Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-04
The New Constitution.


to analyze and discuss the merits OF
the organic law recently framed by
the Constitutional Convention, since
to do so properly would require
more space than our columns afford.
We shall aim simply to call the at
tention of our readers to the great
Importance of giving due considers-
ton to the issue to be voted on at
the polls on the 30th of october
next. Do we need q new constitu-
ton? If so, does tho one presented
by the convention fill the bill? With
out appealing to any partisan feeling,
we will say this much: Any man
Except be be a radically who is ia
miliar with the circumstances under
which the Drake constitution was
framed and declared adopted, ought
TO be in favor of wiping it out of ex-
%istence at the earliest opportunity.
The body that concoc,ed that con-
stitutien did not represent the SOW
ereign will of the people, and the
manner in which its ratification was
secured will always remain ar insult
TO the common sense of justice, and
Il CALLING mockery of every honest
method of obtaining the popular
judgment on SO momentous a ques-
ton. Under that constitution the
proud people of Missouri tasted for
the first time the bitterness of poll
teal oppression. Under that con.
stitution the pioneers of the CON-
monwealth found themselves denied
the right Of suffrage. They found
themselves powerless while their
property was ruinously taxed for
purposes which they did not approve.
True, many of the Objectionable
features have been removed by
amendment, but the monstrous mi
quities perpetrated under its n
| ton render the Drake Constitution
a proper subject for the Catenian
Judgment delenda est. The people
owe it to themselves to administer
this much Of q rebuke to the infam-
Gus usurpations of those evil days.
But apart from this ground for alb
rogating the existing constitution,
which may be regarded as "standing
on principle" an absolute and trans
cendent superiority of the new in
ssrument over the old can be demon
strated, which should insure for it
the support of all citizens who, for
getting the past, desire to make all
things work together for the future
prosperity of the state. We pub
lished several weeks since the ad-
mirable address Of the convention
TO the people, setting forth the more
important changes proposed, with
some of the advantages supposed to
result from these changes. This ad-
dress contains az brief and satisfac.
tory a summary of the improvements
over the old constitution, as could be
made, ard is worthy of repeated
perusal. The abolition of all pro-
scriptive features Of the bill of
rights; restricting the sessions of the
Legislature %forbidding local and
special legislation limiting the pow
er of the legislature to create debt;
guarding the state, county and other
municipal treasures against claims
created without express authority Of
law the extension of the terms of
Office in the executive department
from two to four years providing
for the more speedy administration
of Justice protecting the common
school fund, and at the same time
protecting the taxpayer against
abuses which have become so com.
mon under the present system; pro-
viding for the material reduction of
state taxes; prohibiting the general
assembly from lending the credit of
the state in aid of any corporation
and counties, townships, cities and
towns, from making any subscrip.
ton to the capitol stock of any rail.
road or other corporation, or from
granting aid in any manner to such
corporation guarding against the
insidious encroachments of corpora.
tons. These are some of the lead.
ing features of the new instrument
which evince the scrupulous fidelity
of it's trainers in providing barriers
for the defense of. the rights and lib.
critics of the masses. The grand
aim of the organic law in a free gov.
eminent, should be to prevent the
few from taking advantage of tire
many, or in other words, to prevent
rulers from becoming masters. This
aim the late convention kept steadi'
ly in view. Tho men composing ii
took statesman like views of the
situation, and no personal OF parti'
san considerations were allowed to
mar the patriotic disinterestedness
of their work. The people cannot
afford to have this work go fol
naught. The only danger is thai
they may not sufficiently appreciate
the Importance of the matter, to &c
and vote. Don't say, "well it will
be adopted any how. there's no need
of my VOTE" 1t is a bad plan tc
leave it to somebody else to do your
voting for you. Make yoursel
familiar with the instrument, ilE
merits aud dement's, between now
and the thirtieth of October, an: