The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-08-17
Fhe Press and Banner.
Vednesday, August II. 1881,
Constitutional Convention.

1.-THE commission appointed by the last
General Assembly to digest and report
such amendments to tie State CnnStitn-
ton as are deemed advisable and report
the same and also report upon the eNpe-
diency Of calling 4 convention. decided at
their meeting in Greenrille last week by
o vote of five to three against calling q
convention. The minorityj we under
stand, will make q separate report and
will advocate a convention. There can
be no doubt but Il number Of amend
,nents should be made to the present coz
stitution. but manv think they can be
made as we'll and more speedily through
the Legislature than by u convention.
We do not think this Is the case n yet
the policy of calling . State convention Is
doubtful. So large an element OF our
voting population are so igrOranta III sus-
ricious that they would oppose n con-
rention from mere ilcapacitE to unGer-
stand its ,,urposeS and its enartiHentS
willis siMp PIE changes, we'll explained 10
them, would meet their support. II II
were possible to feel assured that the
MANY needed charges would bo ap-
proved. we wo9ld think 4 convention
Should be called, sr We really need 4 new
constitution, rather than mere amend
ments to the present one.
'.in MANY Of tie States the constitution
is d code Of laws, while liz other It IS q
mere reservation Of such ratnra! f'Shts
~ the people do MOI choose to delegate 10
the LEGISLATURE. In Il State il IS e mon
grol affair, limiting legislation in many
respects in a way neither necessary non
consistent with the best interests OF the
people. As a consequence 1t Is ditllcult
10 determine when 4 law ~ IN conhlc'
with the consultation. and this has led To
l,t.,,f.p, n.al IN thn nm
ee:tling Of titles to property. The con-
stltutio;. CT 1870 was general in its provis-
IONS and we think such an organic law
better for the interests Of the people II Il
any imperfect system Of laws. II the
present constitution were properly re
formed the reserved rights OF all races
aud classes could bc protected, While the
powers of the Legislature in other mat
tiers might be judicionsly enlarged.
1.-THE commission to report upon the
election laws are likely to vote down any
property or educational qualifications.
,rh, above is an editorial from the last
Nso,:'s issue of the Eeowce Courier, and
urou which We would remark: On the
matter of holding q Constitutional Con-
yention we are Of a very decided opin-
len. and shall at all times, with whatever
force we may be able to command, oppose
the calling of such a convention. No
o stitution could be better than. our pres
Cit organic law, 'and nobody has erer
pointed out many specific sdcfccts in.that
instrument, and we should DO opposed to
,the ratification Of a new, constitution,
even If a new one were framed and adopt
ed. The advocates Of 4 new constitution
generally do as the Courier has done i'll
ehis instance, speak in .general-terms. or
abr sc it as a Radical document for which
eshouad have no respect. No,Stale IN
tt Union has q finer constitution than
GUYS, and to so to work now TO change 1t
wcuIG create confusion and entail heavy
expense. $50 large an element OF our
"voting population" says the. Courier,
".aro so ignorant and. suspicious thatthey
"would oppose q convention from mere
incapacity to understand its purposes
land its enactmanss." We think the bet
ter the voiiny population understand the
dangers attendant upon the holding Of a
Constitutional Convention, the more SOL
!dly.they would oppose 1t.
We are unable to see much benefit to be
derived from making the proposed
amendments, but as we are not fully ac-
ouainted with the particulars Of the pro-
posed changes we ~are..not prepared to give
an opinion, but we are certainly opposed
TO the call Of o Constitutional Conven-
ton.