Daily Republican., 1886-11-22
8. Il. Cor. Third and King Streets.
mo NDAY NovKMBKR s2. 1850
The Constitution and its Kew.

Inc ConetitutiOn and LIS Key.
The difficulty of calling = State Con-
stitutional Convention 10 found In the
document itself which In providing for
amendments has m Ade their adoption .
difficult task to accomplish. In the
article providing the plans by which
the Constitution can be changed and
amended IL where John M. Clayton has
thrown away the key, and the Consti-
tuition has remained locked up doou-
ment until the present day. The Diff
Guilty OF amending the Constitution by
Legislative enaotments was experience
cd 81 the last Legislature. Amend
ments were formally proposed aud
agreed upon by the Legislature that
met In January, 1883. The amend.
ments changed the Judiciary and In.
creased the represen tAtion In the Lseis-
iasura from New CASTLE County three
members Of the House more than each
OF the other counties. 1t was o very
difficult task indeed to get even that
much OF q change through both Houses
by two. third vote. But they did pass,
and by public notices In the press the
people were Informed OF the pending
amendments before the next election,
but that election In 1884 was go absorb.
ed with the election OF a President that
the amendments we're hardly thought
about. The consequence WAS that the
smendments failed to secure q ratifica-
tion oy three-fourths of the mem bers
OF each House rs required by the Con-
ssitu lion and 80 ended shat attem ut to
amend the Constitution by Legislative
enactment. Looking forward to the
future another attempt to amend in the
same manner would prove as futile rs
the fist, as the year 1888 would be q
Presidential election year, as was 1884.
We regret to ssy that the other mode
provided for amending the Constitution,
though 1t seems TO have many friends
now, is hedged around with as many
difficulties rs the first. To amend by q
Constitutional Convention, 1t Ia requi-
site FOR the Legislature just elected to
provide for vote Of the people on the
second Tuesday In May, when they
shall vote for or against Constitution
al Con veption, and II q majority OF the
people who voted at one OF the three
pact elections at which the highest vote
was cast vote for . Convention, then the
next Legislature shall provide for the
election OF delegates TO the Con vention.
The observant reader will readily dis
cover in this plan the deep we'll into
which the traditional key was thrown.
The election for or against q Constitu- |
tioual Convention Is called In Nav.
when the farmers will all be busy
planting corn, for which they will care
more than for Constitutional Conyen-
tions. This is the first dra back, which
would be Of little consequence were IL
not that majority Of the highest vote
cast at three past State elections Is re-
CURED to call convention. By refer.
ence TO the election returns 1t will be
seen that In 1885, the present year, the
vote for Governor in the State was o.
800, that for President In 1884 was 90
9Si, aud that for Governor Ia 1882 was
81 l9G, the highest vote ever cast In the
State. Evidently, then, the people OF
Delaware, to call State Convention in
the month OF May, 1887, in the midst |
OF complaining time, would have to
poll 10. 599 votes Ia favor OF q conven-
tim, no matter how many may be
against 1t. Possibly this could be done,
but II looks more likely that it would
not be done when We consider that
there are 5000 disfrsnohised citizens In
the 3 ate, and that only %, 800 votes
were cast for Governor Mt the late cleo
tion. The constitution could, no dou bt,
Ia Aagftu n nj i,, -
OF May we're all the people in favor of
q convention, but such q millennium az
that in the politics of Delaware has not
come yet.
Let us, however, take 1t for granted
that q majority OF the people, In the
manner prescribed, voted In favor OF
calling q convention, then what? Why,
then, the Legislature to be elected In
1888 shall provide for the election Of
m smbers to Constitutional Convention
ut the election to be held In 1890, and
the members 80 elected shall meet
within three months OF their election
and proceed to alter, amend or make q
new constitution. 1t will be seen that
. Constitutional Convention, as we'll as
legislative enactment to amend the
has thorny road to
travel, and that under the most favor
able circumstances can any change be
made In the constitution under four
years.
However, as our Democratic contem.
poraries are talking now OF smashing
the lock, II the constitution can be
reached in no other manner, 1t will not
be out Of place TO say that we were In
favor OF smashing the lock years ago.
Better revolution than tyranny aud In.
justice, and in the name OF the people
we say let justice be done though the