The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-06-01
CONSTITUTIONAL coNvEN rroN.

quite number who boldly pronounce
themselves emphatically for con-
vention, and quite number who
think" they will vote no conven-
ton, having no fixed convictions, but
are waiting to see what will turn up,
while there are others who will vote
for convention on certain contingent
cies. Owing to this diversity of
opinion, it would seem that 'great
minds do not always run in the same
channel
We admire the thoughtful caution
displayed by q portion, and approve
Of the wisdom of those that give it
that consideration commensurate
with its importance, for to change
the organic law of a government is
no frivolous matter, but seriously
concerns the well.bsing Of people
irrespective of party, caste or condi-
ton. The question revolves itself
into which is best convention or
no convention (which horn of the
dilemma will you take
10 the fret place the people by
their ceaseless agitation and clans
oriDgs urged it on to their Represen-
tatives to call convention, dsclar
ing that the constitution we have is
not an emanation from the white
people Of Georgia--that it did not,
nor does not, derive ito just powers
from the consent of the governed
but that unfriendly carpetsbaggers,
scalawags. and negroes, under Gen.
Pope's military rule, dictated by
Congress, forced the present constis
tuition upon the people Of Georgia,
when they were many of them dis
tranchised and powerless TO cope
with bayonet intimidation and radi-
cal reconstruction, and therefore, it
not only brands those who fought in
the Confederate army as rebels and
traitors, but embodies obnoxious
laws that should be expunged and
modified. Every time the Legisla>
ture meets, this convention question
has been mooted and days spent in
long wiuded speeches, motions and
bills, looking to a new constitution,
and now after fruitless endeavors
the convention is delegated to the
people for authoritative action.
The question is now to be settled
for all time whether Bullock's bas-
tard constitution is to DO discarded
and a Legitimate conception from
the "virtue and intelligence" of the
people shall be brought into being,
or whether "Bullock's Constitution"
DO virtually re adopted, BY voting
down a Convention called by the
Legislature Of our own people, and
thereby acknowledging that his con
stitulion is better one than our peo-
pie are capable of making.
The main point is to get to see
the new constitution the kernel is
in the nut-to crack the nut, by vot-
ing for convention, is absolutely
essential. To say what child will
be before it is born is an absurdi~
ty. No man can be hurt by voting
for convention, for it is the articles
of the constitution, to be subsequent
ly framed, that are to determine
whether one is to be bettered or
worsted, then there is one chance
left to keep you from being worsted
that is by refusing to ratify at the
polls; aud upon this very considers
alton itself, the trainers will be very
particular TO insert nothing in the
new constitution that will cause it to
be voted down, but will strive to
give the people such new conssitu-
ton as will meet their endorsement
at the ballot box. You will have to |
first vote for convention in order
to bring into existence new consti>
tuition, then you will have the unde-
niable privilege of comparing the
ae,c with the old and see which in
your judgment affords the wisest pro-
visions for relief and equity and the
safest protection to all alike. Then
if in your scrutinizing judgment
Bullock's constellation SUITS your
wants the best, then you will have q
chance ct the ballot box to reject
the new constitution framed by your
own friendly Representatives, and
retain the old constitution framed by |
unfriendly scalawags, carpet~bag> |
gers and illitsrate nsgroes--you will
have the privilege Of choosing be~
tween The two documents, reject or