, 1877-07-18
Opening of The State constitu-
tional Convention.
Speech Of Ex-Gov. Jenkins on Taking
the Chair as President.
Wherein lie Thinks the State Constitution
Ilequires Revision.
Economy, Public Schools, and Care for the
Freedmen Advocated.

iny the chair as President of tho Georgia, Con-
stitutlonal Convention:
HExrtENEx ar THE CONVENTION: We bars as.
10 IT. +, i nob!e eonst!tneney Ind Involving i'm.
rutn.e fcspon. .blittes. t,astrnmcnt II essential
10 sncietY md thn pso.rer. Of civilization. ak
forms, according 10 their varying Ideas Of cxpe.
dleney n a. al,+n!u.o = ..onnsstie. The TtlL Of ihe
:osn
ofasnt;:ii"n sf las,. of limitation and dsi.ion oi
peset. :. e1sIudea nut :ons 2. ,sfx aeren.
gs'Ps sc .s,s;ssn sf 'is ias "s'' :'ai"as
ss ses ~ t' 9s"s q :ay e. peos
gaety. the diapo<'t,on In 10 delegate 10 selected
and, inasm,eh - the delegation of ali these pow:
err to anslc individual, Of tn certain number Of
'.doed T :" ri al
lug tl.en,. Cndrr such poty IN distinct HJt.cmr.
or bntlIcs, Of iaw arc ncce'ta.y; one cmanaunS
po!ntment Of certain agents or bodies of rnaE(s.
tracy TO conduct tho GoseEnment In its ordinary
spponca pressesns IL o te1ms e
and powers. ind lenomfnated Fundamental or con.
bodies Of magstsacy. and subject to bc changed or
abolished BY them. regulating The conduct q men
the rights Of person. and psopeny, and .provld!n1
means ta carry on the Government established by
the people, and dcnom!nated statutory law.
FREQUENT CHANCES UNDESIRABLE.
AlthnuRh tho fundamental law Should bc Ia itA
natnsc abiding. seldom subject 10 change, In The
progress Of esent' in the onward march of eIv!li.
zat!0n, experience mar demonstrate to the wjHest
the H1odo Of appointment nf the tenure OF one Or
al Of the bodies Of n,agetrstes charged with tho
so q one o. M y md
Frasons ought 10 be assigned. showing the Abeouto
nropts1y Of nodifyins :. .hi' TN, tine he he consi1.
BY which and the circumstances under which II
was constructed and adopted. others sugEe.ted BY
sna now ae'. III: r"aa T.
people tGsu'rslve. whether they VIII Or VIII MT
mined that tbey ril1 ana hare deP4ted T, 70 ftsme
plsuss. @ it would be e equally iasppropria.e % tor
anch IN instrument - would meet a. e1teeuties
yon viii, with sneh formalItlts a. you may desire.
hear suRGteitona. compare vteWs, cndtasnr 10
ad tasn
But trust yen will receive k!ndl{ tev general
suggestions. SONG Of Which,. II adopted. will.
entering, natrov IL H. ncid of inquiry, and psonotc
conees4lon and dns1 agreement.
SUPREMACY or TIE BfATE.
First, then, the interests OF tho Slate at 1AfEc,
ths grand boa} pol!t;s .hEnla bo Tssafaed =. rata
I'M tes fea 'ss III
Tho antagonixln0 intcrests.. The essential differ
between constitutional and statutory law, nI-
ready alluded to- Shonll be kept tteall!y In view.
There arc principles Inherent to republican gov
ernR.ent Indispensable 70 it, nnccest. There are
aovcselgnty, should be commanded 10 perform
and there afo hctkto Which Gorcrnmcnt might be
tempted by tle urgency q IL d!gestcd public orln;
puos!c welfare and which Government should be
prohibited from doing. 1hese propositions arc
ersaad bus nd es and .aeh
ihe mattess lie properly within the pale Of const.
oEsEnAL PRINCIPLES OMIT 70 NJ 1acoRpo-
RATED.
Again, thesnAte maitcrs Of law which Involve no
great Fundamental pFiuelplc. which depenn upon
varying circumstances. and whici being tested
often call for speedy amendment OF abfoGallpn
!: .ae n& seo.e. ste
peal ot modification should be prompt, eaay, snl
iuexrenslse. Hy leaving ost Of tbs fnnd1Tsntal
which Il should Contain, 100 grtst latitude !. gtysa
to legislative discEcso and tho om.sof, TO do what
rhena y asae o. s o'ns 81 KIT shor
by including In thu Fundamental Law matters
which proper subjects Of rtatutoEy regulation,
convention too frequent aal bring Tue Constitution
itself lnto consenpt. Both these cxafcnles should
xcoxoaY or rnH PUBLIC rusps.
We lisc In progresalyo agc. but rtogrc's u
sometn.cs in i wr0ng direction, sometimes lou
lNP.u1 haains ~ tames, IN uast!cnlat MtslcstH,
uniulY accelerated by the adoption o. MEASURES
Mnsni TO- tas Esner.l wc!fast Tue ., 1strna M sds
erclxn stases q the American tniGn u that tas5
may make al laws which thcy shnli aeem ncees;
sary and proper for tho welfare Of tho statS und
which shall 10 consistent with the Constitution of
,hs snte ~ 10. to shs II; ~
eapFe' IN Tho c1nstttapm. n ta, o.
which VIC live; Now, recurring 10 tll9 tplflt
Of progress hetors alluded to- AM con'.
paflng tho legislation OF ticnfgia n tho eaEiy
days q tls 1epublic with !ls .eue Of that ah!s
day. It WILL th!nE he found That tho LeEislstEro
has. In tbs recent past dealt With tho scruutcrsa
the State. which aEe tae pocken 9f thn peops, 70
way ncyar dreamed Of ln that earlier day may
mention ~ an esa'nplr the rlcd-n: OF the public
faith aud credit In aid Of pryale cntcrpr'ao. Thete
| are often undertaken without Adequate regard To
ths end and credit relied upon ~ sppply tho Dc,
| fcienty. Al 9neas!nn between borrower anil
lender Il may neil 0o left to ther lsscrenn; but
when tac latter demands and tho former snea sor
State tndnrrcHrnt 1t ntsun.rs . new and startling
| t.pset, barriers against saca' legislation were
deemed unneccs..ry In the time u tlnwer hnt
seSere1 pTuRrc4s may well he considered whether
they arc not aow esseuual1