The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-12-23

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law, by every dictate Of common sense,
they have this power. There were
sEvENrSES PREosDESrs
from as many different States fa7oring
this exercise of power In view OF ali
these faces the right Of the Kentucky I
Legislature TO call a Constitutional Con
vention cannot be doubted. If the Legis- I
lature is in earnest in regard TO calling /
a convention, there is no excuse left but
70 vote for it. There is an objection urg Z
ed that If the old officers would refuse to
leave their positions that the question /.
would then come up before the Cour. Of
Appeals. This was an absurdity.
If THE COURT OF APPEALS
decided in favor of the old constitution
the people would decide that they were no
court aud had no right to SIT No one
holds IN greater respect the old tradlti ous
OF Kentucky than he does. But the pres
ent constitution is disgrace TO the State.
1t is laughed at all over the country. The
provisions in regard to the colored people
we're violated, and justly violated, every
election day. For all these reasons he
favored the calling Of constitUtioual
convention.
AGAINST TIE coxvkxrIoN.
Hon. John D. Carol, opposed to the
=
Convention, replied to Mr.. Jones:
Mr.. Carroll began by saying If there
was a friend Of Mr.. jones bil who want
Ell TO speak be would yield the floor to
him Nobody seemed to wish 10 accept
his offer, aud he continued his speech, j p
substance as follows;
II do not propose 10 produce any writ
ten authority as some Of the gentlemen
have done. ar yer in the affairs
- safe; am
Rs ali4
or g rsyolutJ..
has no right 70 -yolisn or change ihe
constitution save by the twelfth section
OF that constitution. This section is an
organic law of the land. Il is Of the
very first Importance that government
should be stable. The people nave been
asked 10 change the constitution and they
have refused The majority must always
rule That good old rule. the simple plan
that they take who have the power. and
they may keep who can. II The maj -rity
have the right to rule it is only by some
positive regulation. The constitution
provides this be complied with they have
no such rights
The BILL or RIGHTS.
The gentleman then went on to give the
history OF the bill Of rights, aud 10 tell
how it had got into our constitution.
"The gentlemen propose" he said, "to
revolutionize our form Of government.
They must give some good reason for IT,
By the bill OF rights they have no power
save where the Government does not pro-
tsct the lives, liberty aud property of The
people. These rights are as well secured
TO us as eau possibly be. We have the
right TO dispose OF our property as we
please. Oar lives and our liberty are
safe.
II am not IN favor of a revolutionary
scheme in n time OF profound peace, when
We are just entering on a long career OF
prosperity, when orr people are happy
aud prosperous. When | stood at that
desk two weeks ago with an open Bible
before me, and in the presence Of my God,
| swore TO defend this oil constitution
and the laws Of the land, come veal, come
woe Aud now when am asked 10 vi0-
late it, | cannot but think that l would
brand myself perjurer. Applause. /
swore then with complete knowledge Of
what there was IN it. On the most recS-
less Judge, on the most despotic LegIsia-
ture, on the most unjust OF Governors,
this constitution lays its command, and
I that command neither Judge nor Govern
/ or nor legislator dare disObey it. Things
I there may be in it which are now obso-
/ lete. But DO they hurt any one2 Because
/ there are sections buried and not recog-
/ nized is that the reason we should reck-
/ lessly change it by a revolutionary
method.
] GIT Is 4 DAD PRECEDENT,
/ and far worse than a bad law is bad
/ precedent. 1t will return to curse our
/ children aud our chilirens children
This Legislature is composed o young
men and of lawyers, and now say shall
we young men, we gentlemen Of the law
/ vote for this revolutionary scheme en-
/ dangering the best interest of the peo-
ple?' LApplause.
He then referred to the trouble the
/ Legislature brought on itself in 1924 and
( 1925 by creating Court of Appeals in
violation Of the constitution. He also
I brought up the case of the Indiana Leg
laiure in changing the time of election
in violation of the constitution. He con-
cluded by saying;
Il recognize the right of the people to
change their constitution whenever they
may see proper. But they must have
their lives endangered or their liberty
I ieopardized. This old constitution has
lasted for thirty years. II has passed
through the troublous scenes of the civil
war. 1t has continued until to-day. II
has stood by us in evil times Let us
stand by it till the people see proper tC
change it,