The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-31
YES OR N0!'

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BOTH SIDES OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Al CONVENTION QUESTION.
Road About It and ecide How You Will
voee-M uch in Favor and Much Against
Holding a Convention at this Time.
Since our editorial page was written
We have been Waited upon by large
number of representative farmers from
over the county, and who asked that We
give them our views about voting for q
Constitutional Convention at the gen
eral election on November 6. We are
vet to find the first man who faVors the
Convention unless it is submitted to
the people for acceptance or rejection,
while others do not see the necessity OF
it in any event, believing that 1t will be
better and much cheaper to amend our
old Constitution.
Now there are two sides to this ques.
ton, and will give them to our readers,
aud they can then act on their own
sound judgment. Our present Constitu'
ton was framed by the Republican par
ty, and Is is out of date, and should cer.
tainly be overhauled and remodelled.
Again, there are certain laws enacted
since 1890, and that should be clinched
by being engraited in the Constitution,
where they cannot be changed at the
caprice Of the Legislature:
But the question arises, eau the State
afford to 90 to the expense Of holding a
Constitutional Convention in the midst
of the hard times now upon the country!
1t will cost at least $1,000 per day to
hold this Convention, which would be a
heavy outlay. Then, again, is now a
proper time 10 hold a Con stitutional
Convention and overhaul and remodel
our organic Law? Tnls ls a very impor.
tant and serlous matter, for it sffscts the
welfare, tbs happiness and liberty of
every man, woman and child in our bor-
ders. We can cverturn the injudlcious
acts of a Legislature, but it takes the
voice of a majority Of the people 20
change or amend Constitution. Hence.
10 formulating our organic laws, every
classs, every line Of business, and every
interest should be represented in tho
Convention. This Is right aad just.
Now, in the heated condition. OF the
public mind of South Carolina, Gao We
guarantee fair representation OF all in.
terests9 Most assuredly no. It is there
fore reasonable to suppose that tho new
Constitution, instead of being q broad
and statesman like document, would
represent the views of "a political faction;
and while We belong to that political fac
uen, We do not intend, and neither do
the farmers of South Carolina intend,
that their political conviction shall oyer
balance every sense of justice and
right.
But it is also charged that the Autls
are fighting this Constitutional Co1vsn-
ton, and therefore the Reformers should
do Just what their enemies don't want
them to do. Well, We do not blame the
Autis for this opposition, tor they well
know that they will b. practically dis
franchised from participation IN that
body. But we should occupy broader
and more statesman-like position when
we assume to lay heifoundation for all
laws, and not permit psrtisanshlp to in
fuence US. We do not endorse every
thing the Reform Administration does,
for our representatives are DO more per"
feet than other men. But with the same
reasoning our Reformers could argusthat
they should quit the church, and serve
the devll, just because some OF the An
tis were church members.
When South Carolina or any other
State assumes to change iss organic Law
We should move with deiberation and
Judgment, and see that every citl-
zen's rights and happiness are
guarded and every line of busi.
ness protected. Hence representation
IN that Convention should be made up
without regard to political convictions,
even the negroes, who are part and 3
parcel of our population, having their
voice. South Carolina has just passed
through a very heated political campaign.
The resentments have not as yet had
time to cool do En. It will take but a
spark to bring down on us another bit
ter campaign, when the people are ask.
ing for peace and quiet. Now in view
of these facts, will it be wise to call q
Constitutional Convention? and would it
not be better to delay matters. Nothing
is hurting. We have lived under our
old Constitution since 1876, and it has
answered every purpose. Aud then, it
is heavy tax on the farmers of our State
to ask them to pay for sl,O0O day
Convention with six cents cotton. Ifa
farmer has wagon that has served him
for years, and he can still use it, he will
not burn up that wagon and buy new
one. No; he will have the tires shrunk;
the detective parts repaired, and con.
tinue to use it until he csa better splre
the money.
But there is one serious objection to
this proposed Constitutional Convention
and which will debar us from supporting
it. It is proposed to frame a Constltu.
ton, submit it to the Legislature for
ratification and refuse to permit tho poo
pie to vote on its acceptance or rejec'
ton. Such proposition is Un-Amerl-
can, Un-Dsmocratic and is dangerous
precedent. Our Reform M>vemcnt
means the absolute rule of the people
and when we delegate to l60 men the
right to frame such organic laws as they
see proper, and then forbid the people to
pass upon what they nave done, We
shal! never endorse such concentration
OF power, it matters not what party is
ts author.
Spartanburg has 10000 voters, bu'
Will only have six ds,egstes 10 thai
Convention. Now We would be willing
for those delegates % frame Constltu-
ton, but are not :!il,ing 70 trust The riga,
and the liberty OF 10000 people bllndly
to their keeping. Ii they are afraid to
let the voters pass upon Their work after
it is doue, then We are afraid to trust
them with such despotic power. We
never before heard OF State adopting a
Constltution without first submitting II