The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-10-22
NEW COES1ITUTICN-NO

CCEStlIOILCN-NO.
Saturday. oCicXt week. the 30th
INST, is fixed for the election TO de
eide on the acceptance or rejection Of
.the New Constitution. One thing is
remarkable about this election and
that is the general Ignorance Of the
people generally as to the contents of
the instrument. and the nature and
tendency of some ofthc leading pro-
posed alterations upon whichthcy are
called to pass judgment. No provis-
ION whatever was made by the Con-
ycntion for its distribution anon"
the people.
We have noticed divers instances
Of parties who at first were favorably
impressed with it. principally from
hcarsav, who, after careful eXamin-
alton of it for themselves, have re-
solved to vote against il. We wish
Il were possible tOf every voter Of
Andrew county TO reed, or have full
Iy explained to him, its merits and
dement's.
Will the people allow themselves to
5n led blindly to adopt 4 New Con-
stitutiom that contains obnoxious and
dangerous alterations they would
vote against if presented separately?
That the intent and meaning Of it is
to break down thc Public School
system, no unprecedented man can
have a doubt who carefully studies
+, compares it with the present Con-
Stitutiom. notes the changes, and as
ccrtains the amount necessary to keep
up the Public Schools 10 Il useful
standard. Will they elbow party
feeling and party prejudice to be lug
~ed in to help break down a noble
system rising to the clouds above
party?
Is it not prudence on the part Of
the people. in view OF the risk involv-
ed,to vote against the New EOnstitu-
ton, knowing full well that if our or
ganic law does need amending in
some particulars, ;thc recourse is eve
open through tie Legislature plan,
by which every amendment is sub
mitt2d separately to the voters, and
stands or falls on its isolated merits?
This is. anyhow, the wIscst, safest,
and best plan, and sound policy die
tatcs its adoption by the people. We
have before lis a pamphlet copy of
the present Constitution of the State
IF Missouri, adopted in 1860, and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by Michael
X. McGrath, Secretary of State. We ]
find that ten amendments have thus
been made to it since adoption, aver
aging one per year. Is not this pro
crossing fast enough.
We annex Sec. ,, Article MI. of
thc present Constitution relating to
Amendments:
SECTION ,. The General Assem-
nls. at any time, IE2y propose such
amendments TO this Constitution as
= majority of the members elected to
each House shall. deem cXpedicnt: and
the vote thereon shall be taken by
"GGS and HaYo, and entered in full on
the Journals. And the proposed
amendments shall be published with
the laws of that session, and also shall
be published weekly in two news
papers, if such there be. within each
Congressional district in the State,
f"r four months next preceding the
general election then next ensuing.
The proposed amendments shall be
submitted t o vote Of the people,
each amendment separately. ut the
next general election thereafter, in
such manner IS the General ASSEM-
Eiy may provide. And if IA majority
Of the qualified voters of the State,
voting for and against any one of
laid amendments. shall vote for such
amendment. the same shall be deem
"a and taken to have been ratit,Gd by
the people, and shall be valid and
finding. to all imtents and purposes.
IS 4 part of this Constitution.
I
IHE NEW CONSTITUTION.-"Ihe |