The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-02


''SHAIL THERE RE CONVENTION TO REVISE
THE CONSTITUTION AND TO AMEND THE SAME"
When the legal voters of this State 90 to the
polls to-day, the question which has been made
the caption of this article viii be presented to
them for their voices, either in the affirmative or
the negative. The matter is placed before the
people pursuant to an act Of the Legislature
founded upon the second section of the thir-
tecnth article Of the constitution of the State,
which article we quote -
Section At the general election to be held in the
year eighteen hundred and sxtysix and each TWEEN
tieth year thereafter and also at such time the Iegsa
tue may, BY law, provide the question, Sha there be
convention 70 revise the constitution and amend the
sameSn shall be decided by the electors qualified vote
for members of the legislature and in majority
Of the electors so qualibed voting at such election,
shnN decide IN favor OF convention the Legislature at
it, session. shall provide by Law for the election Of
delegates to such convention.
We trust that no elector will fail to vote in
favor Of Convention. II is Il matter of prin-
e,ple, not of men. The State, County, Congress
sional and Assembly tickets are all important as
matter of course; but it does seem to US
that the question of the proposed Constitutional
Convention overshadows them all 1t is quite
clear that the revised constitution of 1913 does
not answer the purposes which were designed by
its trainers. In the first place it provides for the
popular election of too many officials. particular
ly Judges We have seen men of no character
or reputation at the bar elevated to seats on the
bench through the workings of party machinery.
and they have been obliged to protect the scoun-
drcls by whose aid they have achieved the Judi
cal ermine. The truth is, that the Judiciary
should be removed far above temptation of this
kind and be placed beyond the ntrigues and
turmoils iuscparabe from political life. An
other point wherein the constitution should be
revised is In the Quarantine laws; and the very
best way to avoid the disorders which have dis
gracod the county of Richmond would be to place
the regulation of the lazarctto in the hands Of
the general government. We desire also some
limitation to the dcspotc and anti-republcaa
concentration of the central power at Albany-a
power which legislates only for private interests,
and takes from the people Of the cities towns
and villages all Of their most valued franchises.
We fail to see any good reason why Mr. smith,
Of Oneida, or Mr.. Brown, Of Chemung should
decide how the money that il levied ~ taxes on
the citizens cf New York should be expended
II strikes us very icrcibly tina. we should have
something to say about the tax levy, when the
money comes out Of our own pockets.
When We complain Of these things we are told
that the fault lics in the organic law Of the
State. II that l. the case land the Court Of Ap-
pcals has generally decided in favor of the con-
stitutionaliy Of the odous legislative acts ap-
plying to the mc,ropolis), ii is quite time the
constitution had thorough overhauling; and
We again request every voter not TO forget to
record to-day his affirmation in favor OF Con-
s,itutional Convention.