The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-27
TIE CONSTITUTIONAL CON.
VENTION.

VENTION.
In response toa request made BY
the Helena Herald, Governor Cros-
by, in q we'll written Communication
to that journal, under date of the 21st
inst, gives his views relative to the
! constitutional convention to be held
at Helena in January next. We are
sorry our limited space forbids the
reproduction of the communication
in these columns. The Governors
opinion as to the necessity Of shap-
ing our constitution 80 as to meet
and provide tor the growing needs
of this great Territory will meet the
hearty endorsement Of all. But his
declaration that he is "far from ad-
vising that party fidelity should be
the chief test of fitness tor q delegate
to the coming constitutional conven-
tion," is strangely at variance with
the action of his immediate party
friends in Lewis and Clarke county
in drawing strict party lines in the
| nomination for delegates to that con-
vention: Says heGovernOr:
constitution for Montana, under
which she is to seek admission to the
| Union, is undoubtedly the most i'm
| portant legislative assembly in the
history of our vast young Territory.
We are to signify to our sister States
and the world, the character of Our
| future freedom and laws. We are to
provide, as far as may be, for a long.
eyentful future, and announce the
general principles that are to govern
the attitude of Montana in the null
tiform relations to her own citizens
and the National Government.
4 X X y
Ordinary and legislative acts are
easily and quickly repealed. Bat to
amend a constitution is a long and
difficult labor. Therefore, any error,
committed by the convention and
drafted into the State Constitution,
may have a pernicious immortality,
even if the error should not awaken
hostile distrust in the minds of those
who have the power to grant or re-
.ject u prayer for admission as a
state. Our fitness to govern our
solves will be judged by our own
charter. A constitutional conven-
ton, moreover, should, in some sense
forecast the future; and looking be-
You'd the prejudiees and selfish 0pin-
ions of the hour, provide for the adj
vancement of liberal thought and, as
it were, clear the the track for hu-
mar progress in legislation and CIV
ernment. Society is an organism in
constant evolution. i
x + x X
Free speech, free thought, free &C.
tion, may be fatally restricted, oc per-
niciou,ly enlarged by some erroneous
decision of a constitutional conven-
ton, which should never forget that a
true republic demands the greatest
indSviduaz liberty, consistentsviM the
highest ~ezfare Of a1Meptepls u
The delegates to such a potent con-
vention should be chosen with wise
boldness, ~liberality. and sound iugdg-
ment. Petty statutes may be, with
out vast harm, hurried or 'log
rolled" through by men of small ca.
pacities and selfish views. But the
delegates who are to create a cuns:i-
ton for the vast State of Montana
should be eminently clear-headed,
uAselfish, EatriOtic, political men,
who are untra,nmeled by an interest,
personal OF official, which might leau
them to secure the enactment of q
statute which in the future could be
harmful to the interests of the State.
The duty of each delegate is sacred
in its greatness. They should be
equal to their duty.
While I thoroughly believe in the
necessity of political parties, as
agencies in general administration, !
and while l advocate close adherence
to party lines in ordinary elections,
1 am far from advising that party
fidelity should be the chief test of
fitness for a delegate to the coming |
Constitutional Convention. Con-
science and intelligence should be
represented in the fullest manner; !
and I am not political bigot enough
to deny both intelligence and con
science to many men to whose poll
tics I oppose. It must be remem-
bered that we propose to make a
State Constitution for the Whole !
people, "Me plain people," as
Abraham Lincoln used tearfully |
to call them. W. must recollect
that the same struggle is going on
that led to a compromise a century |
ago, in the grave Assembly of the
great minds which framed the Fed
eral Constitution at Philadelphia.
People are still honestly divided on
the question of Hamiltonian aud
Jeffersonian Democracy in Govern
ment, and nowhere more than in the
free Northwest, do the great voting, |
arm-bearing masses, believe that our |
Republic is q ~'.governnaent OF the !
people, .jor the people, By the people,"
1 car have no doubt that the Wisest, |
strongest, purest and most patriotic
men Of all parties should be selected !
as delegates, without distinction of
special partisanship. Not whether
the Trainer OF the organic law of the !
State can glibly utter the shibboleth
of party, is the crucial test of a dele
gates fitness; but whether his char
acter, ability and honesty of purpose, !
can ably help to frame q charter of
law and liberty which will endure
the test of time, as a monument of
political wisdom and moral honesty
of the Convention. The Hottest pur-
pose to use great powers wisely, and
thus guard the State against the ter
rors of ignorant anarchy on the one
hand, and the cancer of powerful ra-
pacity on the other, should prevail.
Any scheme, from any quarter, or
any slave to party, to warp the great
to selfish ends, should
be frowned on as a base attempt Ito
use Gods water to turn. the DEVILS
AN OFFICE VACATED.