Evening journal., 1889-03-20

we nave as an average % 653 One-haif
OF this is about 13,000 and according to
that we have a majority of the people
having right to vote. Then we are
going ON the presumption that every man
tnat refrained from voting was opposed
10 convention. A presumption most
unreasonable and unfair. 1t has been
thought that a convention can be called
by the Legislature.
AT this point an adjournment was
taken until p. m.
AT the expiration of the time Mr..
Lodge resumed, saying in part: II have
SHOWN to my own satisfaction that the
people have the power to call conven.
tlon The people have the right to call
convention and demand convention.
l4'45O Of them have voted for convex
tlon Mr.. Speaker you have heard of
tnat famous person, the Duke of York
shire, who had / 900 men, he led them
up the hill and then led them down
again. Let us lead our forces to the top
OF the hill and then don't lead them down
again, but let us fight gallant fight and
can constitutional convention Ap.
planse
Mr.. Eckles followed saying in part
Upon the broad ground of convention
or no convention believe we are all in
hearty sympathy with the wish of the
people in favor Of calling a convention at
the earliest time possible. There is not
member here who is in favor of revolu.
tionary methods. believe If this method
IS revolutionary and il this is revolution
II will be the most peaceable that was
ever recorded. / did not come here to
vote against what | think right. am
IN favor of this bill. My friend from
Brandywine has told me of half dozen
different ways Of changing the constitu
tlon that | had not thought Of and am
willing to take any of them.
Speaker HofTecker followed. "The
constitution was good one at the time
II was made. subscribed TO IL and have
kept my oath up to the present time and
mean to until the end OF the season. do
not think ! violate my oath when / take
steps to provide for a convention. We
have declared that the vote was sufficient.
There are differences of opinion as TO the
unexceptional mode. The wording Of
the article is ambiguous. | stand here
an advocate of a convention. | am glad
that the two last speakers have declared
themselves in favor of a convention. 1t
shows that this is not a political move.
ment
As Mr. Whiteman arose to reply to the
previous speakers there was a general
murmur of expectancy. His speech
would in great measure clearly indicate
the Democratic position. None, however,
exl ected so brilliant an address from
so young a man. He said in part "As
to the necessity and advisability Of call
ing a convention | believe that there is
unanimity of opinion. That phase has
passed beyond argument. That ii ought
to be done, no one will deny. How to
call one in a constitutional way is the
question before us. There is a differ
ence upon this both in and outside these
halls. The ablest legal minds in
this state are at variance | there
fore speak for myself A close
study and an analysis of the ninth
article of the constitution brings me
to the conclusion that it is more liberal
than | at FIRST supposed. There has been
three distinct ways of changing the con
stitution already referred to. The first
method by the legislative is so unpracti.
cal that 1t is almost an impossibility for
threef fourths of one legislature to agree
to what two-thirds of q previous
Legislature has agreed to. The second the
calling of a convention by the authority
Of the people. What do we mean by the
authority of the peopleg The authority OF
a majority of the people IL is found as
the cardinal principals Of the Constitu-
tion Of the United States There are two
ways of amending that consti.
tuition one by suggestion Of Congress
and the other by suggestion Of the peo-
pie. The people can compel Congress to
obey the plain dictates. ! conceive that
our constitution was framed with an idea
to the same purpose The people should
not make complete surrender. / hold
that the people can meet on the second
Tuesday in May Of any year. If they vote
for convention their voice. OF necessity.
must be heard | believe that the inner.
ent right of the people can call a couyen-
tion unless the barriers are too great. In
this case | am of the opinion that a ma
jority of the people have failed
TO express themselves to call
convention yet we are asked to annihi.
late the whole instrument. Iregret that
the facts are such as to compel me TO
vote against this bill will so vote /
recognize that / am creature Of the con
stitution and | will in no act assume to
be greater than my creator. / will &C.
quiesce in no measure that will be flag
rant violation of that instrument for the
purpose of placing my party in favor
able position. No political party will be
benefited unless a majority has expressed
its assent to constitution in a
legitimate way. My position as a mem.
Der sworn to support the constitution am
persuaded to do other than vote against
this bill would be a violation of one Of
its plainest provisions. Whatever be
done, it must be majority Of the citi.
zens entitled to vote for representatives.
What EFFORT has been made TO ascertain
that vote Before the election was held
the journals all over this state and
speakers in the halls and on the
stump declared that it was neces-
sary to have the highest vote.
ITO my mind this bill is as much an act
Of revolution as it was when Ricnard
Henry Lee introduced resolution that
these colonies ought 10 be free and inde.
pendent states, and much less iustifable.
We have seen our sister states suffer
from these causes. Think Of the boidness
of those men in Chicago and the suffer
ing that ensued. When we recall 10
mind the insolence ef these people il
makes every strata Of our heart burn
with anger and resentment We hope
for the permanancy of American institu-
tions. Why should we detract from
their permanency. We are confronted
here to-day with the arguments of the
convention of 1852. With all due re-
spect to the persons offer.
ing those arguments, they are of
the kind / would spew ont Of my
mouth. There is a thought you have not
tnken intn consideration Thara Il q