The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-07-02
GarwOOd's Sarsaparilla-for the blood
to cure. A. b. RAINS.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

1t is pretty generally known that ex-
Governor Peter Turney is against the
Constitutional COnven ion; but the
weakness of the reasons which he as
signs for his opposition is not so gem
orally known, because his public letter
to Joseph II. Thompson, Winchester,
Tenn, of May ., 1897, announcing his
position, has not been SO generally
read.
The opponents of the convention pre-
fer to simply announce the fact of the
venerable eX-Governor's opposition
than to circulate his letter, for they are,
as reasonable men, well satisfied that
his name will be of greater influence
than his reasons.
1t was natural enough to have sup
posed that Peter Turney would state
the objections against a Constitutional
Convention with greater clearness and
cogency than any other member of
the opposition. His long and honor
able public service as Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court and then as Gov.
ernor of the State, it seems, would have
qualified him to have given us strong,
if not conclusive, reasons why we
should not undertake the revision of
our fundamental law, But we read his
letter in vain for any clear or sensible
reason why the people should not favor
the convention.
The full text of the letter is as follows
WINCHESTER, May %, lS97.-Joseph
II. Thompson-Dear Sir: | am certain
ly opposed to a Constitutional Conven-
ton in all its forms. have made one
speech at this place against it, but
have given no authority, directly or in
directly, for the statement that l will
make a canvass against it. | would
like to do so, if my health would permit
The Democratic party does not father
the measure. The Democratic Convem-
ton refused to incorporate it in its
platform. Some OF the best and most
consistent Democrats are opposing it,
and no one Is authorized to claim 1t as
a Democratic movement. Some of its
most earnest supporters are Republi-
cans; for instance, eX-Congressman An
derson, of the First District. In what
does it consist of Democracy? When
did the Democratic party propose to dc
things under cover ana IN the dark?
Has not that party avowed its princi
pies in plain terms? Is there anything
of the sort in this movement? Who
knows what is to be proposed III the
convention should it be called?
You will find its advocates not agree
ing among themselves. Some are adj
vOcating measures that others oppose
When did 1T come to pass and who dis
covered that it was safe and the only
safety OF the nearly two millions Of
people in the State to delegate theil
right of free thought and free speech tC
ninety-nine men indiscriminately cleo
ted? What sort of Democracy is that
When | vote | want to know what
am voting for. | want to do my owl
thinking. Why have the friends of the
measure failed to call the people to
gether in some way and lay down the
evils to remedy and their proposed
measures of relief, instead of trying t.
get up convention to be run without
rudder, chart or compass, and in thu
dark.
| stand on the platform built by Ole
Hickory in his message to Congress OF
Dec. Z, 1888, in which he said: "Propo
sitions to introduce new features in Oul
fundamental law cannot be too patient
ly examined, and ought not to be re
ceived with favor until the great body
of the people are thoroughly impressed
with their necessity and value as
remedy for real evils"
These convention people propose t
elect convention in the dark and ther
elect delegates in the dark to go un
pledged and unrestrained to make the
supreme law of the land and when they
have done this submit their creation Il
the vote of the people.
Now | ask all reasoning and thinking
men how many of us could in the shOr
time between the passing a Constitu
ton by the Convention and the election
for its adoption or rejection, sufficiently
study and understand to vote intelli
gently upon it? A constitution is nc
little or common instrument. Even af
ter one has been made by such wist
men as Jackson, Mckinney, Nicholson
Brown and others, serious questions
arise that can only be settled by thu
courts.
Therefore, say, let us use less hast
and more caution than we are now ask
ed to use Give the people time anC
chance TO see what disposition they ar,
making of their rights and how they
are guarding them. In short, let thu
Constitution of the people be made b,
people and for the people.
This can only be done when the PEG
pie have had the opportunity to exam
inc the proposed Constitution or thu
avowed principles it is to contain ant
are thoroughly impressed with neces
sity and value as remedy for rea
evils. If this rule is not purely anC
thoroughly Democratic, then | hav
been in error all my life.
The newspapers favOring a COnVen
ton say 1T is not party measure. Ger
tainly the mode of getting it up is no
Democratic. Fit is, it is departure
from the old lines that | cannot ant
will not follow. Yours truly,
p. TURNEY.
have thus given the letter in full il
order that the people may see whethe
the reasons offered by the opposition
are satisfactory. 1t is by no means tn
purpose of the advocates of the conven
ton to carry this election agains
the will of the people. If they are no
well satisfied that it is to the best in
terest of the State, then indeed would /
be a dangerous experiment to call a con
vention. This is one subject upon whicl
the people should be particularly wei
informed, in order that they might be
prepared both to vote intelligently il
August next and to accept or reject tn
new constitution when it shall hav
been submitted to them. 1t is for thes
reasons that the advocates of the con
Vention have been very active in dis