Daily Republican., 1889-03-20


for holding an election to vote for or
against Convention. / am glad that
they did II. They freed the hands Of this
General Assembly, and allows us to 60
outside OF this uEexceptionable mode. II
relieves US of the responsibility. What
have we TO do were we TO follow this
ninth article as they doi They say that
reference must be made to the highest OF
the three general elections. The anti
convention people say II meaas the
highest of the highest until they reach a
point away beyond any hope Of calling
convention. Can you say that under the |
method proposed that 1t is not logical
when say that a convention cannot be |
called before 1898! What are we going |
TO do II this Is soi 1t was said some time |
back that when the book was kissed and
a proms Sc made 20 obey the Constitution |
that we are acting under that we could |
not 90 outside of IT, If this General As
sembly does not give the people con
vention, the people may meet at their
primaries and elect delegates In favor of
calling q convention, that the next Gen
eral Assembly will have authority, and
no obstructionist will have the power to
say nay. The people want q convention
and they will have it." Mr.. Lodge said
In part:
ait Is somewhat of question to me
whether this final act is a comedy or q
serious undertaking. When consider
that politicians Of both partiesnre making
capital out of It, and come want It for TO
| get In office and some want IL to hold
Office, think 1t Is q comedy. In my
better Judgment, however, when l zee
what seems to be an attempt to sweep
away the bulwarks that protect a free
people, | take another view and know
that 1t is serious undertaking. As the
child outgrows Its first clothes, so peop.e
outgrow their institutions, aud we are
out st our knees and elbows with our
present constitut on. The people want
new ones. Prior to l776 we had
charter frcm the Kiog of England. After
the Declaration OF Independence the
pc PIE of the State called their first con-
ventlon. The constitution adopted at
that convention contained provision In
regard to amendments. When the CON
vtntion of l792 was called, 1t was not In
pursuance of the constitution .of lIT6.
The convention of 1882 was called prop
erly. The constitution was never ratified
by the people.
The convention OF 1859 adopted con-
ttitution that was not ratified by the
oeople. In my opinion that convention
was properly called. (Mr. Ledge read
coplous extracts from Jam son on cousti-
tutioual conventions in support OF this
vlew.) Under our present constitution |
hold that there are three ways tine consti-
tuition may be changed. First, the Legis-
lattvc mode; this is for amendments for
particuia and specific purposes. (Mr.
, Lodge aga read from Jamison.) The
second Is the unexceptionable mode.
+ This Is laid down in our constitution and
I a.. IA L. ana I.l NM
q believe II We depended upon that we will
l never call conv ntion. If that is the
! only mode the vote cast lie Insufficient. /
you cay that 1t is the only mode, you say
Z that the dead shall rule the living. Garry
= ing II out further that convention oi 1f7t
: could have limi, ed us to the preseut time
=. The third mode Is found IN the words
n No convention shall be called but b!
o the authority OF the people,.
!, That contains the authority upon whicl
o take my stand II has been said tina
v these words were Introductory to the un
exceptionab'e mode, and that the word
= should be considered as If In oppoiit on
do not agree with that construction.
g hold that 1t Ia reservation In genera
) terms, and the uuexceptlonaele mode I
Que of tho ways OF carrying out the gen
i eral reservation. Mr.. Lodge then rea'
d from Cooley on Constitutional Limitation
/ IN support oil his position. There are NJ
Y words in that article declaring that tn
uneXceptlonRble mode Is the only and ex
elusive mode. The whole word ng Of th
o ant Gle points to the power that the peop
- have. Mr.. Clayton himself declares tina
. tn t is rot the only mode. IN surpor
y of the position that the people coult
change and have the right In their sover
!, eIgn capacity to change their constitution
he read additional extracts fiom Coolel
!. on Constitutional Limitations. Mr.
., Lodge declared as a proposition that tb,
r people AZ those that make use OF th
elective franchise.
Z, tjp;!nuing be said: "Ihls must meal
that he people Gc the vote Uf 1851 3e
claIei In favor OF convention. Tha
vote was taken under the unexceptiona abl
u mode. We can apply that vote 10 an!
e mode We can construe those IA 40
,. votes for q convention and the 43l vo Q
II against as an expression OF the people. A
Y wonder ul vote. take it In view of tn
1t circums ances AT q spec al election
IT Compare this vote with ths vote of 1856
o which was 81 $3.50, 1888, which was 20,
II All, and strike au average we have as al
| average 25,654. One half of this Is abou
10 13, ,0U0, and according to that We have
n majority OF the people hs wing right u
vote. Then we are going on the pre-
q sumption that every man that reiraine'
o rom voting was oppo ed to convention
presumption most unreasonable an
e unfair. IL has bcen thought that cou
y yentlon eau be called by the Legislature.
q At this point an adjournment wa
D. taken until 8 p. III.
= At the expiration Of the time Mr.
A. Lodge resumed, saying in part: | hav
10 shown TO my own satisfaction that tn
= people have the power 10 call n conven
70 ton. The people have the right to call
a. convention and demand q convention
i "A, ,450 OF them have voted for a couven
l. tion. Mr Speaker, you have heard q
ic that famous person, the Duke of York
n shire, who had 900 men. He led then
ID up the hill and then led them dow
Sc again. Ler US lead our forces TO the to
&c of the hill, and then don't lead ther
er down again, but let us dRht gallar
n, fight aud call constitutional convention
he (Applause.)
e, Mr.. Eckels followed, saying In par
~ Upon the broad ground OF convention {
er no convention, ! believe We are all
Il hearty sympathy with the wish Of II
people in favor OF calling convention 1
as the earliest time po. siblP. Tn, re is not
he member here who Is in favor of Ievoll
Il, tionary methods. / believe 1t this metho
es is revolutionary, and II this is revolution
s,r 1t will be the most peaceahle that wi
IL ever recorded. We were instructed
to meet in joiut convention TO canvass Il
re result OF the voGes cast both for A.
us sgalust convention. That has been d
II. cided.
he We have gaId that that vote was suf1