Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-22
COZ. 5OHx 4. SAVAGE
Strongly in Favor OF = COnstitu-
tiOnRI Convention.

taken from the McMInnvllle Ne
Era of the 10th inst:
There are six elements Of factors i
American government. Bastard Dem
ocrats and Federal bondholding aris
tocrats never mention but three fac
tors. and these three the lowest an,
least honorable.
LIST. We have the people, whicl
means every man, woman and child il
the State, which is the sovereign,
I'd. The Constitutional Convention
composed of men selected by the PEG
pie to write and recommend form o
government to be adopted at the ballo
box. oEiea
Sd. We have the electors or voters
who choose the agents to make, ex
pound and execute the laws.
4th. A Legislature to make laws.
9th. A Judiciary to decide whether
or not this Legislature has made Law
in accord with the will of the master
the people-as ordained in tie con
stitution.
9th. The Governor, or Executive,
10 execute the law so made and ex.
pounded. ilQ
The Governor is the lowest and
least trusted Of all these public ser.
wants. The voter is nearest the sew.
ereign-flIs the post OF honor
creates, in accord with the constitu-
ton, short-lived Legislature, Judi
ciary and Executive,
Democracy trusts most the voter,
1t is difficult to bribe or deceive two
hundred and fifty thousand men
twenty one years old. tits known 10
and out of Tennessee what can be
done with Legislatures.
Many changes are needed, but only
few will now be suggested:
l. Nepotism, the scandal alike Of
empires and republics, should be pro.
hibited, so that no future Hawkins
should be allowed to appoint his
brother or any relative to Office, unless
so far removed that he might act as
juror to try his lawsuit.
2. 1t is written in our constitution
that right and justice shall be ad
ministere1 without sale, denial or de-
lay" yet we have before our Courts
thousands of causes that cannot be
tried Tor many years. The error is in
the system. which should be reformed.
Thepresent Judges should be retained,
il not reelected, to dispose of the
business now in Court.
8. The Comptroller, Secretary Of
State and Treasurer should be elected
by the people, to avoid the danger
and scandal of matters like the
Hobbs affair" and the last elections
in 1881.
4. The Legislature should be ex.
pressly prohibited from issuing SO.
called bonds, or creating any debt
without levying tax for its payment
within two years, unless first submit
ting the question for approval at the
ballot box by majority Of all the
qualified voters in the State.
B. In the language of Bacon, let
the constitution declare Tits an ever
lasting law that no human law shall
be perpetual" or irrepeAlable.
6. That no Legislature or 9th
agency OF the people shall have power
to make any contract, or pass any
ordinance or law not subjectto altera
ton, amendment or repeal, or that
shall depend for its execution upon
any other sanction except the faith
aud credit Of the people
Z. That the charter of all corpora
lions, public and private, shall be held
subject to amendment, regulation.
forfeiture and repeal, when no longer
in accord with the general welfare,
and the Legislature shall have power
to pass appropriate legislation for this
purpose.
Some say it is the law that if every
member Of the Legislature should
be sent to the penitentiary
for bribery, that the act, though
1t enslaves people, will stand. Such
is not the law. To provide against
danger. let the constitution declare
that all acts, grants of property, ap.
Of money, agreements.
contracts and franchises procured by
falsehood or fraud, shall be
declared void by the courts, at the
suit Of the State, or any taxpayer of
the State.
War is moneys opportunity, and
the poor mans misfortune and sacri.
fee. The poor eonscript can be
hunted like a wild beast, placed in the
front rank. food for the enemy's can.
non; his wife and children left in poy-
erty and without protection. This is
all legal and right with moneyed arts.
tocrats, but if you touch dollar or a
bond, the price Of the blood or the
liberty Of the people, you will hear a
howl that will shake a continent.
This is all wrong. Heaven will not
smile upon such men or such laws.
Let the. constitution of Ten.
nessee declare that all con.
tracts hereafter made, Of which bur
courts can have Jurisdiction, shall
cease to bear interest when the war
drum is sounded. Ifsuch law could
be made to rule the world, it would
armies and bring universal
peace. To begin such a policy would
give to our people more real honor
than all tier laurels won upon the
battle field. And aside from this. II
is self-protection A war now would
double the wealth of railroads. specu-
lators and capitalists by the transpor-
tation Of armies, supplies and mum.
tons Of war, and increase the numbers
and misery Of wretched, helpless
people without limit.
That the highest duty OF State is
TO educate its people. Ante bellum
private schools, sufficient to give each
child practical business education Is
4 preference claim upon the revenues
after paying current expenses, and the
II 4