The daily gazette., 1882-09-22
Constltutional Reform.

The editorial clipping copied elsewhere |
from the Smyrna Times, in relation to the |
difficulty Of securing Constitutional Con |
vention in this State, or Of adopting any
reasonable amendment to the existing Con
stitution, is both pertinent and true. No
amendment can be even proposed to the
Constitution without the authority of two
thirds of each House and the appreciation
of the Governor, and after an amendment
struggles through this narrow gauntlet into
the field OF public discussion, ii
must be ratified by three-fourths Of each
House of the succeeding Legislature before
it becomes part of the organic law of the
State. A Constitutional Convention may be
called by the General Assembly or by the
people themselves, but in either case
majority Of the voters is necessary to order
the Convention. The Legislature that calls
Convention can designate the extent Of its
membership and the members must be
elected by counties, the same as members
of the General Assembly are now chosen.
This is the Constitution of Delaware, as
adopted in 1892, and since amended in only
two or three trihing particulars. 1t will be
readily seen how impossible it is to secure
any radical change, particularly one affect
Ing the question of increased representation
for New Castle county, without the concur
renee of at least one of the lower county
delegations.
In 1852 a Constitutional Convention was
held, but its work was defeated, mainly
through the instrumentality of the Whig
nd 10
since under the Constitution of 1882, with all
its imperfcctions. That reforms are neces-
sary cannot be denied, but when it is con
sldered that the very difficulties in the way
of amendment were prepared by the
great Wing leader, John NJ. Clay
ton, (who afterwards boasted that
he had "locked the door to Constitu.
tonal reforml and "thrown the key
down the well, y and that the attempt at
Improvement In 1852 was defeated by the
opponents of the Democratic party, as was
also the more recent attempt to secure In
creased representation by division of New
Castle county, 1t will be seen how idle 1t is
to look to the Republican party for redress.
The Democratic party in State Conyen-
tinn assembled few weeks apn daaIasad
III laRor OF increased representation aud
various other reforms made necessary nv
our ancient and imperfect Constitution.
Never before has the party failed to adhere
to the strict letter of its political declara.
hoEs, and the people may therefore
confidently look for Constitutional
reform to attend Democratic victory. Not
only would a Republican victory be barre,
of this result, but it would be followed h,
such disgraceful scramble by Harrington
Fisher and their satellites for the emolu
ments OF office and all the spois of politica
victory, that the needs of the people woul,
be lost sight of and the best interests of tn
State sacrificed for the benefit of these men
- -
The Smyrna Times is respectfully In
formed that the GAZETTE did not emisquote'
Mr. Conrad's remarks on the school uues
tion at the recent Republican ratifcatio,
meeting. The trouble was that Mr. Conrat
'misquoted'' himself on this occasion, an,
uttered words that of themselves were
plain declaration in favor of mixed schools
This was Mr.. Conrad,s fault and not th,
GAzETTE's as the Times sbouid roa5,I,, ~