New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-29
New York Constitutional Convention.
Some Visible ProGress-Aristocracy of Birth
Observation-Disclosures Citizens to be one Peo-
pIe-EqunI Rights-0n Choosing Governors
"A Blunder-Educntion-Ch Returns
Robert OweD-siOw Printing.
FOURTH wEEK-XXIIId DAY.
Friday, June 90. 1886.


Robert OweD-siOw Printing.
ALBANY, Friday, June 90. 1886.
To Ge Editor Of TIE Tribune:
SIR: AT length some visible progress is made in
the framing of new Constitution. The Convention
were nearly two hours in Committee of the Whole.
as il is called, to-day, with Mr.. Chaeld in the Chair,
on Mayor Morris's Report on the election and duties
Of the Governor &c They adopted The first section,
in which it is provided that there shall be Govern
or and Lieutenant Governor elected by the People,
for term Of two years; and there was an animated
and exciting debate on proposition 10 strike out
the word NATIVE from the second section, which
ended in its expulsion by loud and general chorus
of Ayes. It's only friend that heard, MIR. Du
Bots of Duichess, an intelligent and worthy farmer
of French extraction. He voted against extending
equal rights 10 citizens by choice. Mr. Morris, hav
ing shown his real wishes by his report, remained
perfectly silent. | think it improbable that any
adopted citizen will be selected fill the Executive
Chair-nor ought such choice 10 be made unless
dictated by extraordinary qualihcations-but if the
hour oftroube should come upon this State and Ma
ton third time, and pray that it never may, the
the opporiune, practical illustration of honest ad-.
berence to the Wing doctrines of l776 this day al
forded will nerve hearts for the struggle and pre-
vent the factions from banding the citizens by choice
into party TO make head against those who would
iniure their feelings by placing on their foreheads
the CONSTITUTIONAL Dfdnu Ol lncapaClty,
and want Of irustworthiness Practically the vote
will make little difference, bat return TO the
principles OF the Revolution and rebGke TO faction
in one OF It's most dangerous forms is indeed trl-
umph. The originairepost was in conformity with
the policy of Messrs Polk and Marcy's admnstra-
ton, than which no Government in my remcm-
brance has shown greater distrust Of citizens Of
foreign birth.
When the Convention went into Committee on
Mayor Morrss Report Mr.. Dana proposed 10 strike
out the proviso for the Office of Lieutenant Cover
nor, useless and that the Senate should iil up
vacancy in the Office of Governor. by his resgua-
ton otherwise. Mr.. Marvin thought that 10 place
in the stead OF such Governor person elected (by
an eighth or il the single district principle ia adopt
ed. by 32d part OF the peope,) 10 Legislative OF
fee would be that extension OF the direct elect
i've principle which many contended for. Mr.. Danas
amendment was lost, as was another offered by MIR.
Hunt, 10 elect the Governor for three years.
Mr. Stow said that he would like to the af-
fairs OF the State Government left as unconnected
as possible with those OF the Federal Administra
ton, and proposed as one means 10 effect that OBJ
ject that election for Governor should be held for
year, once which would throw the elections for
Presidents and Governor into different years.
Messrs Worden and Tilden did not seem averse 10
The principle, but il was negatycd for The present,
and the first section agreed TO.
The Cd section was read as follows:
as 2. No person except NATIVE citizen OF the uni
shall person be eligible TO that office, who shall
not attained the age thirty years. and have been
five years resident within this Stae unless he shall
have been absent during that time public business Of the
United States or of this State.
The moment the Clerk had done reading. about
dozen of member rose up al once and Mr.. MURPHY,
having been first observed by the Chairman. pro-
posed to amend by striking out the word NATIVE.
He said, that under the new Constitution the
Governors office would be purely administrative
,,l,.~
tendency of the Convention was TO give the people
the election of all otlicers-that this word NATIVE
tells the people, that though capable Of choosing
every other officer, they had not sufficient inteili-
gence TO choose Governor, and that therefore,
they must be restricted 10 particular class of citi
zens from which TO choose that officer. The chief
power hereafter would probably be in the Legisla-
lure. and yet it had not been proposed to exclude
citizens OF foreign birth therefrom. There was
some restriction on the choice of President of the
United States but he was appointed by an Electoral
College composed o, agents chosen by the people,
and not by the people Observation-Disclosures be
corrupted the people never! A foreigner may be
l. ing of England but, according this proposition
he cannot be Governor OF NewYOrk. The report
is wrong in princpeit directly disrusts the intel.
ligence of the peope-it says that the Electors are
unfit 10 choose their Governors and if that
true there were members in that Convention who
ought not TO be there; and mark of disrust would
thus be placed on some of the most eminent among
the citizens. In the Constitution OF III, the fathers
of the Republic, had recourse 10 no such disquali-
fcaton US this in the first Constitution of the State
no such word as NATIVE was placed-their ances.
tors adopted such principle, and yet in the Con-
vcnton of ls2l it seemed TO have been adopted
without debate or opposition. To have different
qualifications for the Elected and Electors was at
variance with the principles of this Government
MIR. PATTERSON intended 10 have offered this
amendment in which he very heartily concurred.
e1al, hn A do
or distinction drawn between the rights Of the citi
Zens, Electors of this State? Why should this
Convention show distrust in the intelligence of the
people, and ;ell them they were unit and Incapable
to choose the most worthy candidate for the Office OF
the Chief Executive of their Government He did
think the keen and penetrating eye of the Chairman
Morrjsl coming from the quarter he did, would
have seen and struck ont this word as he had copied
this section. II majority OF the Convention were
disposed 10 retain that word Native there, very
great number OF his Nlorris's intelligent and highly
respectable constituents would be refused those
equal privileges which the Constitution would
cure 10 the of their feow-citizens And why
should they be thus marked out as Il peculiar class
and disqualified He knew many gentlemen in
this Stale valuable and honored citizens now TO be
DISTINGUISHED, any one Of whom he would rejoice
to vote for for Governor-he knew distinguished
Member of Congress who had represented Ontario
County, md been longer citizen of this State than
he Patterson had lived in the world, who would be
DISTINGUISHED; and. he asked, why should the peo-
pie be excluded from offering as candidate for
Governor that able and honorable citizen? He
thought that their fore!aihers who came 10 America
10 find home, were as pure men as themselves. and
what member would say that they, In their day,
merited disirauchisement7 If this principle had
been adopted AT the commencement of the Govern
ment who would they have found qualified for the
office of Governor? His grand father. who came
from the other side of The water. The North of Ire
land was he believed az patriotic any OF his de-
sceudants and why deprive such men, at this day.
of the rights and standing before the law, which
others would possess? He would also strike out
80 years" aud leave il TO the qualified electors to
choose from among themselves tie iitest candidate,
whether young or old-they would take care TO
choose capable man, and that was sufficient Mr..
Patterson farther alluded to his friend Gen Herman
OF Sieuben, Mr.. Shaw of Cayuga, and other honora'
BILE and useful members of the Convention whom
Mr.. Morris's report would place upon different
footing from majority OF their worthy and liberal
minded constituents
MIR. PERKINS said that ii native was struck out be
would r,,ve IN strike ont the whole of the Section