The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-02-19
Is a Constitutional Convention He
cessarY7
AfR EpIrnR:

Is Constitutional Convention He
eessarY7
MIR Editor:
I he question of hoIling 4 constitu-
talked about from 1870, when We had
one, even down To che present time
not so much by the people however as
as by a certain class of politicians
whose life breath depends upon perpet>
ual change and revolution, It is one of
the unfortunate signs of the times, that
our statesmen % CONSTANTLY seek To dis.
satisfy lh,. peupIe with their cnnServa-
tive ideas of a permanent government,
and 20 lead them into sentiments of
confusion until now iG Is Thought
small matter every few years to break
and patch up the organic law of the
State, as readily and as carelessly almost,
as a debating club would alter its
by-laws Tue same iDnOvating spirit
obtains TO day toward changes in the
national constitutidu-Imendm 10
in number having already been made TO
the sacred Instrument of our forefath-
ers, and at the rate proposed, We may
in a few more decades, have it era
morphOsed, like the old wOInan's stock
ing, so much mended, that none of the
original article remains
It cannot be denied that 10 the pro-
gross Of events, sumo changes BECOME
necessary TO every people and then
some excuse exiSts-but we ought rath-
er to postpone as long as possible every
attempt to alter our fundamental law
The idea of permanence and love of
peTmanence should rather prevail, than
constant changes; for security and cnn-
6dence fade away as the idea of change
prevails--and Ehs fruit oil too much
change is revolution in government, a
dIreful calamity to be avoided as a
poison to the bodV-politic. But is a
constitutional convention necessary in
Tennessee? certainly We have not per
feet constitution, for it is the work
of human action and like all human
action discovers the marks of frail-
! u upon it. We may not expect to
| CT, ate a faultess constitution by anoth-
er convention, which will resist the
| criticisms of ten years, especially if
c. eated as the present one by con-
Ventinn rapidly called together and as
| rapidly performing its work But to
approach perfection n sucn an impnr-
| tant instrument, we should have the
subject of change fully discussed and
| deliberAted upon for n considerable pc
| riOd by the people The Instrument
| itself provides a wav of efeeting impOr>
tant changes by salutary amendments
| Let the legislature cautiously aud pru-
| IDENTIFY suggest such amendments TO be
submitted to the people and made the
subject of discussion at the next gener-
al election for the n~xt G4nerai Assem-
| bly, and then the next General Assembly
can carry out the = ishes of the peO-
pie effecru ally and economically. Let Us
not be in a hurry about it. Haste
makes waste, says the old adage. We
must be considerable and prudent, il We
would have wise action deep stream:
run slow" and this is as true of ali
wise action, "a of natural laws. The
mushroom springs up in a night like
Jonas gourd, but the oak of centuries
alone, withatards the whirlwind and The
fierce gales that NAY seek to uProOt it.
foundation.
1t is now only five years since We
held a convention, perhaps in another
five we will detect other practical de-
fects. not yet discovered. Certainly We
way tolerate these evils for One decade
and "bptter bear the ills we have thar
Jfy to those we know not OF We art
now grooming under weight of public
debt almost too great t. bear, and VI
are looking to and fro for some means o
escape by retrenchment, economy ans
and some say by repudiating-that i,
taking the bankrupt law as n State-car
We afford to endure the neces laTy eX
pense of changing not only the iustru-
ment, by holding the conventions bu
making all the necessary Oh nges Incl
dent tn this alteratiOn,,2 New eIecti Ms
new officers. new ways of doing every
thing. 1t is said two moves is equal t.
a Ere, We had the fire in 1851 5, anC
two constitutional moves besides in tel
years Is there any wonder we arr
suffering from financial distress Wh'
shall say that it is not attributable Il
such causes
No, MIR Editor, the people are in nc
condition to be tinkering at this inSrru-
ment, and don't want tO experiment. on il
now. We are now in trouble and "thI
is no time to be swapping horses, Will
the creek Is up around US" If we g.
much need a change let it be done II
the more economical mode of amend
ments and the people will then see anC
understand from public discussions Wha
they really need. There will always be
some tn complain and find fault, how
ever good our constitution may be, bu
these must not be needed at a time like
the present. J. } d.