The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-02
The Proposed Constitutional CoHvcn-
ton

was adopted by Tic Constitutional
Convention hell under tnc Recon-
struction ac.s Of Congress on the
1Ith, 18th. 18th ana l7,h days Of
March. 1858. aAl ratified 5y the pco-
pie at the polls on the l:th, 18th and
18th days Of April. 1865. This Con-
stitution has baen Tie supreme law
oc the State and has been acquiesccd
IN with the exception Of sevcra!
amendments. for eighteen years. II
is fashioned somewhat after the Con-
stitution Of the United States. divid,
ing the government thus established
into three separate dcp@rtm"nts-thc
legislative. executive and judicial.
Like the Constitution Of the United
States. it also has { declaration Of
rights similar 20 those guaranteed to
oar ancestors in England BY Magma
Charta. the Petition Of Rights end
the Bill Of Rights. In addition to
providing for the machinery noces
sary to carry into effect the three
great departments octha government.
It provides for an establishment OF
system Of education and Institutions
for the afflicted members Of tie hu-
man 3mily-two Of the greatest clari-
ties tie world has ever known. II
giycs to the unfortunate debtor his
homestead, and TO the married women
rights in regard 10 property which
they did not enjoy 1t common law,
nor in this State Il? to 1886. This
Constitution. like ii: others Of the
American States, taking pattern after
the Constitution Of tie United States.
lays down tie fundamental law ard
limits tie powers Of the government,
saying to the Legislature thus fir
shalt ti:ou. 90 aHd no farther, but
leaving it to Tie Legislature to legls-
late upon details. and to speak where
the Constitution has not spoken.
Under this Constitution personal
rights have been defined. rights Of
property have vested and rules Of
property have been settled.
Notwithstanding the amendments
to the Constitution have been few
and comparatively unimportant, 4
feeling Of unrest in regard to it, in
some respects, has for several years
existed in the minds Of some Of our
best citizens. This feeling Of unrest
has grown in strength until, operating
with other forces. it has taken defin-
ite shape in the resolutions adopted
by the Farmers Convention on the
29th Of April recommending the
adoption Of q new Constitution. APP
parently it is only = feeling ofunTest,
as no express reasons are assigned
for the change either in the preamble
or the resolution itself. The ad-
vocates for the change may be
able in due time to give good reasons
for the change, but rs yet they have
not done so. In view cf tic evils
cAat come from q rrecipitate change |
Of the fundamental law OF the State.
IN view Of peace Of society under
iong-existing institutions it is unwisc |
to advocate and carry into effect 4
change in the fundamental law with-
out pointing out the evils complained |
Of and without showing that the pro-
posed change is for the better.
\ perfect government is not the
work Of day. 1t is the wisdom Of
experience accommodating with the |
lapse Of time in the political history |
Of & country, that best subseryes the
public welfare by pointing out the |
evils and suggesting the remedies.
1t requires half q century to com
pletely pass through q revolution so
that the bias and prejudice for and !
against the institutions in question
may pass out Of the memory OF men
then living. 1t is only quarter of
4 century since we were in the midst
)f a great internecine war. and it is
only 4 decade since under our State
government we have had personal
liberty and security. With all due
respect to the great number Of our
people who advocate this change the
burden Of proof is upon them to give
reasons for the change
and point out the substitute Tie
:harge that the Constitution savors
IF Republicanisn is not Of itself suf-
icient, even in South Carolina, to
tic choice Of al Intelligent I
md unbiased voter at the polls. 1t
5 not fair in politics for aspirants to
'fIice to secure the pledges Of 4 large
lass Of our people on the issue of q
lew Constitution without first giving
rood and substantial grounds. Let
he advocates of tie new Constitution
'ut-and-out give reason FOR The
aith that is in them before they ask
he voters to pledge themselves il
he political canvass. .-Aagn$t" Chron-
Gle.