The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-03
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

no new departure for US.
The Legislature at its last session
passed joint resolution providing for
a!vote on the question of calling Con-
stitutional Convention. It is now left
with the people whether they will vote
for the Convention or not. In the first
place we would like for some advocate
of new Constitution to state come
good reason for such q convention.
About the only argument we have
heard in favor of it, if argument you
can call it, is that the present constitu-
ton is relic of radical rule in this
State, that it was made by the radicals,
and that therefore we should throw it
away and make new one. That is no
reason at all.
To our mind there are many and
unanswerable reasons against Con-
stitutional Convention. This is an i'm
portant question and we want to state
these reasons calmly and deliberately
and 80 that the readers of this paper
may know what they are doing when
they vote for or against this question in
November.
In the first place the way we have
been divided and torn up by factional
strife and prejudice in the last few years
the people are in no condition to make
an organic law for the State. When we
come to make constitution We want
10 be guided by wisdom and broad
patriotism and by conservatism that
will take in the whole State and 80 act
as will best subserve the interests Of ali
the people. To do this we want to be
in condition that our best and ablest
men will be sent as delegates to this
convention. -.----
The-pfesent constitution has been in
force for TWENTY-FIVE years and many,
if not all, of its provisions Oh which
there could be any doubt as to proper
Interpretation have been adjudicated
by the courts and the law on these
points settled by the highest tribunal
in the State. If we make new con-
stitution all this will have to be done
over again and it will increase litiga-
ton and create a deal of trouble and
confusion. True this would be good for
the lawyers but we are looking after the
best interests of all the people.
If there is any serious defect ia the
present constitution it can be readily
mended by amendment which is very
simple process. Last election we amend.
ed it by abolishing the Office of County
commissioner and putting in its place
the Office of Supervisors, though there
is great doubt as to whether this change
will prove good one.
AS little as you may think of it the
holding of a Constitutional Convention
will be an expensive piece of business.
1t will cost at least as much as legis-
lative session which is not less than
$4,000 and it may cost great deal
more. Times hard, money scarce, cot
ton low and we can hardly pay our
taxes now, and yet talking about spend
ing $4,000 or 100000 vi the peoples
money for something withoL, which
they would probably be better of. We
had better go slow along this line.
These are no times for foolishness and
reckless spending ofthe peoples money.
Suppose convention is called. When
it meets it can do what it pleases and
we will have to take what it gives US
and grin and endure it whether we
ike it or rot. When the resoluti on
lcalling the convention was on its pas
sage in the Legislature a motion was
made to have the new constitution
when framed referred back to the peo-
pie to be voted on and ratified or re,
jected, but this motion was promptly
voted down. So if the convention is
called, when it meets it can just do
what it pleases and the people will be
given no opportunity to say what they
think Of it, but they will have to take
what is given them, pleased or not as
the ease may be. And the trouble is
you have no opportunity to say whether
it is good or bad. We would like to
know what the organic law is to be be-
fore we agree to change it.
The idea no doubt will be to put in a
property or educational qualification
for voting and if so many good people
will be distranchised. There is talk of.
doing away with the two mill school
tax, the only school fund which reaches
and benefits theg great mass ofthe people.
The State now spends half as much for
the higher education ofsome 500 boys
as she does for the 100000 children in
the public schools. There is no telling
what will be done and you will not
know until it is done and then you
can't help yourself.
We hope the voter will think of
these thing and if after giving the mat.
ter careful consideration he concludes
that there are good and sensible reasons
for holding q Constitutional Conven-
ton at cost to the tax payers of from
$4,000 to 100000 why, then let him
vote for it. But on the other hand if
he concludes there is no good reason
for holding such convention and for
the making of a new constitution, why
let him cast bis vote against it and also
tell his neighbors to do the same thing.
We would be glad to have short
articles from the people on this subject
especially those who favor the conven-
tion so that if there is any good rea-
san for holding it we may hear of it.
Senator David Bennett Hill has been