The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-06
The Constssuti,uei couvsntis..

The State Convention Is failure-an abso-
lutte, hopeless, ridiculous failure Not one
member Of the whole bsiy appreciaes bis
position or has any clear idea much less any
broad and statesmanlike view, how the Con-
venion may perform the duty the people
expect OF 1t. II is an assemblage of pettifog
gers men whose natural capacity fits them to
be Tombs lawyers or ward politicians, and
who seen to have carried into their present
position no other thought than how they may
reorgani0e our government to secure the sue
cess Of some jobs or schemes OF their own how
they may build themselves or their friends into
Office. We have seen how corrupt Legislatures
reOrganised our government into commissions
only TO put into position men who could not
be voted in by the people. And this Conven-
ton is Of no higher calibre than those Legisla-
lures were. 1t has the same instincts and the
same objects. Its members are abusing their
positions, bartering away popular right for
personal advantage; not taking care to secure
government uader which the people may be
happier and whose burdens will bear with the
least possible weight upon all men, but simp ly
taking care for their own messes of pettage,
making their games with party leaders and rich
corporations.
II is over two months since the Convention
met, and it has hardly touched its real duties.
II has occupied the greater part of that time
calling for "persons and papers" and informa-
ton In various other shapes on subjects OF such
common knowledge as the corrupt manage
ment Of the canals. subjects of which no one
outside the Convention is ignorant. 1t has
discussed the Niger for weeks, that
its members might air their vapid
rhetoric; for a practical convention would
have settled the niger question in half an
hour. In the same way it has rambled and
dawdied over an infinity of subjects, some even
out of its sphere; but the practical work ex-
pected Of it it has left alone. What the people
require are those simple changes in our con-
stituhon that will give Us government with
an effective head. We want an Executive pos
sessed Of ample powers-to have the appoint
ment Of all State officers and all judges. and to
have also all police au thority in his hands-and
he must be elected for one year only, that his
direct and obvious responsibility to the people
may be some security against the abuse of his
powers This Is the most important change
needed.
We need change similar in character in
our municipal system-an Executive with
power TO carry on the government and directly
responsible to the people. We should have
city council also to act with this Executive in
the practical discharge Of city affairs--just as
the board Of directors manages The affairs Of
any private corporations; and this council and
the Mayor should have the whole municipal
government in their hands. With such changes
10 the character Of the respective executive
offices--with the judiciary rendered non-elec-
tive aud city councils organized on this simple
plan--ihe people would have better chance
to be well and honestly governed than they
can in any other way, and the sooner the Con-
vention embodies such changes in q constitu-
liopal form aud goes home the better.