The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-08-19
A Me-. COnSIftuGIOn.--The Sow
ereiSnty az Inc People.

From Coviugton Ky y Common wealth. I
The Hickman COURIER copies from the
Commonwealth an article suggesting a
Sovereignty Convention to amend the
Constitution Of the State, and adds:
The COURIER would venture to advise
the calling of "sovereignty convention
If cur very able contemporary, the Com
nonreaith, can suggest how the work OF
such u convention could be made the law
Of the StateG IL conflict existed be-
tween the present Constitution and the
one framed by the sovereignty conven-
ton" would not our Court Of Appeals be
bound to respect and enforce the present
cue? Is not the State Legislature, State
officers, and all the departments aud ma
chinery of our State Government sworn
10 obey the present Constitution, and how
can they be relieved Of this allegiance
except by the terms provided for its
change or amendment. Unless the Com
rsonreaih can give as light, our eonclu-
sion is that the question ends with the
vote Of the people.
We submit for the consideration Of our
respected contemporary The following:
The Bill of Rights TART. l3, Sec. 4 dis.
timely recognizes in the people an ''in-
alienabls and indefeasi5is right to alter.
reform or abolish their government, IN
sucH MANNER AS THEY MAY THINK PROPER"
These are not idle, unmeaning words.
They are clear and explicit They en-
body the vital principle which is the
foundation of free government. They
assert the existence of power in the
people which is above legislatures and
courts. This principle is Of practical ap
plicaiion when the emergency arises.
Under this solennly asserted right the
people Of kentucky may proceed to amend
the Constitution, and when the work is
accomplished in due form, and ratified by
majority OF the voters, il becomes the
SUPREME LAW, binding alike upon every
citizen, whether in public Office or private
station.
lie who swears to support the Constitu
ton swears TO maintain this great prin-
ciple; and when the people fairly exercise
the right no citizen, whether sworn to
support the Constitution or not, need
scrnple to change his allegiance.
8 IL we have correctly stated the propo-
sition the question before us is simply
one of expediency. As 10 that we admit
there may be an honest difference of
opinion.
We suppose our Hickman contemporary
will agree with US that there is no other
way in y hich the people of Kentucky can
amenu fneir tunua mental las thau oy the
assertion of this sovereign right
The closing remark of the C0URIER is
suggestive. The obstructive lsuse was
framed With view TO prevent amend
ments. In its inception il wac cheat
and fraud. The trainers OF the consti-
tuition had no right power so feiter
the people. Does the COURIER believe The
people are bouad by it through all time?
Does che late adverse vote settle the ques>
ton forever2
For answer the .CcUR,ER says, when the
people Of Kentucky become sufficiently
an xiOus for new Constitution as to as
sert their "inalienable aud indefeasible
right TO accomplish resolsfioa. then il is
quite certain that the people will 90 to
ihe polls in sufficient force 10 order a
nkQxareIrnfY con renfinn ;,