The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

of this Convention failed to gfAsp this principle, and. therefore. their wesk sa= cluded too much mere law-fnakiiig. lt was even moved by one member that there shall be no session Of the iegis- lature this year but the Convention shall do this work in Us place. lt would have been but a step further for nitely in session and carry on the bus- mess of the State"
 Mir. Cobb--I submit to members Of this Convention If to an extent. this criticism does not apply to this Con- vention? When we consider the many and various propositions that have been made. propositions to confer upon the people of the state of Alabama power. propositions to permit the lesis- lature to do this and to do that. l am very much inclined to the opinion that we may take that deliveranee as . note or warning. do not propose to re- peat that argument which has. been ably and repeatedly made upon this floor as to the true nature of Con- stitution and the true functions which 1t should perform. Every intelligent man understands that in accordance with the original theory of our repub- lican institutions the people of evefy State organized in a State is a poiiti- cal community having all power. and whenever they propose to ordain sn ffl- strument or make a Consultation. they do it only for the purpose of putting Limitations upon their own authority. And I go further, and say that in framing a State Constitution even these negatives should be limited in extent and in number. No restriction should be put upon the legislature of the state except in regard to those few matters in reference to which there is danger that the people themselves may be struck from their Feet in times of unusual and great po- litical excitement. That is the reason that we put into our state Constitution, If may use the expression in this connection, limitations.
 Now, what are we here for, why do we assemble here to make, or rather I should say, to amend the Constitu- ton? We are here for certain great purposes. whne we have accomplished these purposes the people expect That we shall call a halt. None of your constituents dreamed that you would come here fer the purpose of tearing to pieces the Constitution under which
 they have lived contentedly fsr so many years. None of them expecsad that you would arrogate to yoarsasves the superior wisdom and superior pow CT of telling them what their powers are and how these powers should be exercised. I want to repeat what said on another occasion, that we are 10 more than the members Of the LaSis- lature agents of the people. servaftse Of the people, bearing commission and that commission we are, only author ized and required to perform and not beyond that. What Is that commission ask? We were sent here to determine as to the right of citizenship. We were sent here for the purpose of dttcr- mining and writing in the fundamental Jaw limit upon the privilege of sSf- frage. We were sent here to write Tn the Constitution a stern and strong limitation upon the power of the Leg fslature to pass local and private laws and the people expected when we mad performed these duties that we woald adjourn and leave them through their other agents selected by them, afne1s- able to them. who would assemble to- gether in the various Legislatures Of the State to determine sheSe eikcr questions which have been thrust upon us from time to time. had almost said ad nauseam. They expected an- other thing. They expected that in thirty to forty days this work would have been accomplished and that we would have retired to our homes kaa1 submitted 1t to them for their consi8- eration. That time has passed and we have scarcely begun the work ana we are being criticised and justly cr.ti- cised all over the State of Alabama for th s unseemiy delay. I was of Chosc who stood opposed to any extreme
 measure looking to the limiting of oe- bate. I was one of those who believed hoA af A time than that limited to us by the Legislature. If need be paying our own expenses. in order that we might frame a fundamental law which would last through all the years. and which would secure to Alabama that peace, quiet, contentment and prosperity which We a great people and a great State are entitled to enjoy. But this delay and this trouble has come in ev- cry instance from the fact that mem bers have thought 1t incumbent upon them to write into this fundamental law matters which hitherto had be- Ioneed to the Legislature of the state. I say 1t is time to call halt. 1 am aware of the fact that in recent years in the formation of State Constitutions there has been a departure from these old time land marks. l know that is true, but 1t is well worthy a consideration of this body of intelligent and cultured men whether the time has not come when we should so back little to first principles and recall the time when republican governments were being cr- ganized on this continent that we might learn wisdom from khe conduct of our fathers MT. President. every limitation upon the power Of the Leg islature beyond those things to which have referred is a menace and an obstruction to the development of the resources of the State. They are mat ters which after awhile. as develop ment takes place year. after year. will hamper the people, will check the growth of our institutions and will in that way not only not be an aid but wIl be an obstruction that they must remove if they so forward in the great march of civilization. Let us consider who we are.
 Alabama Is one of the leading States of the American Union. confessediy so. Alabama is great in her wealth and great in her developed resources, great tn the quality of her citizenship. She leads the slsterhood of States or will soon lead them. Now you call upon us to put right across the pathway of this great people Instructions to their growth, obstructions to the develop meat of every matter which we are so proud to see from time to time being developed.
 As suggested to me 1t B not part of our promise to undertake to remedy CT repeal all unjust jaws in Alabama by