The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-10-05
Reply of Joseph E. Carter.

GREEN RIDGE, PETTIs, Co., Sept. 20, 'S6.
Mr. Thomas c. Merton, Ssdalia, No.
DEAR SIR received letter from you
Of which the following is copy:
SEDALIA, Mo-, Sept. 6, 1855.
j. Z. Cdrtsr-SIR - At meeting held
in this city on last Saturday BY the prOhibi-
tionists of thiss county a resolution was
passed requiriuq the secretary Of that meet
ing to address the different candidates of
Pettis county to the State legislature the
following questions:
First-If elected to the legislature will
V u favor, use your influence and vote for
the submission to the people of an amend
ment TO our State constitution prohibiting
the manufacture and sa Of intoxicating
liquors to be used as a beverage?
Second-Will you favor and vote for the
immediate passage of local option law?
the repeal or change OF the johnson gam
bling laws and that said correspondence
be made public.
Yours respectfully,
THOMAS G. NEWTON, Sec'y.
These three questions are of the greatest
importance to the people, not only of Pettis
cuunty, but to every citizen of the State of
Missouri. They are of such magnitude as
to effect the body polite and command the
attention and calm consideration of the
masses of the people who wish 10 perpetu-
ate free government and hand our institu-
tons down to future generations in as pu-
rifed form as human genius can model
by the aid of Divinity into living reality.
Our state government is a constitutional
government, republican in form, deriving
its powers from the people. The will of
the people is incorporated by their consent
in q written constitution. This written
constitution may be changed by the people
from time to time as they deem essential
for their welfare, happiness or prosperity.
The sovereignty of the State is vested In
the people; they are custodians of our State
government. All questions affecting a
change in our State constitution or amend
ment thereto should be presented to the
people In plain, unbiased manner, so that
all can understand their intent and mean
ing and be enabled thereby to make up
their verdict in accordance to justice and
equity.
Our state constitution should not be
changed often, or for light and trivial
causes, as such course would have ten
dency to effect its stability and create in the
minds of the people grave doubt as to
whether we are capable of carrying out and
exercising the right Of local state gov
eminent
But when a great question like that of
submitting a prohibition amendment to
our state constitution comes up before the
people and is made the paramount is
sue Of the day, and is discussed in every
section of the state, and has been already
presented by large and respectable petit
iions at four different sessions Of the legis-
Iature, and will not down or be
hushed into silence, but eyid. ntly gains
strength the more il is discussed, and it is
said had 25,OO0 voters on its petitions at
the last session of the legislature. A large
percentage of the good women of this stare
are enlisted in favor of submission and us
ing their influence TO ameliorate the con-
dition of mankind; thew are always labor
ing for God and humanity.
Ii is evident that the great moral ele-
ment of Missouri are in favor of submitting
this question to a vote OF the people, and
this same moral element is the substructure
on which good government rests.
Therefore il is but Just and right under
al. tiies- circumstances TO submit this