The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-08
pY WAY or suoaRsrroN.

and left with full liberty to oeVote their best talents to the important V ork before them.
 Now, however. we must take the lib- erty of reminding the delegates that there is a time limit before them and that they will do we'll to heed it. Tn a multitude of counsellors there Is safety" is doubtless as true as any thing else in Holy Writ, but Job speaks of a character who "darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge" and the Convention will find it not only pru- dent. but necessary, to fix limit on the introduction of new ordinances ana resolutions which are practically exact repetitions of others which have gone before. We were told by an observing member of the body that ordinances, which were introduced and reao, were copied and sent in afterwards by cth- CTS. almost without changing . word.
 There is another class of ordinances the introduction of which is almost criminal waste of time. It is certainly a useless waste. We alluda to the in- troduction of matter which belongs purely and solely to the legislative de- partment of the State, and which is not only out of place In Constifu- tion, but would tend to make that in strument an absurdiry. According to one of the highest authorities "a Con stitution is the organic law nj a State or the nation. the adoption of which by the people constitutes the political organization, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE STATUTES MADE BY THE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ACTING UNDER THE ORDER OF THINGS THUS CONSTITUTED" and the great statesman, John c. Calhoun, tells us that without a Constitution something to counteract the strong tendency of government to disorder and abuse. and to give stability to po- litical institutions-there can be litt.e progress or permanent improvement. And Abraham Lincoln, who said many wise things, declared that "No organic law can ever be framed with a provis- ion specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practicdi administration"
 In short, a Constitution should set metes and bounds beyond which Gen. eral Assembly cannot go, and It Is neither practicable nor right for the organic law to undertake any species of legislation, or to perform any specific duties which in all well regulated States are left to the lawmakers act ing within the limits prescribed for them, Every ordinance or resolution of A legislative character introduced Is like pouring baskets of chaff into measure of clean wheat. to be s!fted out and separated with much labor and time.
 The committees entrusted with the duty of compiling and harmonizing the multitude of suggestions offered have before them an onerous. delicate and highly important work. and no obsta- cles should be thrown in their way. One of those committees cannot ccn- clude a single article or section of Constitution. while the matter already before them is likely to be disturbed and deharmonized by the Introduction of other ordinances or resolutions on the same subject. The committees de- sire to show proper courtesy and defer ence to the opinions of every delegate; hence, they feel a natural desire to have before them all that Is to be pre- sented relating to any one point of their work. In other words, when they know that all the materials of the building have been placed before them. they can set intelligently to work to select such as is best fitted and com bine 1t into one harmonious and lasting structure.
 The gentlemen who are assembled in the fact that they dre not laboring solely for the present time and the present generation, but for future years and for those who come after them. Their work may create antago- nisms and dissatisfaction. and may cause some of them to lose tempora- ry prestige or popularity on account of what they do or refrain from doing, but if they are as courageous and pat riotic as we believe them to be, they will not be deterred from the path of duty by the clamor of demagogues or the possible hostility of interested par tisans. They will steel their hearts against unwise suggestions and shut their ears against threats Or threaten ings, and will act like linen who their duties know. but know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain," as Sir William Joenes expresses it.
 And so we insist that the delegates must not hesitate to build 8 dyke against the flood of matter that pours in on them. They may take warning by the sessions of our General Assem- bly,. where the near approach of their constitutional limit causes sloVenly and ill-advised legislation. That their work may be done wisely and well is what The Advertiser is most solicitous about.