The New York herald., 1867-04-23

Inc eAecuOn IOr 0eiegatoe 70 the State Con
stitutional Convention takes place to-day
Very little general interest il manifested in the
result. and the vote is likely to be light yet il
is an election that bears directly upon the vel
fare of the State and the prosperity Of the
people. The delegates to be chosen to-day are
to be intrusted with the labor Of remodelling
the fundamental law Of the State. We are IA
look to them for reforms which twenty years Of
experience have shown to be necessary, and fol
the removal Of evils which ell admit and do
plore, and from which the people CRY out fol
relief No citizen who properly appreciatee
his duties, privileges and responsibilities can
conscientiously remain idle or apathetic q
such time.
Tho nominations made BY the two political
organizations are, II ID true, in majority Of in
stances, of very Indifferent character. Party
lines have been strictly drawn, and the most
prominent names in tAeState have been passed
over, to make room for local politicians
and efficient partisanA Yet there are Soma
good mon 70 be found among them On both
sides /; such = Horace Greeley, William n
Evarts, Charles :. Foiger. John A King.
Henry Ward Beecher, John Cocnrane, Thomas
Hillhouse. John 81. Reynolds, Horatio Ballard,
and John L. Talcots among the republicans
and Henry G. Murphy, Francis Herman, Charles
G. Halpine, Erastus Corning, Robert Lansing,
Arphaxed Loomis, Delos De Wolf Sidney T.
Fairchild, Israel 7. Hatch, and George w.
Clinton, among the democrats. OF these
Messrs. Greeley, Evarts and Folger, on one
side, and Messrs. Murphy and Herman, on the
other, are on the general tickets, and are sure
Of an election; but the remainder are district
delegates, and should be voted for on their
merits, independent Of party considerations.
Every elector who goes to the polls will vote
for sixteen delegates at large and four district
delegates, and it would be we'll for the tax
payers in each district to select the four best
men in nomination, without reference to their
politics, and cast their ballots for them.
The general apathy in regard to the result
grows out Of the prevailing impression that the
work Of the Convention will not be such as the
people can approves that on one side the re-
publican politicians will endeavor to use the
new constitution as q means Of perpetuating
their supremacy in the State, and giving them
greater power over the rights and franchises
of municipalities; while on the other the demo-
cratic politicians will seek to render the con-
stitution as Objectionable as possible, in order
to defeat it at the polls next fall. There is
great danger that these apprehensions may be
realized but the republicans must bear in
mind the fact that under the mode selected by
them for the election Of delegates they COM
mand large majority In the Convention; that
they have thus voluntarily taken upon them
selves the duty Of framing the fundamental
principles to be submitted to the test Of the
popular vote in November next, and that If
they present to the people Of the State an i'm
proper and Objectionable work the issue will
be made against them as a party, az we'll as
against the constitution, for which they will be
responsible, and that il 1t should fall, they
will surely fall with it It is therefore
peculiarly incumbent upon them to select capa-
BILE and honest men as delegates, and wherever
serving candidates they should vote for those
of the other party. If the work Of tho Con-
vention should be well done, it will strengthen
the republicans in the State. II 1t should be
badly done, it will destroy them.
There are, in reality, but few points in Che
to be touched by the Convention. The power
Of the Governor must be increased, so that he
may be held directly responsible by the people
for the good government Of the State. The
other State officers now elected by the people
are simply heads Of bureaus under the Execu-
tive, and should be appointed by him, as the
Cabinet officers are appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States. Under the present
system the greater portion OF the subordinate
State officers are elected the year when
there is no gubernatorial election, and
they are frequently the political opponents
of the Governor and do all in their
power to embarrass his administration.
This is inconsistent with the idea of harme-
nious and efficient State government The
Judges should be appointed for life or during
good behavior, and, after reaching certain
age, should be retired with pension. This
would insure an Independent, earlcss, honest
and efficient Judiciary, and take the courts Of
justice out of the control and Contamination of
politics. The Senate should have the privi-
lcge Of confirming or rejecting the Governors
nominations. Municipal governments should
be based on the same principals as the gov
ernment of the State. II Is no more just to
deprive the people Of City Il the choice OF
their chief magisi. ate than 1t yould be to take
from. me people Of the State the election of
their Governor. 1t is no SENDER policy to
shin the responsibility for tlt honest and eff
cicnt government Of city fDm the shoulders
Of lis Mayor than it is to shift the responsible
ity for the honest and efadent government
Of the State from the shoulders of
the Governor. The Mayor pf city should
therefore be elected by te voters Of the
city. should have the pows without the in