New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-06
CONSTITUTION BUILDING

IN this day when brilliant experiments
for insuring party success are so highly
extoIIed, all republicans should be re-
minded Of the strict nature Of a rcpubI-
can government. There was certainly
much to be admired in the stern demand
of Southern statesmen, that the federal
government should he allowed to exercise
no power not delegated to it by the letter
Of the constitution. While men may well
differ about the extent Of that authority,
none Will care to deny the obligation Of
the federal government to obey the consti-
tuition from which it derives alike its
powers and its existence. War; party
strife and private cupiditE may, to
some extent, have relaxed the pub
lie respect for constitutional authority.
This is not only the case among
ourselves, but the same spirit Of disaffec-
ton to strict law has been manifest else
where. Pennsylvania. often the victim Of
party frauds as Of corporate eIactions, de
mands a revision Of her constitution with
a view to its reformation. The executive
department will be con.ided 10 q governor
and lieutenant governor. The creation o!
the last named officer is rendered neces-
sary By tie "unseemiy squabbies' for
speakership Of the Senate. with the
pledges often made by candidates to as
sign committees to special interests. The
pardoniDg power is proposed to be pu: in
a commission, SO as to relieve the Cover
nor from painful solicitations. Tits more
over recommended to make the Governor
ineligible to the same Office except after
an interval Of tour years. These pro-
posed amendments all point 70 existing or
apprehended abuses in the executive de.
partment.
The Legislature should hold biennial
sessions. The rapid and aarreptitious
passage Of bills will be checked by
requiring the yeas and nays in the
passage of appropriation bills and by
requiring a majority vote Of az tie mem
bsrs elected to tie Legislature to give
effect to law or joint resolution. An
effort will be made to ascertain the limit
OF corporate power as claimed by rail
road companies. It is proposed to declare
all railways common HIGHWAYS, subject to
the Use OF citizens on such terms as the
Legislature may prescribe. From this
would follow the regulations Of schedules,
freights and fares. A very radical sugges-
ton is that the railroad companies shall
be restricted to the duties Of common
carriers. thereby cutting of their
speculatjons in coal mines, mon
opoIy Of transportation and capacity
to make corners il coal prices. 1t
would seem that these Pennsylvania
corporations have in their audacity
denied the eminent domain Or political
supremacy of the State il regard to their
special franchises. A fight o. tile giants
is anticipated between the railroad repre-
sentatives, who get into al legislative
bodies. and the rights Of tue people in
volyeGs III the contest. Tie Judges will
still be elective, but their term Of service
viii be extended a retiring provision pro
vided. and ineligibility for q second term
fixed III law. There will be an attempt to
regulate and render useful the minority or
cumulative system Of suffrage. with some
further provisions to insure the residence
Of tLc sutfragaa IL the distric: Q: ii, cote
| e. $50, --.-,-,,i : ,,,-;, .Io,~ -, a.