South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-02-17
Amending th0 U. S. Constltution.

oih-OWlbS 10 nv absence from
nome did not see the reply of Sc.
nator John Il. Finley to nv article
IN the Register OF 9Th January m
regard to amending the Copstitn.
ton OF the United States in timo r.
notice 1T sooner. ] regret that m
young friend. for whom have none
but the klndest feelings, has made
Ut necessary for me 10 say anytbinu
more. Ito was not named in whai
l wrote. The Sun mentioned him
as having offered the resolution
but 1 carefully abstained from q
word singing him out from anv
other member OF the Senate and m '
comments were preceded by eff TIE
statement was true"
L cast no reflection, and intended
none, on his manhood or that of
any other Senator. / thought the
hasty action Of the Senate was more
from want of reflection and a due
sense of the vast Importance of the
amendment.
Mr.. Finley, however, virtually
admits the substantial accuracy of
the Suns statement. He does not
deny that he offered the resolution
that he received letter, no saws
from young Mr. Tucker member of
Congress from Virginia that the
letter was read, and therou pom the
resolution was passed without a
reason being given why it should
and without debate. Why was this
letter read to the Senate if not To
influence its action? Why was it
thought necessary that pressure
should be brought TO bear on orr
U. s. Senators to induce them tn
vote for this amendment ? The
trainers Of the Constitution proyid-
ed for its amendment by provisions
which necessitate deliberatIon, and
the Independent action of different
Legislative bodies, each acting free
from the control of any other.
Should Congress decide TO propose
that amendment THEN it is to come
before the Legislature of West Va.
for its judgment. But the Sena-
tor cannot wait until the time ar
riyes when the people by the Con.
stitution empower and require him
to express an opinion, but he must
hasten TO INSTRUCT tho u. $. Sem
ators to vote for it,-thus in effect
deprivipg them of the free and un-
trammeled exercise of their judg-
ment, which it was the evident de-
sign OF the Constitution they should
have. And it ia THIS proceeding
which | say was extraordinary, and
believe unheard Of in the adoption
OF any OF the amendments to the
Constitution.
He says mo good reason was
given for It's passage because no
good reason was given why 1t SHOULD
not pass" This is strange posi-
tion for an intelligent representa-
tive to assume ! Have his constit-
uents whose dearest rights may be
affected by this act, and by whose
authority alone He has power to
act, no right to know why he goes
out of his way to propose to change
this REyERED instrument And
why it was thought necessary that
eur Senators should be instructed
upon matter CT the highest inn
portance which was not discussed
before the people when the mem
ters of the Legislature were electeds
Surely my young friend did not re-
fleet when he wrote that sentence.
A gentleman OF ability and dis
tinction in letter speaking Of this
" action, says II am truly aston
- ished at the haste exhibited in
the passage Of q resolution
- fraught with such serious results,
" Those who are moving in the mat
Ter at Charleston have not stop
ped to consider what such an A.
mendment means, and how far il
strikes at the principle which DIP
% FERENTIATES our FEDERAL sys-
A" tenn from q CONSOLIDATED GOV
BRNNNNT. They surely do not
" realize the radical change such
Z" an amendment would work in
" cur government or they wOukl
% act with more dclibsrRtion. Re.
" sides it is no remedy for thc evils
" at which il processes TO beaimcd. -
The trainers o. our Constitution
have carefully distinguished be-
tween the people OF a state, acting
in their organized capacity ~ a
STATE, and the people OF the State
acting as individuals. And the
great statesmen Of our country, es-
pecially Of tho Democratic party,
have always insisted that it was e.
sential to the preservation Of our
liberties that this distinction should
be preserved To what extent the
proposed amendment may tend 20
weaken the operation Of this prin-
ciple in our system Of government,
and TO increase the tendencies TO
Capitalization is deserving Of the
most thoughtful consideration Of
the people and their representa-
tyes.
! cannot believe that the people
Of the State expect their Represen-
tatives TO vote for 30 important q
.-,n.~v.-1 Nrrn...r. Owa - moe H..