The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-07
AMENDING CONSTRUCTIONS.

AMENDING CONSTITUTIONS.
Constitutions are the fundamental laws
of States; the foundation. statutes upon
which codes, civil and criminal, rest. Con-
situations, ordinarily, are framed with great
care. Being the supreme law. the high
purpose is to guard and protect all rights
and interests Great principles are formu-
lated and established. Constitutions are in
tended to be impregnable bulwarks against
the surging waves of faction. to give the
people assurances of safety in times when
from any cause the public mind is dis
turbed. There are times when passion
usurps control of the public mind-when
men. led away by excitement or resentment,
by overweight zeal for change, would do
that which reason condemns. In such
events the Constitution rears its massive
form and rolls back the advancing forces
and cOmpels men to reflect. Laws may be
enacted every year, and be repealed as often
as enacted. Not so with the Constitution.
Being the original law, having established
great principles of right and justice, it ought
not to be changed except for considerations
which, after tie most exhaustive discussion,
force themselves upon the minds of the
great body Of the people as sound to the
core. Laws are not infrequently enacted as
the result of caprice, a popular whim,
pushed through legislative bodies by means
often disreputable, doing more harm than
good; but, since such laws may be repealed,
amended or declared unconstitutional, the
people usually endure them with philosophi-
cal fortitude. But it is wisely provided
that Constitutions shall rot be hastily nor
frequently changed, that the established
rights and interests of the people shall not
be in constant peril. The Legislature of In
diana, at its last session, formulated certain
to the Constitution of the
State. These proposed amendments are now
before the people for discussion. They have
to be passed upon by the next Legislature.
Now, then, we submit that the
supreme demand is that the
next Legislature shall be advised
in regard to the will of the people upon the
subject. 1t is a Constitutional demand.
One Legislature, uninstructed has forced
the question upon the people. Let the next
be instructed. This the Consti-
tuition declares to he in order, and the well
fare of the State proclaims it vital issue.
Do the people want this amendment legis-
alton to proceed? If so, let them so de-
;lare to their representatives If they do
rot, let them say that. If the
trainers of the Constitution did |
lot design that the Legislature
hould be instructed upon questions of so
much gravity, why was it that two LegIsla-
ures should act upon them at ali? Mani |
estly the purpose was that by full and |
rec discussion the people should elect their
representatives with special reference to
intending the Constitution. Indeed, there |
iced be no doubt upon the subject. Robert |
)ale Owen in discussing the provision of
he Constitution which provides for its
amendment said:
Now, think if 1t be made imperative |
hat an amendment proposed to be made to |
he Constitution shall be voted for by two |
uccessIve Legislatures, to be elected NTH ref
fthtt " Utut pGttCutu 0tVyCCtf IuC QuCcblOu
riH be debated before the people, and they wilI
end Senators and Representatives with a
pecial reference to that question. This will lSe
sufficient guard against improper and i'll |
ldvised amendments" This language of
dr. Owen may be found on page /, 259 of the
econd volume of Constitutional Debates. |
70 guard against ill-advised amendments
vas the purpose of the provision that two
Legislatures should pass upon the
ubject, and that Senators and Representa-
ives should be elected with special reference |
o such amendments The Democratic party |
Of Indiana invites this discussion; it de- |
nands this debate before the people, and in
ioing this is acting in strict accord with the
provisions of the Constitution itself, and is
n harmony with the opinions of the men
who framed the Constitution.