The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-26

In June last the Constitutional Convention
assembled at Albany for the ostensible pur-
pose Of revising and amending the organic
law Of the State, as embodied in the constitu-
ton Of l846. The Convention has resolved IL
self into legislative body, assuming to great
extent the functions Of the State Legislature.
It has undertaken to amend local provisions
and enactments with which the people have
never limited dissatisfaction, and which are con-
sidered as belonging exclusively to the pro-
vince of the Legislature to remedy, If need Of
reformation exists One Of the most fragrant
instances of the impudence and imbecillty Of
this Convention is exhibited in its action Of
Tuesday last relating to the franchises Of rail-
road and banking corporations. The adoption
ofthe amendment prohibiting the consolidation
Of railroad corporations whose aggregate CAPT
tai shall exceed twenty million dollars was not
only arrogant in the extreme, but the measure
Is one shiloh will prove ruinous In its conse-
ouences to the an.s.acial interests Of the State;
While the railroad enterprises 81 the Western
snd New England States ere fostered and en-
coursgsd our capitalists are to be restricted,
and &c surrounding Sta$ss may, BY consolida-
ton, eNecs suoh unions Of capital and enter
prise as to secure mouopolies and render our
railroad corporations unable 10 compete with
them The effect Of that amendment must be
to circumscribe the Investment of capital here
and force the surplus into those States which,
from the merely common sense nature Of their
constitutions and laws, afford their capitalists
rights which will enable them to overshadow
our railroad companies in competition and mag
nitude
The effort to restrict banking corporations
and the power Of the Legislature in regard to
their franchises was both insolent and unsuc-
cessful. The duties which the Convention has
arrogated to itself are of lower order than
those assigned to it by the people, and 1t has
in this respect manifested its ignorance %
we'll as its meddlesome nature. It was vested
with power to regenerate, If occasion existed,
the basis OF the legislative functions but in
its assumption and ignorance it has dwindled
below the level to which its odginators as
signed it The duties Of the Convention, II 1t
could understand and perform them, are en-
braced under four or Eve heads only, and its
labors, IL confined to affairs within its pur-
view, should have been long since concluded.
The subjects coming within the discretion OF
IRE Convention ara tho suffrage question, the
Judiciary, local taxation, the appointment and
election Of local officers, and municipal affairs.
By its present course Of petty meddlesoms-
ness, alike disgraceful to its dignity and the
capacity of its members, il will render the
State Legislature superduity. But il Is use
lees to look foe dignity or craftsmanship or
expect the results which flow from such quail
acations. when tho Convention which should
embody them is composed Of men who, with
few exceptions, are nothing moro (and they
cannot be less1 than political tricksters, or The
tools of that class. aud lobbying ward and
grogshop politicians The few who might add
somewhat Of dignity as well as ability to its
proceedings generally absent themselves in
disgust from its deliberations, and when pres
emit are lost under cloud Of undigniied and
incapable co-deleyates- Tho members who
attend and cvince such marked earnestness in
their uncallcd-for labors are the corrupt and
trucking knaves who have "axes to grind"
for their mentors, the swindling politicians.
No more injudicious blow could have been
directed against the railroad interests Of The
State IL those who voted for the measure had
been, as it il not impossible they were. the
tools Of the railroad corporations Of New
England and the West.
The constitution, a. amended and submitted
FOR ratification, will be . ponderous mass Of
amendments, ten times more voluminous than
10 should have been, Il the Convention lad
confined itself to tho topics embraced within
the scope Of its deliberations. II will be
essential, therefore, THAI The people, in whose
hands only the remedy lies, aualyss and, ex-
anime into tho nature Of the amended constitu-
ton which will be submitted in November for
their ratification BY ballot The trust con6dsd
to the Convention was Of Ne gravsst character,
and needed The efforts - sbls minds 10 insure
q perfect cousummstiou, and The people are to
decide whether the trust has been judiciously
kept or otherwise.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS At FORTRESS kCHnoe.
rourxsas MsxRox Va Ausuat n 1861.