Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-14
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

A majority report was submitted IN
the Judiciary Committee in the house
one day this week in favor OF a Constr
tutional Convention. They are OF the
ouinion the present constitution OF len
nessee does, in some important and vital
matters, need both revision and amend
ment The formation of a new constl-
tuition, being subject Of the utmost in
terest and importance to the entire
State. should receive the intelligent and
deliberate consideration of the people,
in all of the steps necessary to be
taken. Therefore your committee hear
tily favor the provision OF the bill which
submits the question as 20 whether or
not a Convention shall be called to a
vote of the people at the August cleo.
tons of 1874, and the Convention, II
called, to convene on the last Monday IN
November, 1874.
Under the organic law Of the land, the
only way in which constitutional con-
vention can be called, is by an act of
the Legislature. Unless a special ses-
sion be called, the Legislature will not
meet again until January, 1875. 1t is
plainly evident that a very large por-
ton Of the people of the State earnestly
desire a convention shall be called. II
this bill passes, the question will not be
submitted to a vote of the people for
more than q year and half. This will
give the amplest time .Or public dis
eussion of all the reasons for and against
g convention. IT convention be voted
down. nothing detrimental to the public
good will have resulted from passage
Of the bill. If q convention be called,
Il will be an Endorsement Of the action
OF the General Assembly by our con-
stituency. The submission of the CUES.
ton at the August elections, 1874, will
impose no cost upon the State. If a
convention is needed, and is called, any
objection to it, on account of its expense
to the State, is met by the importance
of the vital interests Of the people II
will be called upon to settle.
In the Senate a minority report ad-
verse to calling a convention was sub
mitted. They believe that the repose Of
the State and the highest interests Of the
people demand that the bill no 275)
should be rejected They have no evi
denee before them, nor does any legiti
mate and authentic evidence exist
that the people Of the State thinl
1t wise or expedient that the entire Con
stitution should be revised, aud perhaps
disturbed to its very foundations. indie
penden. OF the heavy expense there ar
other weighty reasons why Convention
should not now be called.
1t lis too painfully true that in the de
moralization Of the times 1t is believed
by very many of those who follow poll
tics as a profession, that q Constitu
tioual Convention may be as readily
called as an extra session Of the Genera
Assembly. They would as quickly vote
for the calling Of the former, as theJ
would vote for a resolution asking the
Governor 10 call the latter. They ap
near TO think that the Constitution Of
the State may as well snd as frequently
be changed as any simple statute. Thes
forget that the Constitution is the fnnda
mental law Of the land, and that th'
shifting and changing Of Il is the shift
ing aud changing Of the foundation o
the edifce Of State. Those who attemp
this may well know what they intend q
eject, what evils they hope 10 remedy
but they little know what may be th'
direfrI results. Imperfect material o.
unskillful workmen may mar the beauty
or cause the downfall Of the whole 50
oerstructure, however broad its founda
Eors. or harmonious lie proportions.
An eminent writer, treating Of con