Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-20
LEXINGTON MISSOURI, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1885,
of individual and general prosperity

VI duo
greet the eye upon every hand"
In another place he says, cat no
previous period has the states in
debteduess been 60 rapidly diminish.
ed, or the state grown 80 rapidly in
those elements which give a state a
character at home and abroad as
within the last two years." And as
if with the view of emphasizing these
sentiments the governor quotes from
s'a letter from reputable banking
firm of New York City," which says.
''By referring to the quotations you
will perceive that the bonds of the
state of Missouri not only compare
favorably with all other state bonds,
but in point OF fact will bring more
than any state bonds dealt in upon
our Stock Exchange, even more than
those of Connecticut. Michigan, New
York, Ohio. Rhode Island. or even
than Massachusetts. which at one
time ranked much higher than the
United States." And in another
place. speaking of the difficulty and
controversy between the state and the
Hannibal and St. Joe r. r. Co., grow
ing out of the states issuing bouds in
aid of eaid railroad company under
the old constitution, the governor
says: "This controversy shows the
wisdom of that con stitutional provis-
ion inhibiting TIVE state from contract
ing any debt or liability on behalf Of
the state, or to issue bonds or other
evidences of the indebtedness thereof,
except in renewal of existing bonds,
and to create a debt not exceeding
$3.50, 900 to meet all unforeseen contin-
gency or casual deficiency, as the
liberality Of the state has been 80 often
abused by the recipients of its grace"
So the governor specially points out
and compliments certain provisions
Of the constitution, and nowhel .
points out or specifies any defect in
| the same. Then whence the necessity
for convention! 1t is q great pity
these "thoughtful and Intelligent citl-
zens" had not been sufficiently
"thoughtful" to save the governor
from the inconsistencies and contra
dictions of his message in this regard.
No constitution. framed by finite
beings, we suppose, was ever perfect.
Aud while perfection is not claimed
for our present constitution, We do
claim that it IS as near perfection az
any constitution OF any state Of this
great sisterhood of states. styled the
American Union; and that no constr.
tuition which could be agreed on by 9
convention, and adopted by the peo
pie OF the hundred aud fifteen ceun-
ties of the state, with their varied an(
diversified interests, would likely bt
freer from imperfections than tn,
present. Its defects, if any. are mlnoy
and inconsiderab!e. as compared will
the whole, and can be readily and cas-
lily amended in the mode prescribed
therein, without convention. 1t il
best 10 let we'll enough alone, nd moi
hazard experiments in doctoring th'
body polite, which may impair ant
deDilitate the system. Frequent chan
ges, even in statute laws, are injuri
Gus; much more pernicious are ire
quent changes in the rsauic law o
the state, after its provisions becom
familiar TO the people, and have bee
construed and explained by the courts
Old Lafayette is well satisfied with III
constitution as it is, and will. l pre-
dict, oppose the calling of new cou
stitutional convention. CITIZEN.