Year: 1877

IN ~ M DLn OZ.


THE CONVENTION.


The propriety Of holding a constitu-
tional convention in this State has at
last been taken up by the press, aud
We are glad to note the earneatness aud
discriminating appreciation with which
the entire question has been discussed.


with scarcely dissenting voice, SO far
as we have been able to discover, the
measure appears to have met the cor
dial and approving coinmendatton of
Journals OF every variety and shade of
opinion. All concur in the urgent ne
cessfty Of n thorough and immediate
| revision Of the present organic law, and
where differences In views have devel-
opett themselves they have related
rather to the mode than to the necessity
or propriety of such revision.


The objections to calling conven-
tion, whore, indeed, any have been
urged ut all, are pretlicatesl upon the
supposed cost attendant upon the meet
ing of such body, and tho appretend-
eSt agitatiOns and divisions which such
n step would be likely to engender. In
tho present embarrassed condition of
our finances the question of cost is Ger
tniniy the most grave one, and rs an
important factor In determining qnes-
tions Of this kind, should receive all
proper consideration. but what be-
comes Of such an objection In the face
of tho already demonstrated fact that
the convention will save annually to
the State, by the retrenchments it will
Introduce, enough out OF the annual
expenses Of the government to pay and
satisfy all charges which It can possibly
entail OH the public treasury? We
hnvo always been the advocate Of econ
omy in matters Of administrative re-
form, but We do not understand as a
question Of public any more than pri-
vate advantage, that sort OF economy
which sacrifices pounds in the doubtful
pursuit Of pennies. The advocates of \
convention are acting on the very OPP
positc of this theory. They propose to
let tho pennies go in order to savo tho
pounds. .


Something akin to II grave apprchen-
sion exists that the calling together of
II convention mny induce ~ state Of li-
vision aud excitement which had bet
ter be kept down. But why more SO
in this than any other professetlly nom
partisan movement? All agree that
tho constitution Is radically defective
and should be reformed. Where then
Is the trouble? Is it In the election OF
delegates? No more interest is likely
to attach To such an election than OrJi-
nuriiy does to one for members of the
lower house. These divisions, then, If
they come ut all, must grow out Of tho
questions evolved In tho discussion of
the proposed reforms. but these dis
cussions aud divisions arc as likely to
arise whether the work Of revision Ia
4,
Of amendments, or on u convention, for
both plans contemplate that the work
Of either body, us the c,.se may he,
shall DO submitted to the people for
ratification. We fail, then, to discern
any apparent cause Of uncasiness in the
exercise Of this fundamental power in
our popular governments, and arc
therefore not prepared TO eliminate the
elective principle entirely from our
system.


If the reforms sought to be accom-
plished consisted only OF retrenching
the expenses of the government, legis-
lative amendments might probably
reach the henrt of the disease. But tho
questions with which IL convention
would have to- do would he something
besides questions of reducing the sala-
rics OF governors, judges and the per
diem and mileage of members OF the
Legislature; something besides filling
the basis and ratio OF representation,
tho number Of days the Legislature Is
to sit, and how often it shall meet. AS
important as these questions no doubt
are in n financial view, they may all
be disposed of in Il few amendments.
But behind all this there would be
other grave questions to grapple with
questions we apprehend which would
never be exhausted by II lot Of sleepy
committee men working on time.


The Jurisdiction Of courts always to
be clearly and sharply defined; tho
powers Of the Legislature and the just
limitations to be put upon this power
the protection of the citizen against
special and class legislation these and
numerous other questions Of scarcely
less serious import arc all to be acted
ON and determined. No Legislature
hampered and burdened on all sides.
with the duties OF Legislation, in tho
brief space of time allotted to it's sess-
sions, is competent to such n task. Be-
sides, the power Of the Legislature cx-
tends only to amendments, whereas the
question here is not one of amendments