Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-11-12
The;New Constitntion.

The New Consultation.
The authority in this Commonwealth to
provide for a change OF the fundamental
law, or Constitution, Is vested in the Legis-
la:nre, working under the present Consti-
tuition. Recognizing the desire OF the peo-
pie, as expressed through the press gener-
.lly Of the state, the Legislature in April,
ls7:, passed an s'set to provide for calling
Convention to amend the Constitution"
Under the provisions Of that act the Con-
vention received jurisdiction TO work, ald
propose changes in the fundamental law,
subject TO the approval or disapprOval OF
the people at the bsilot-box. The &C; pro-
Sided the ai1nner- of submitting the pro-
posed amendments to the people. The act
provided the manner in which the election
shorld be held. Ii provided the manner of
counting the votes, and announcing the
sane. 1t also provided for the compensa-
tion or salary of members of the Corven-
tion, each OF whom. under the act, was TO
receive one Thousand dollars, ten cents
mileage, per mile, circular, and fifty dollars
for postage and stationery or paper. The
set contained other provisions which are
not here enumerated.
Members we're elected under the proyi-
sions of the act. The Convention was con-
vcned, and the consideration of proposed
changes TO the Constitution begun and fin
ishcd.
The Convention, however, in certain par
ticnlars disregardcd the Act of Assembly.
IT has proved itself thoroughly revolu-
tiosary body. 1t not only revolutiOnized
the fundsnentsl law, for which il was called
but it also lsyed its revolutionary waves
over old law, and set aside the law passed
by the Legislature that provided for it
creation. II passed beyond the scope al
lot;ed to it by the act Of Assembly.
/; has been So revolutionary that it ha'
provided for setting aside the old election
board in Philadelphia, ard appointed com
missioners 10 hold the election in that city
II 1t possessed that power, did it not also
possess the power to set aside any otkei
old law, or law passed under the Constitu
ton under which we now work 1t Ia:
provided for its re-aSscmbling at Harrisburg
on the 9th of December, to count and an.
nounce the vote cast for and against the
new Constitution. This provision put,
aside the manner prescribed BY law for tn,
counting and announcing Of the vote of the
people or the question.
The Convention also disregarded the act
OF the Legislature that walked it into life
by repudistIns the one thousand dollsl
salary clause, and provided instead, thai
each member should receive two thousand
two hundred dollars, and ten cents mileage
per mile. circular, and fifty dollars for post
age and stationery or paper.
The Convention has designated the 18th
day of next December As the day or which
the people of this Commonwealth shall vote
for'the adoption or rejection of the Con
:.tiiution which it has framed.
That the people desired changes in tn,
present Or old Constitution is apparen; from
the tact that the Legislature was induced tC
provide for the election of a Convention tC
amend the fundamental law. How nearly
.he work that has been done may suit thei
views after they have examined it, will b,
demonstrated on election day.
rhe SENTINEL AND REPUBLICAN will fur.
nish every subscriber with copy of the
new Constitution. Let it be carefully pc
rused and reflected on. II is to be voted
for as whole, and not in parts. The good
and iba; which is not good, if there b,
clauses of the latter kind in il, must bs
taken all together, or rejected all together
j; ;s,not, made for the government of Re.
pubiicans or Democrats it is for the gov.
ernm-nt of the whole people, and it is tc
be considered entirely outside Of politics
II, after examining it carefully, you beliey,
it good, vote for it. II, on the other hand
after careful consideration, you do not ap-
prove OF il, vote against it. But do not
make the mistake of voting for it simpl,
because it is new.