The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-12-12
Ike Nets Constitution.
ApDRKSs OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
a BRIEF EUT STRONG APPEAL.

ADDRKSS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
or THK CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
A BRIEF EUT STRONG APPEAL.
To THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA =
The recent decision of the Supreme Court
enjoining the commissioners appointed by
the convention from directing the election
Al the city of Philadelphia, makes 1t pro,
per that this Executive Committee shoniu
express to the people the extent ana enec'
of that decision.
The convention was assembled nN dlrecC
authority of the people ana e2eTciseo oilIy
ruch powers as they believed 10 oe deleSa-
ted TO them and to be necessary to the per-
f,,rn,pce of their work. Without, ut this
time. entering upon the discussion of any
coutroverted question, and having neither
the right nor the disposition to surrender
any position taken by the convention,
the Committee yet earnestly recommend
prompt acquiescence i'll the decree OF the
court. To avoid all misapprehension, we
deem it proper to state explicitly that the
decree affects only the question of officers
by whom the election in Philadelphia will
be conducted. The commissioners named
by the convention in the desire to secure in
that city an entirely just and fair election,
Have been superseded. The election will
therefore be held in Philadelphia, as in all
other parts of the State, by the ordinary
election officers, on Tuesday the 10th day
of December inst.-the day fixed by the
convention.
The committee respectfully and earnest
" call attention to the fact that the active
opposition developed to the work of the
convention is mainly from those whose
business it is to trade in politics and to pro-
fit by corruption 1t is evidently impractl-
cable In short address to reply to all the
misrepresentation Which intereated parties
have made to affect adversely the vote upon
the proposed constitution. But we do dis
tinctly affirm that the new constitution does
not impose or restore any tax upon real es-
tate or other species of property; nor re
quire the legislature to impose or restore
any tax whatever. 1t requires that all
taxes shall be uniform upon the same class
OF subjects, and leaves the classification to
the unlimited discretion of the legislature,
simply prohibiting all special exemptions
upon property of the same class, and all
favoritism and inequality in taxation--just
and wholesome provisions IN the interest
of the people, which deserve place in
every fundamental law. The expenses of
government will be largely reduced. The
saving in salaries and in the cost of print
ing, stationery and incidental expenses;
shortened legislative sessions; the preven-
tion of reckless appropriations of public
money and the diminished expenditures re-
sulting therefrom, will by decreasing the
cost of government largely reduce taxa
tion. The present State Capitol is album
dainty large to ccommodate the increased
number of representatives and Will require
no additional expenditure except for slight
alterations of arrangement and additional
seats for members. The limitations upon
local, special and corporate legislation are
only such as are necessary to prevent the
abuses which experience has shown TO
have been the most fruitful sources of cor
ruption, and upon which the lobby has
mainly subsistcd.
The restrictions upon corporations are
reasonable and necessary for the protection
of the rights of private citizens. They
correct the abuses, without limiting the
efficiency or usefulness, of corporate bodies.
No State institution of charity is denied
proper aid from tue treasury, and private
charities, not sectarian, can, by adequate
vote of the legislature, receive appropria-
tions from the commonwealth.
Pensions and gratuities for military SER
vices and for the support of the widows
or orphans of soldiers are expressly au-
thorizcd.
Appropriations for denominst;onal or
sectarian institutions are prohibited as con-
trary to the spirit of our institutions.
The whole instrument has been framed
with the most careful regard to the best in
terests of the people; and to them we earn
estly appeal for the just vindication of their
rights. The opportunity is favorable to
strengthen the securities of property and
of liberty, and the contest is becoming
daily more active and earnest between
those who would preserve our institutions
in their purity and those who, for personal
and selfish reasons, seek to prevent the re-
forms which the people demand.
W. II. ARMSTRONG, Chairman.
JAMES w. NJ. NEwLIN, Sec,e+,,;ov
JOHN r. READ,
HARRISBURG, December 8, 1873