MOI