Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-21
SHALL THE CONSTITUTION BE RE-
VISED

A subject of growing importance, and
one that will early become topic of gen
eral and deep interest, is the revision of
the Constitution OF the United States. 1t
is now nearly one hundred years since its
adoption. The country has had almost
miraculous growth since September, 1877,
and while our charter has been amended,
first soon after its adoption by the ten
amendments constituting the So-calIed
Bill of Rights :" in 1898 by the adoption
of the eleventh amendment; in 1904 by
the twelfth, and by the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth as sequences of the
war of the Rebellion, it is a fact that a
feeling is increasing in favor of some fur
Their revision.
1t NAV be seriously considered whether
the constitutional garment has not become
small for the body. But there can be no
entry upon the subject without involve
ment of all the material interests of the
nation. 1t may be well enough to call the
council of eminent men, as now suggested,
to report whether it is advisable to revise
the Constitution, but when we come to the
matter of revision itself, the whole people
will need to act with caution. The safe
guards against hasty and ill-considered
amendments are probably sufficient and
there need be no great fear of any mere
experimenting with the fundamental law,
Still we cannot engage in the work with
out some injury. The very uncertainty of
the outcome will create timidity that
must somewhat affect business and check
the commercial advance of the country.
But We must be brave and wise enough
to look at things as they are. The condi-
tions at the close of this century are vastly
different from those at the close of the
last The entire commerce of the country
has undergone change by progress as to
methods of transportation. The facilities
for intercommunication of peoples are
such as the men Of the eighteenth century
never dreamed of. Our methods of legiS-
lation have been modified; our social sys-
TEN has undergone material change;
slavery has been abolished the indivisi-
bility of the Union has been established in
the blood Of patriot soldiery; mechanics,
art, science and agriculture have demanded
new methods guards and stimulants for
the accomplishment of their purposes; the
relations of the States to each other have
become closer, and the interests of the peo-
pie of the respective States have been
more intimately interviewer. This very
commonness of interest and purpose has
made the inconsistency of the laws with
each other strikingly apparent.
Among the propositions that it is urged
must be the subjects of constitutional re-
vision are:
l. The common school system and com
pulsory edueation-subiects very much
better left with the States in all matters of
detail
> Uniformity of marriage and divorce
laws-in our opinion better obtained by
mutual adjustment between the States
than by narrowing present rights Of States.
3. The settlement in organic law of
the question of the right of Congress to
issue legal tender notes unreseryedly-as
lately announced by the Supreme Court
and which decision has awakened wide at
tention and created some alarm.
J. The question of polygamy and the in
duction into the Constitution of a prohibi-
ton, that it may not be cloaked by religion
or defended under the right of free CON
science.
5. The question of trademarks and upon
which Congress cannot now legislate, but
which it is of interest should be under the
protection of uniform laws and held &C
cording to uniform regulations.