Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-14
BAYARD, GRAY AND LORE
Three Powerful Arguments for
a New Constitution.
SOME OF THE NEEDED CHANGES


Need Remodeling-Th Can BE Done
by a Good constitutional Convention.
At the meeting of the Young Mems
Democratic Club last evening x-Secre-
tary Thomas F Bayard, Senator George
Gray and Hon. Charles B. Lore delivered
addresses on the constitutional eonven-
ton. The rooms were filled with mem.
bsrs of the club and others. General
Garrett J. Hart, president, presided and
introduced the speakers
Mr.. Bayard said in part:
"Mr President, and you, my fellow
Democrats. To my estimation we ought
to night perform one Of the highest
functions of American citizenship We
are met to consider the adyisability Of
voting for or against a convention. which
may affect a considerable change in the
fundamental law OF our staue. We may
not, and you know that we are not great
in territory nor important in numbers
to the political world. but the
moral health Of this little community
is Just as necessary and as dear to the
people within its limits as can possibly
be the health or welfare of any com
munity however large. IL requires Just as
much wisdom and as much knowledge Of
the laws Of health for physician TO
prescribe for one man carefully as If q
Thousand were affected with that disease
There are thousand things necessary
for the welfare of society and whether
that is large or small IL does not change
the necessity for wisdom in it's control
Our constitution is old, honorable,
and safe There ara none more secure ia
property and political right than are the
people of the State of Delaware. This
has been accomplished by the presence In
our midst Of truthful, honest asd capable
men, and by wise, far seeing people
Three times the construction of consti :
tuition Of political form has taken place
in Delaware. The first was ia 1916 when
the United States, having shaken Of
the shackles which bound her to
Britain, began to look toward the
setting up of a government of
her own Our forefathers met then in
New Castle and framed a constitution,
which lasted for twenty years without
alteration.
I'm 1895 a second convention was called
and the constitution underwent material
changes, This was allowed to stand
until 1881, and In that year the eonstitu-
ton, under which we now live, was
formed. That is so long ago that none Of
the men who took part in 1t are alive
to day, so that for sixty years and little
| over we have lived under q constitution
with the framew work for orr executive
and judicial government which our wise
and patriotic fathers then thought best,
and the time has come when it is con
sidered expedient to change their work k,
to hold a convention and recast the
fundamental Law Of the state.
This, my friends. is a great occasien
for in giving the chance TO make suci
changes as the necessities and progress
OF the times demand, It gives oppor.
/ tunities TO make unwise changes anC
therein lies the danger and the create
necessity for the exercise Of caution.
IF we could find thoughtful and con
scientious men TO 60 there; If we couli
only induce our opponents to abate som
Of their political bitterness and approach
the question with gravity and wisdom
then a constitutional convention vii
prove beneficial by giving better form
of government to ourselves and t,
those who come after us. Their
is no doubt but changes can be made
Our wise and judlcious fathers did no
wish their wisdom should di
with them; but do not believ
that q fundamental law should be rapid,
changed, or that because at times fur
or misapprehension selzes upon the mind
of the people. the impulse should b
acted upon and the thing done. sa,
to the people act cody When that con.
stitution vas framed the wise men who
framed 1t intended to rlvet it s.
thoroughly that 1t would not quickl'
fall, ana one Of them, q statesman 0
whom the state is justly proud, John NJ
clsyton, said in speaking of his work
Yes we have locked the door and throw
away the key
"Well, gentlemen, we want to fin
that key. / do not think any state shout
exist without being given an opportunit
to make laws which the comnunit
demand. ! do not believe in me
making laws that must last whether th
people want them or not. It is like 81
engineer tying down the safety valv
and then applying more steam. whic
cannot escaps until there is an explosion
If the people feel the necessity 70
constitutional reform let them vote for
convention next Tuesday. Formidabl
4 AtDllnllACo law w 10 ~
slight opposition can undo the work o
many years, as it requires q two-third
vote of the first Legislature and q three
fourths of the second l remember tn
last ocsasion when this matter came vi
how q small handful of men defeated on
project and undid the work Of eigh
years, and this was done BY Legislator
which was solidly Democratic.
1T is the right Of every people to elm
to their constitution until 1t turns on
not to suit their changed conditions
Nov there are are two branches of Ou
Government which need reformation
In the executive government there ough
to be a consulting body to whom th
governor would refer when appointment
are to be made. The consulting eoun
oil should be elected by the people. A
present the governor has no veto nc
consulting power. Our state stand
: alone in that respect from any otha
state in the Union. Let us then have
veto power and consulting body tina
, will decide on the fitness Of candidate
for the office to which they aspire. an
J that will bring forward honest, pruden
J and sensible minds to a most importan
) dispensstion,
{ If the people are disposed to max
these changes do not believe any OF
stacles will arise and stand in the way
II also believe there are some change
to be made in our Judiciary. At preser
we have three judges. while similar wor
is elsewhere performed by one. One judg
I is in my opinion always preferable
because he will have to rely on himsel
and bring all his mental faculties to wor
on the question. But suppos'ng he