The New York herald., 1846-03-03
NEW YORK HERALD.
New York. Tuesday, March q, Isa6.
The State ConventIon-The Selection or
Delegates.


Delegates.
In short time there will devolve upon the people
Of the State of New York most important office,
viz; the election OF delegates to compose conven-
non 10 make amendments 10 their constitution, and
remodel their fundamental laws. There is no
stronger proof ol the strides which each State is
making, in prosperity and greatness, than the
necessity, existing from time TO time, to shape
Its government as 10 accord with the new
state Of things and the progress of events.
On the III of April, l777, the constitution now
known as the old constitution, was drawn up by
the representatives of the people, who assembled at
Kingston for that purpose. This constitution served
for number of years, until the State had so much
increased that she had outgrown the old order OF
things, and it became necessary TO amend IT. On
the 9th OF April 1S0l resolution was introduced
into the Legislature, proposing to the citizens to
elect delegates 10 amend the constitution The con-
vention accordingly, assembled al Albany on the 9th
ot October, in the same year, and made some I'M
porant amendments. OF this convention A. Burr
was President. This amended constitution served
until the year 1921 but did answer the purpose
for which 1t made rather, il did not suit the
constantly changing affairs of the people. II was
found to be defective IN many important particulars,
and required so much amendment and modelling
that 1t was thought proper to have entirely new
one drawn up, and submitted 10 the people for their
ratification Accordingly, delegates were elected
by the people, and the convention met and formed
the present constitution of this State. Daniel d.
Thompkins, OF Richmond, acted es President OF thu
convention, and Jno T. Bacon anu Saml S. Gardiner
secretaries This new constitution gave general
satisfaction at the time it was formed, but the con-
tinual changes going on in the State developed the
necessity OF amending It, The first amendment to
the new constitution was proposed by the Legsla-
iure, in the session of 1925 submitted TO the peoples
and by them ratified on the 9th, 7th and Sh of No
vember, lS26. The second amendment was on the
29 April, 1885, giving the people of the city OF New
York the liberty OF electng the Mayor of the city by
ballot, and also providing that the Legislature might
reduce the duties on SAL. This amendment was
ratified at the following general election. In 1887
the constitution was further amended, declaring the
right of the people in oil the cities OF the State to
elec, their Mayors.
Thus we see, that since the year l77 the people Of
the State oil New York abolished one constitution,
after amending il, formed one, and amended
that several times, and are now about to make other
amendments to it, which the rapid increase of the
State, IN prosperity and greatness seems to call for
monarchist would say that this disposition to
change so manifest in our citizens betokens insa-
bility that would lead eventually to anarchy and
confusion But there is no fear of any such conse-
quences. The right OF self-government is inherent
in the American people; and when necessity exists
for changing the constitution under which they
have for length OF time lived they have the rene.
dy in their own hands, aud they apply it temperate
ly and with fears of the result 1t is not the de-
sire Of change that instigates the people to make
these amendments-it is the fact that they outgrow
the order of things which existed at the time that
the constitution was made-and knowing the de-
feet, they apply the remedy
Although it is desirable, perhaps, to have changes
as seldom as possible, yet there is more danger to
be apprehended from the people selecting improper
and incompetent delegates to make these amend
ments, than from any other While the right
of any man to have hand in the making OF the
constitution and laws which are TO be the safeguard
of the lives liberty, and property of the people, is
undeniabe, still, that right is to be exercised with
the greatest prudence and caution. And every can
dIdate for election, as delegate, should be, beyond
all peradventure, capable every respect to fill the
Office We would, therefore, impress upon the peo-
pie, now on the eve Of delegating 10 portion of
their number that power which they collectively
cannot exercise themselves, the necessity of trust
ing none, unless they are well known to them. No
pettfogging lawyer, aspirant after political dis
junction. no man marked with ambition for personal
Sciat, should be selected for this important office;
but men of character and reputation, men of ster-
ling virtue and morality, patriots In deeds, in
words, and those who known from their boy
hoods, to be Of sound and discriminating judgment
or such men should the next convention be com
posed, and to such men, might safely be entrusted
the important task of remodelllng our constitution
and laws. Politics should be thrown out of the
question. 1t is lmmaterial whetbera man is whig
or ocofoco, provided he be patriotic and sincere in
his belief and possesses the other requisites for the
duties Of delegate Let the people then be cautious
whom they select, and if they be- we will have such
alteration in our constitution and laws, need,
and the Empire State, Invested of the impeoiments
which retard her progress, will make another start
towards that point of grandeur and magniicence
which she is destined to attain.
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