The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-09

Inc TURNER the state C0nvenu0n goes the
more evidence 1t furnishes that II either DOES
not know that what Is required OF it u dran
of constitution, or that 1t does not know
what constitution Is. Wednesday was con-
sumed in reading long-winded majority and
minority reports, the result, perhaps, Of weeks
of labor and inquiry on subjects that properly
belong to Legislature, and not to q constitu-
tional convention. Here We see promising
prospect In the 6rst place, the subject dis
cussed Is not at all in the realm Of constitu-
tional law !; next the committee that discusses
it cannot agree on report, but presents three
for the Convention to choose, and the Conven-
ton will have other weeks Of elaboration and
argument before It can determine between the
varying Judgments thus put before it. Mr..
Church, of the Committee on Finance, pre-
scented some sections that he would like to see
embodied in the constitution % the financial
policy of the State, and also an explanation Of
these sections. II might very well be argued
that our financial policy has no business in our
constitution, since an organic law ought to be
at least little moro permanent than that
varying condition Of the worlds prosperity
that must necessarily affect our finances from
year to year but if, following our own former
bad examples, we do put these things into the
law, we ought not to put them in in q shape
that needs explanation. Mr.. Church says that
the purpose Of his sections is to simplify the
State finances 50 that every citizen of ordinary
understanding will be able to comprehend
from the article itself the financial condi-
ton Of the State, and the arrangement
made TO pay the debts, regulate the expenses
and dispose Of the revenues" This Is convinc-
ing evidence that intelligent members do not
know what the Convention is assembled for.
II the above explains the whole purpose Of
the suggested sections, then those sections
would be good in o country newspaper and
excellent in political almanac side by side with
the returns OF last years elections the compsri-
SON Of taxation and other bits Of knowledge OF
interest TO the rural Masses but ridiculous in the
place for which they are proposed, since it is
10 their almanscs and blue books and county
papsrs that people 60 for information and sta
tisics Of public debt, and not to the constit,i-
ton. Constitutions are intended 10 designate
the frame and form Of the political society that
. people have set up. 1t il in going too far, in
attempting to settle too much, that they fail.
All that 10 put in them beyond the most abso-
lutely general principles Is lumber and nui-
sance for in trying by general law to
arrange and guide the details Of . passing
policy-in putting the accidents Of our history
| into our vital law-we cause the law 10 be
| involved in the fate Of those accidents-an
event that lessons the sacred regard that people
should have for II, and must sooner or later
end in evil. The Convention il just now doing
| the work Of the Legislatures Of the future, for
fear, perhaps, those Legislatures may be cor
rupt. But II must give up that plan. Let Il re-
constitute the Legislature II wills for has the
power to DO that and that is the only way i
can reach Tie general current Of legislation
| on which II IL now fooling away its time
when does IL propose to begin the constsu
toni II yesterday got hold Of the subject o
the Legislature, which is sign Of som'
promise; though we will not anticipate AM
great advance. for fear Of kesh disappoius
meuta