New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-05-12
THE TRIBUNE.
MONDAY MORNING. MAY l2, 1915
The Convention,

The Convention.
The Senate on Friday evening negauved the
aneDdments,of its Select Committee 10 the Con-
vention bill which prohibit the election as Deie-
gates Of Officers Of the u S. Government, OF any
persons not residents of the Counties which may
see fit TO choose them. These amendments were
rejected by IA votes Is. and we regret 10 learn
tina; the three Wing Senators were OF Inc majority
The effect of this vote 10 shut out OF the Conven-
ton Michael Hoffman, and very probably Samuel
Young and other eminent Reformers. Ii may seem
(though we are sure this was not the motive of
the Wing Senatos) that some little party ad-
vantage may accrue to the Wings from shutting out
Federal Officers who are all of the opposite party
but this will prove usory, while the fact is pelpa-
bic that sound principle has here been disregard
ed. We need the very ahlest and best men in the
State TO revise our Constitution and ii can hardly
be presumed by Republican that the Legislature
will aid the People to elect such by limiting the
range Of selection. And where is the right 10 do
this' May the Legislature say that none bu, red
haired or pot-bellied men shall be selected! The
wrong must probably be submitted to on this occa-
sion; but we do hope The time is a, hand when it
will not be asked of claimant Of a seat in our
halls Of Legislature is his residence !
What is his age? How much land does he own !
or any other than the simple question-Has he a
majority OF the legal votes cas-, in the District he
claims to represent for the Office he aspres to gil
1t he has this, he is Of right entitled to the seat
and all impedimens 10 the freest selection of their
agents by the People are in palpeble contravention
OF the first principles OF Freedom, and cannot be
otherwise than mischievous in practice, so far as
they have any effect at all
But, says an Director, Representative ough, to
be of mature years, bamelcss character, and well
acquainted with the wants and feelings of his con-
sti,uents.-Very well do not the People under
stand this! Will they choose 10 disgrace them
selves by sending incompetent and vile persons TO
represent them? Ane il they do choosei, what
are your Constitutional restrictions good fer .
Turn TO the restrictions tie choice of Members
OF Congress, and then consider what animals &c,
into Congress notwi,hstandins-And is there any
danger that Representatives will not be sufficiently
tenacious OF the local interests of their constt,.
ents, live where they may?
The question being next on the Committees
10th amendment (requirlng the amendments TO the
Constitution which the Convention may make TO
be submued separately 10 the People for their ap
proval or rejection, provided this course be deemed
practicable by the Convention) an interesting de-
bate occurred. We give the Eve. Journals synop-
sis of the remarks OF the Wing Member Of the Sc.
iect Committee:
Mr.. PUTNAM, rs member of The Select Committee.
had opposed this particular amendment, and the
only which he had not gwen his assent His
for this opposition simply the conviction that the Le
Gsaurs could not control the action OF the Convention in
This particular. The amendment Of the Select Committee
directed that unless the Convention Of opinion that
impractcaoe TO submit the Constitutional amend
People,
distinguish these amendments admit of their being
voted upon separately Now here was legislative at
tempt control the action of the Convention. the
BILL IL came from the Assembly, contained such
tempt II left the whole subject TO the discretion OF the
Convention did the law Of 1921. after which the pending
bin modelled. The majority of the Select Committee
went farther and directed the Convection consider the
question Of feasibility and unless satisfied that the amend
nens could not be voted upon ept in mass, submit
them separately to the People The minority Of the
m.ee went still farther, and proposed take away all
discretion from the Convention, making Il imperative upon
them to submit their amendments In separate parcels Mr.
PUTNAM desired simply call the attention of Com.
mee TO these three distinct propositions that of the As
serhy that of the majority of the Select Committee and
that Of the minority. His preference strong
decided for the st Of the three he should
vote against either proposition TO amend the ninth section
Of the Assembly BILL"
Hear another Wing Senators
Mr. HARD sai that the first objection to the amend.
Of the minority Of the Select Committee drawn
the action Of the Convention in 1921 That body had
decided that would be mpracticabe submit the Con-
winch propositions TO Inc
People and for the obvious that the rejection OF
provision might affect the operation Of others and the
general symmetry OF the instrument So 1t might be
the Convention which this bill proposed. We could not
foresee whit amendments they would adopt and therefore
II premature, 10 the least to undertake pre-
scribe tho mode IN which these amendments should
passed upon by the People,
After some farther debate, the Senate adjourned
tllevenng, when the discussion still continued,
and finally made the special order for o'clock on
Saturday On Saturday, Gen. Clark of Washing
ton spoke an hour in favor OF the separate submis-
sion, and other Senators also had their say No
question was taken, but afternoon session to
continue the debate was agreed on. As we have
no letter by the O'Clock nigh, boat. we presume
no definite action had the bill, but to-day i;
mus, be disposed Of We presume the Committees
10Th amendment, will be incorporated in the bill,
and that il will thus be returned TO the Assembly
for concurrence.
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