Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

EDITOR INTELLI9ENCER - The |
claim that there is necessity for the |
calling Of another convention to re-
wise and amend the constitation of tho
state, seems to be the result more Of
the precOncerted clsmor OF q few inter-
ested persons with Interior objects to
eubserve than of any general dissatis- |
faction on the part of the people OF
the state with their organic law. The
constitution adopted in 1875 has
scarcely had time, by appropriate leg
islstion,to be put fully into operation.
aud have its provisions construed by
the supreme court before chronic
agitstors. who are better qualified to
tear down than TO build up, and who
are ever ready to object aud criticise
everything not the workmanship Of
their own hands, 60 to work to con-
jure up objections, more imaginary
than real, to this instrument, which
was the subjec, OF their loud hossnnas
in the fall of 1875, when the necessity
for its reformstorv provisions were
keenly felt, and which was ratified
aud adopted by the people Of the state
by the largest majority of votes ever
given at any election held therein for
any purpose.
This agitation, as if by concert,
was started ut Jefferson City aid
Kansas City. The former, which
owes all of its importance and growth
to the fact of its being the capital Of
the state and tho expenditure Of
public moneys there iu the past would,
doubtless, like to have the constitu-
ton SO amended or changed as to
allow the holding Of annual sessions
Of the general assembly. Instead OF
"once only in every two years" ~ 10
now provided for therein; Is we'll ~
to allow of more lavish appropria-
ton Of money out OF the public treas
ury to be expended there. Aud iu
the latter named city it was recently
claimed that there was q strong ele-
ment who would like 10 have the
boundaries Of the state so changed as
to transfer Kansas Cny into the state
of Kansas, thus deprivlng Missouri of
| an immense amount of tsxabls prop
erty. Her people are said also 10 de-
sire larger pow srs for taxing proper
ty. And lobbyists and job-men
throughout the state who, prior to
the adoption Of the present constitu-
ton, winter after winter gathered
like vultures III the lobbies and COM
mlttes rooms of the Legislature, seek
ing to get through their pet schemes
'.by fair means or FOUL" thereby
poisoning and corrup,ing the law
making power of the state for their
personal aggrandizemsnt, would.
doubtless also like to see the constitu-
tion so altered and amended as to
omit aud leave out that part of the
oath required TO be taken by senators
and representatives. wherein they are
required to swear that they "will not
knowingly recsive, directly or In
Z directly. ANY money or other valuable
thing for the performance or uon'
performance Of any act or duty per-
4 tanning to their Office, other than The
compensation allo wed by law. " hict
has 80 effectuhlly broken up the bale
tul .'lobby system" that so disgraced
the halls Of legislation prior to the
o adoption of the New Constitution
> But none Of these alterations could
be made a. separate amendments OF
: their own merits under the metboC
for amending the constitution now
!: embraced therein by vote of tL,
e people Oh each amendment proposed
by the legislature, and the only hops
of their advocates would bo to ge'
them. if possible. inserted In gen
eral revision Of the constitution. auG
have them dragged through ou th,
merits Of other provisions.
j. 1t 10 to be regretted that Governor
Crittendsn has so tor hstened to tn,
objections Of these "thoughtful snt
D Intelligent citizens;" y Ga, 90 "thouxht
:, full" OF their private and local inter
ests. as to give importance to this un
o reasoning clamor for the calling Of F.,
convention "to make q new comstitu
tiou," as to give 1t place iu his Al,
nual message to the general assembly
: just convened. Aud while he will no
venture 10 recommend the calling O
such convention lie takes occasion tt
u make q very disingsnuous aud whole
sale attack on the constitution b!
!. saying. "thst our present constitution
i pOssesses many serious defects can
not be questioned; )" without deiguin,
n to specify or point out one SINGLE "de
feet" in the same. TO lend the influ
}. encs Of bis name and position .
governor to an assault on the organi
law of the state, which he is sworn t.
execute, and which has given success
!" and prosperity to his administration
:, without specifying his objections.
any he has. is simply unworthy of hi
position.
If he knows of any "defsct' or In
2 sufficiency in the constitution III th
operation of the machinery OF the stat
government. what more appropriat
time and place to name it than when
!. under the constitutional requirement
he WAS undertaking to give the gen
- eral assembly Conformation, by mel
sage, of the condition Of the state =?
=. And thus enable the general assembly
while in session. under the provision
Of the constitution, to "propos
amen lments" thereto, to be voted o.
by the people to remedy the defect
ifaly. This Was clearly his duty,
any such defect txists.
And IL the indefinite indictun>nt =,