The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-02-19
b f. l. A 1 r, M d.
Friday Morning, February 10, 1886.
The Constitutional Convention Question

The Constitution of New York like that
of Maryland, was adopted in 1867, and pro.
vides that the sense of the people in refer
ence to new Constitution shall be taken
every twenty years. There, as here, some
persons want an immediate call for con-
vention to frame new instrument. The
wisdom of the judges of the Supreme Court
was invoked to decide upon the right of the
Legislature to pass a bill for an early consti.
tutional convention. They said
"Thc Legislature is not supreme 1t is only
one of the instruments of that absolute soy.
creignty which resides in the whole body of the
people. Like other departments of the govern.
ment, it acts under a delegation of powers, and
cannot rightfully go beyond the limits which
have been assigned to it, This delegation OF
powers has been made by fundamental law,
which no one department of the government,
nor all the departments united, have authority
to change. That can only be done by the people
themselves. A power has been given to the
Legislature to propose amendments to the con.
stitution, which when approved and ratified by
the people become part of the fundamental
law. But no power has been delegated to the
Legislature to call convention to revise tho
constitution. That is measure which must
come from the people themselves. Neither the
calling of a convention nor a convention itself
is proceeding under the constitution. 1t is
above and beyond the constitution Instead OF
acting under the forms and within the limits
prescribed by that instrument, the very business
of a convention is to change those forms and
boundaries as the public interests may seem to
require. A convention is not a government
measure, but movement of the people, having
for its object a change in whole, or in part, OF
the existing form Of government"
This decision clearly recognizes the fact
hof hn al lou bn pin -: ,;
ate proceedings looking towards change in
their organic law, They can do this by elect
ing representatives to the Legislature pledged
to issue call for constitutional conven-
ton. This has not been done. The question
did not enter into the last canvass. at was
not discussed" says the Baltimore Sun, sin
Il single election district. Not vote was
cast for or against the measure No one on
his way to the polls dreamed that in casting
his ballot he was helping 10 elect candidate
who, if successful was ready and willing to
juggle with the charter of the peoples rights
and liberties. Had the matter been brought
before the masses at the last election, it is
safe to say what result would have followed
the suggestion. The people of Maryland are
wisely conservative. They favor no radical
changes or violent innovations The party
leaders who are now seeking to anticipate the
constitutional provision directing the calling
of the convention may learn this fact when
it is too late to profit by the knowledge. II
the proposed change in our organic law is ef-
tected in the face of the fact that no immedi-
ate change is necessary, and that the popular
will demands no such change, the stability OF
constitutional government will be seriously
menaced Instead of moving forward with
this matter, the duty of the Legislature is
plain and simple, not to do anything in con,
PREVENTION of the letter and spirit of the Con.
sttutionn