New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-23
THE TRIBUNE.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY %, ls45
What Is to be hoped and what Is feared
from Convention.


Constitutional Convention SCENT us to reject alike
the dictates Of Reason and the uniform evidence OF
History: For while, en- the one hand, IL IS certain
thatthe majority OF our People can have no possible
10 alter their State Constitution for the
worse, on the other challenge the production OF
a single instance In which State Constitution has
been modified by Convention, and the modhca-
ton accepted by the People, where the People have
on trial found cause to regret the change and sub
vert It. How is 1t, then, that men can talk-ln the
face Of this uniform experience IN some thirty 10
fifty instances OF Constitutional amendment,-as
if a Convention ere some awfully hazardous ex-
periment-a virtual and conyulsive Revolution!
No, it is not hazardous, il is not revolutionary,
this plan Of bringing the articles OF our primary
Political Compact directly under the review OF
the People, acting through Delegates expressly
chosen for this service. The range Of selection
being unlimited, the duty most responsible and
honorable, and the term of service probably short,
there can hardly be doubt that an ADLER body will
be chosen than is usually il ever, convened IN our
Legislative Halls. And is II probable that the Peo-
pie will choose for TINS momentous duty, incapable
unprncipled and characerless persons III prefer
ence to upright Statesmen, experienced Jurlsts and
men of genuine worth Let none be so irrational
as to believe it! The truth is that the People
would choose far better men every year 10 the
Legislature if better men would go. Interior men
are sent because the better qualified will not accept
nominations But we presume few will wish TO
decline seats in the Convention, and these should
not be excused from serving. So far from regard
ing Convention as Revolutionary expedlent,
TO be tolerated only in cases OF extreme necessity,
we esteem 1t safe, natural, wholesome measure,
which should ordinarily be resored 10 at least once
in generation. II Is one OF the most obvious
means by which governments are TO be preserved
from their constant tendency to lose sight OF iunda-
mental principles and objects OF universal beneil-
cence in pursuit of what are at bottom personal
and selfish ends.
But is not the call for Convention justiiiabe
on express and palpabe grounds!
Look first at the distribution Of Political Power.
The Loco. Foco party, being decided and tested
minority Of the People of this State, have the con-
troll of every department of the GovernHient-Le-
gislative, Executive, and Judicial The majority
of the People Gas tested by the full vote of last Fa)
have no voice in any department but the Legisa-
tive, and here the 237 600 for Polk repre-
sented by II Senators, while The 2lS010 voters
against Polk have but fire, all told This is owing
10 the unrepublican formation OF our Districts,
which secures every advantage 10 the more COM
pact and cohesive party. II the Wings had car
ried the State last Fall by Twenty Thousand ma
jori,y, the Offices must have remained with the de-
feated party, because the holdover majority in the
Senate would have rejected the Wing Governors
nominations. But for foriultous circumstances the
House would have been nearly as One-slded as the
Senate. When in 1887 the Wings carried the State
by Fifteen Thousand majority, the Senate re-
mained strongly against them; again they carried
il in 1885 by Ten Thousand, and still the Senate
was against them, rejecting Gov. Stewards nom-
inations, and keeping the State but half represented
IN the u S. Senate. Next year we carried 1t; but
the first year that Inc State swung round against
the Senate went with IT, Thus the Senate Dis
tricts are so constitute d-not under one Apporon-
ment but habitualy-that the Wings have no fair
chance We carried the State in 1910 by Twetre
Thousand plurality, and chose Senators in half the
Districts; our opponents carried II IN 1914 by Fire
Thousand plurality, Calling Ten Thousand short Of
Majority and they secured sir of The eight Sem
ators, and would have had seven but for Native
votes cast by Polk and Dallas men. These facts
indicate an inequality of representation which has
existed so long that we Cannot remember that il
was ever otherwise.
Now it is no mere party interest, as short-sgh,-
ed and narrow partisan mayisuppose, that this in
justice should be corrected Ii the interest of the
People, and ultimately of every portion of them,
that not merely the numbers but the opinions and
Of those who vote should be fairly
and Justly represented in our Legislative bodies
Their unwieldy majorltles are curse TO our oppO-
nents we'll as wrong to us. If either party
could have secured TO it an advantage equal 10 a
dead weight of one-hird in each House, it would
probably be graspns enough TO clutch at the chance,
but il would certainly be injured thereby. Power
divorced from due responsibility corruprs and even
tually weakens those who WELD it,
To us il appears therefore of the highest import
ance that Representation should be fairly appor-
toned; and to this end that the State should be d.
vidsd into as many Senate and as many Assembly
Districts as zee arc to elect Senator's and Assembly
nen respectively. Then Washington County will
be heard in the Senate as well as the Assembly,
and the various sections and supposed interests OF
our City be each duly felt in the Legislation of the
State. If our City now formed three Senate and
thirteen Assembly Districts II could not fail 10 be
far more perfectly and efficiently represented than
at present. Responsibility TO constituents wouldbe
lar more tangible and immt dla,e than at present,
and the People would choose their delegates IN
stead Of merely recording the edic,s OF caucuses
"A, present, very few meu virtually appoint the
Delegation from this City.
So vi,ally important do we deem the fair and
Just Distrctng OF the State taat we trust special
care will be taken by the Convention TO secure ii
for wears 10 come. We do not desire any arrange
ment which shall give our side undue advantage
we ask 10 be shielded against the taking OF such
advantage by the other side. A triumphant un
controlled par ,y majority is strongly tempted 10 do
wrong in these premises. We could wish that
some impartial tribunal should be constituted, in
which no party should have an absolute majority,
which should be seorn TO District the State fairly
so as 10 do strict justice to each locality and each
party Let the inquiry ever below may the
State be pis,ricted so ,ha, popular verdict for