The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-18

but necessares lie the universal rule. That storm
is brewing in the commercial horizon there can
be no doubt. He who runs may read.
New State Constitutions-Lsssons from New
York.
Constitution trainers throughout the country
have been recently getting quite enough to do in
that line. The State Of Iowa has just had new con-
stitution framed, on which the people are to vote
next month The Mormons framed their constitu-
ton last summer but for obvious reasons have not
yet applied 10 Congress for the admission into the
Union of their State under the name of Deseret
That exciting and difficult question has been re-
served for the next Congress. In the Territories
of Minnesota and Oregon conventions to frame
the constitutions of their respective States are
now in session; and the convention for like pur-
pose is to assemble in Kansas in September next
Besides all these, the amendment of the constitu-
| ton of the State OF New York has now become a
question of immense political magnitude, and one
which must he made the great issue in the next
and future elections
The new constitution framed for Iowa limits
the tenure of State officers to two years instead
of four provides for the election of three Supreme
Judges 70 hold Office for six years, divides
the State Into eleven judicial districts, for the
election of Circuit Judges and District Attorneys,
fixes the number of State Senators at so, and of
members of the House at 100 (now So and rs
respectively retains the legislative sessions as
biennial, locates the capital at Fort Des Moines
(the city to he called Demoines), and limits the
State debt to $3.50, OO0 and that of cities and
towns to five per cent of their respective valua-
tons. There is no popular opposition to this
constitution-the only question on which strug-
gle is to be made being as to whether the word
white in relation to the qualification of citi-
zens is TO he retained or stricken out. If strck-
en- out, the political rights of white men and ne
groes will be on level in the State of Iowa.
The constitution of Deseret has been framed on
republican model, steering clear Of all ques
tions relating to Mormonim State church and
polygamy. Nevertheless, that avoidance of those
points win not avail when the matter comes be-
fore Congress. The debate on the Mormon ques-
ton will probably be the great feature Of inte-
rest in the next Congress as all the peculiarities
Of Mormon life and Of church government in
Utah will be then fully discussed.
The convention in Minnesota has had very
extraordinary opening The democratic dele
gates it appears, are in slight minority, partly
owing 10 the fact Of the exclusion by the Register
of four democrats from the Saint Anthony dis.
trict, on account OF some trihing informality in
their election. And 80, instead Of contesting the
matter in the convention, the democratic dele
gates hold separate and Independent conven-
ton, and the republicans do the same-the latter
sitting day and night, lest the democrats should
take possession Of their chamber. This double
convention, If persisted in, will probably neutra-
lie the whole tbing-for although each might
frame constitution, and both constitutions might
be submitted 10, and one approved by majority
Of the people, still, unless the majority in Con-
gress should happen to he of the same political
complexion as the majority in Minnesota, the
whole work would go Tor nothing. We live,
however, in revolutionary times, and Of course
il could not be expected that the Minncsetians
would remain unaffected by the prevailing in
fuence.
Even far away hyperborean Oregon evinccs
her share Of eccentricity-for we see that the
possibility Of making her q slave State is con-
templated. We would as soon expect to see
slave institutions established In Nova Scotia as in
Oregon and yet the thing is being seriously dis
cussed. The movement is said 10 be under the
lead of Gen. Lane, the Orcgonian delegate to
Congress, who has made himself famous in Wash
ington by his thrilling recitals Of The tomahawk-
ing and scalping knife propensities Of the
walla-Wallas and other savsges. We do not
think IL at all likely however, that the attempt
TO make slave State of Oregon win ever be re-
garded in any other light than as a good practi-
cal joke.
The Kansas Constitutional Convention will at
tract more public attention than perhaps any
Of the others. The eyes Of politicians from all
sections Of the Union will be fixed upon IL, as the
struggle there will be real one between slave
and free Institutions
We would recommend the delegates of all
those States and Territories that are framing new
constitutions to provide themselves with copies of
the constitution Of New York. with reports of the
recent proceedings that were instituted in our
courts TO nullify an unconstitutional law, and
with the decision Of the Court of Appeals
thereon 80 that they may frame au instrument
that will be really protective Of the rights Of a
free people, and which cannot be evadcd or Sc
aside at the will Of an interruptions Legislature
IL they do not take advantage Of the bitter les
son which our citizens have been taught, and do
not guard well their municipal liberties, they
will prove themselves utterly unworthy OF The
no,CJonna of thcir Constituencies