West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-04-28

SEVERAL mon tins ago the supreme
Court Of iowa decided sgsinst the
validity o. the consult utionsl amend
mcnt prohibiting the sale Of liquor
in the State, and last week it refused
a rehesiiog OF the case. As the
amendment has passed two legisls-
lures and has been ratified by a pop.
ulsr minority OF over thirty thous-
and, it only remains for the friends
! OF prohibition TO renew it and push
it once morsthrough the process OF
enact ment and ratification. But they
must take care to observe the due
requirements Of the constitution,
violations OF which have caused this
temporary fsilure. The trouble was
that The journal OF the lower house
Of the Legislature in which TIE
amendment originated did not show
that it had been passed by that body
at all and the form in which it was
considered by tibet branch differed
from that in which it had passed the
Senate. At the next session it was
properly adopted but test case
having been made up for the action
OF the Supreme Court, that tribunal
held that the original defect multi
/
fed the whole proceeding. The most
important ques,ion, however, rose
upon the application for a rehearing,
when the counsel for the probibi-
tiorists argued that the later and
correct action Of the Legislature and
the ratification Of the amendment at
the polls cured the primary error OF
legislation. 1t was further contend.
ed that the court possesses no juris-
diclion to review and pass upon the
doings of the Legislature in propos-
ing constitutional changes. The
court most emphatically rejscts both
these propositions, the tenor OF it's
decision being that no mgority how.
eyer great can modify a State con-
stitution without complying minute
ly with all the conditions prescribed
for altering the organic Law, and that
the judicial power is fully compe-
tent to pass upon the action of the
legislative department in providing
for the submission of constitutions
changes 10 the vote of the people.
All this has nothing to do with the
general policy Of prohibition, for the
points at issue might have grown
out OF any other amendment TO the
constitution; but the decision is OF
great value as asserting tie stability
OF the foundations Of government and
enforcing the sound principle that
the law can only be revised through
the means which itself furnishes to
that end. The Supreme Court vir-
tually rebukes hasty and rec ess
Legislation, aud from that point o.
view it's decision is clothed with a
gravity Dot circumsoribed by the
bounds Of Iowa or those of the liquor
question. aud possesses at this juno
turs special interest and impor-
lance TO the people of West Vlrgini a.
-
The New York Sun says that Mr..
w. E. CHANDLER, who made the
railroad journey TO Florida with the
President in complete triumph, ia said
TO have been very seasick during the
return journey by water from st.
Augustine to Savannah. This is
strange for an Cd salt like THE Sec
rotary Of the Navy. HIS predeces-
sors, Ancient Mariner THOMPSON
MAJOR CoFF, aud Judge HUNT, were
such sea dc9s that they were never
tired Of cruising around in the cum
mer vacation at the Government ex-
pense. Perhaps the memories of tn G
trip in the Tallapoosa will cure Mr..
CHAEDLFG Of any future desire to
try the raging main, and will induce
him TO confne his nautical exploits
to such ss can be performed on dry
land.