The age-herald., 1901-07-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr. Fitch of Bibb County Submits a
 Few Remarks,

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The Constitutional Convention of Ala bama of 1901. is likely to be distin- guished from all others, of all time, for many pecullarities, not creditabie to the intelligence of American citizenship.
 We have a constitution, now our su- preme law, which has been in force some twenty-five years. Under that the judic- iary. the legislative and the executive de- partments have their respective func- lions, prerogatives, rights and powers.
 The Legislature authorized the move ment for this convention. The people sanctioned it under the express promise that they should at an election pass upon the written instrument proposed as their new constitution, and adopt it or reject 1t as they might see ft
 In the estimation of the convention, that Legislature appears to have been capable one. It gave birth to this con- vention. It authorized the pay of it's members. The members assembled and they. take their pay.
 But here they draw the line. They dis trust the virtue of the people of ever again choosing a wise and virtuous Leg islature; and this immaculate covention devotes itself to framing a long list of acts which future Legislatures shall not perform, and ask the people by the adop- ton of their proposed new constitution, to hamper themselves and dwarf the State for all time to come.
 More than this, they step down and away from the duty they were chosen to perform, and constitute themselves a supreme court to pass upon the validity of the acts of "a past Legislature! They inquire into the manner of the pro- ceedings of that body and pronounce upon the legality of its acts! Aye more; they question the binding force of the journals of the Senate and House of Representatives. when even the Supreme Courts of other states have promptly decided that no power exists In the ju- dietary to question the validity of such journals properly certified. no matter how, when or where they were written.
 w nut use nave we or d supreme COurl If a convention of fresh men, assembled for the sole purpose to write a new con stitution for submission to the people, may engraft into the instrument they prepare such usurpations?
 And one member argued that Shelby County had nowhere else to go with It's local dispute! Is not our Supreme Court the duly authorized tribunal to decide upon the validity of enactments and all legal questions arising under the consti- tution now in force which may be car ried to 1t?
 This convention claims that 1t Is the people, when in fact its members are but instruments of the people. Are the delegates to this convention any more the people. or to the people, or of the people than will be the members of fu- ture Legislatures? And really has that convention any more Jurisdiction in the Shelby County matter than a company at barbecue or a fishing party has?
 The convention has pronounced against further reconslderations. It had better reconsider that Shelby blunder and keep out the grandfather business if it would believe that the constitution it writes will be approved by the people,
 FRANK FITCH
 Brierfeld, Ala, July IS. 1901.