Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-03-11
THURSDAY. Mach =. 1875.
The Constitutional Amendments

The Constitutional Amendments
Some Of the opposition papers. for wazt
OF other timber. are trying to manufacture re
political capital out OF the fact that the
Legislature did not submit n the people
ailtne Constitutional anne pdments prepared
by the Commission. The question Is ask
Ell with q confident flourish WHY not
give the people chance to vote on these
questions IL Is assumed that the people
ure huugering and thirsting for an oppor-
luuffv 10 vote on Constitution. amend
mcnt~-that all through these wears they
have been unhappy and unhealthy for the
wan OF such constitutional exercise.
Prom this assumption. il j. argued that
the Legislature has greatly wronged the
people bv nor giving them a chance to vote
on all the propositions suggested While
we have been OF the opinion that several
provisions Of the Constitution should be
changed aud others added. We dispute ths
assumption that the people have been no
has served tor over haif century. aud We
have taIied TO notice any burning impa-
thence ln the people 10 remodel o. We
have believed tAat the people were much
ie~- anxlous than We. for changes.
tai, assumption Is correct. why dc
people couicut themselves with complain
10 81 tie Legislature The constitutional
mission rejected MANY more proposed
amendments than did tfse Legislator j
did uat heel tae argument tina; IL waul,
be- ouIr r. GO let the people pass on th'
propositions several propositions tha
seem eco great Importance were voted dow
tata.. amml>slou. and many that We arr
confident the people would have quite
unanimous approved Or CA the otnc'
Aaa4 ONE OF tuo amendments were pro
ra-,a which the Commission must nave
t---y.t aou.t nave been rejected ov th'
p-on Ia a' thjs the Commission I'll,
d actsa upon IL owl iud-mea.
d.. re-v lh,nz D, Was appointed 10 d.
le legislature also judged Tor tso-t. a.
y tit+-H tattAA--N 't4 AA-N -t-+a's-''+N
!a4 -auul8 No. be made ov ! mere major.
rs la- r-op... Constitutions are tH-
ua4a4f.- az mruorliie- Ia al Cou>iitu
f.s54. governments .t s. provided tina
-aaletaiu- more thau majority mus; cen
DIS IL q chang In tie United State
system. tWo-tnird, OF oocA Houses or Con
-r.s-. and tHret-fouTIas VI the states mus
agree. la several States two-tnird, Of tn
LEGISLATURE and two-ihiras Of the Poop,
size required. IN other States the pgoposl
i.au must receive the approval 90 TWO sue
,-e->Ive Legislatures before il can 90 10 th'
people Ia Maine two-ih.ru- OF the Lesi-
nature. AL majority OF the people ca
u4Ae changes Ia the Consttutioa- Their
Us ae-- cheeh in Maine upon changes tna-
a most other state. Inc Legislature a
m4a- the cnlef cueca. Upon b. L. pa
Tie ch.et responsibility II the PROPOSED
amendment should w0-s pad ate,
adoption. tie Legislature wouId proper s
De- blame.
Fine Constitution itself declares that ouly
k-iaf~r AslEaIG k4lFtll@. Nt4+l|4 AFNN-A444Ati- @
both Houses deem necezsg-g shall ne sub
mitIed 10 tse people. kvery amendment
tn4r comes to the people. should bear witt
j.. gac deliberate judgment OF two-third;
r.. both Houses Of the Legislature that u
b, necessary 10 e maze Amendments
&rr MOI 10 ire submitted with the same
fac.a-r VIII which articles are put IN :
town meeting warrau; ty >elecImeu. neT
~au t4e frequency with wu!ga motions
ara pla4o parliamentary bodies. Amend
meats NAV often seen desirane luA, ar,
BIZ necessary. and III. Legislature di-
RIG H declining 10 submit such Ias
f.o-;nlrls Of the two House, were Dol
srv.v a sisl-e through whicH such propo.
sitsaa- were 70 pass on tue'- w4v e. ma
fa--v vot- ~ the people lney could MOI
-a.es their responsibility OF on tine people
have submitted any proposition. they
themselves dl4 not deem necessary. woal,
save been e. abd.cate Whatever mav b,
saouzas 81 their iudEmeu, IN deciding par
t.cu.-t amendments uot 10 ne necessary
1nere can he uo doubt tina. the question @
necess.ry must be- decided nv lheir iudg
tne....
Wneg Il rs remembered TIA, some Of Jh'
aneudmeU5s PROPOSED 10 the Legislature
received ouiy bare majority of the Com
mission. and encountered earnest opposs
ra from the minority, it may not be
matter q wonder that some OF them dc
slot receive two-tnirds vote OF the Legi-
I4tars Again 20 many propositions CON
tag 80 once upon the members OF the Leg
stature from al outside committee ma
nave tended TO make them more consersa
f.}e. and even IImld. about adopting them
y nsneyer there was A doubf they very
properly gave the benent OF il 10 tue Con
F,I,atlJu - il Is. and against the propose,
change Inat Is the ouly safe course il
geaaus VITA the fundamental law ",
very much regret inst some Of the propo
s.tiols failed ia the Legislature. but We d,
nut re now suCu d future can be con
s-rueI into any Indifference 10 the wi.he
d the people.
Wr do not 'Del,eye the refusal Of & Re
cl0llclu Legislature 10 abdlcate its Con
stE4lloa4i functions mas prejudice th'
Republican DarfE
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