The New York herald., 1867-02-11

uOlO, WHICH Will OccIQe the Iat0 OI tuo cupItol
and may impart an entirely new aspect to the
confused state of affairs in Mexico.
Tho State Constitutional Couvention.
The Legislature of this State is required at its
present session to proyde by law for the election
OF delegates to the convention to revise and
amend the constitution. Two bills have been
introduced for this purpose-one in the Senate
by Mr.. Folger, and one in the Assembly by Mr..
Hiscock. They are similar in their provisions,
except that the former extends the privilege of
voting to all male citizens of the required age,
while the latter retains the property qualifca-
ton for persons Of color. The principle OF
allowing all citizens a voice in the choice Of
delegates to convention to alter or amend the
organic law il established in this State, as well
as in Others and in this respect the Senate bill
is preferable to that of the Assembly. Both
limit the number Of delegates to one hundred
and twenty-eight, rejecting Governor Fenton's
proposition to elect thirty-two additional dele
gates on general ticket. The election is fixed
for the 23d of April, and the convention is to
meet on the first Tuesday of June next.
The proposition of Governor Fenton met
very general approval, as it was believed to be
calculated to secure the return of the best men
of both political parties to the convention,
Independent Of office seekers, wire workers
and local politicians. The importance Of the
work to be done cannot be overestimated.
The experience of the past twenty years has
proved the wisdom Of allowing none but
men of sound, practical sense comprehensive
intelligence, integrity and independence to
meddle with the organic law. The constitu-
ton of the State should not be committed to
the hands of tinkers or jobbers. The interests
it embraces are too vast to be sacrificed to
incompetency or narrow-minded partisanship.
Any provision should be embodied in the law
that ID calculated to raise the standard Of
character and ability in the convention.
The Constitutional Convention Of 1876 met
on June and adjourned on October 9, during
dred and ten days II numbered among
its members some able men,. William G.
Bouck, Of Schoharie, was elected Governor of
the State in 1912, and had previously filed
the Offices Of Assemblyman, State Senator and
Canal Commissioner. Churchill C. Cambrel-
ing, OF Suffolk, was Representative in Con-
gress from the Second and Third Congressional
districts for nine successive terms, from 1921
to 1889. Michael Hoffman, of Herkimer, had
enjoyed eight years. experience in Congress.
James Talmadge, Of Duchess, and Elijah
Spencer, Of Yates, had served both in the State
Legislature and Congress. Stephen Allen, of
New York, and Calvin T. Chamberlain, of Alle-
gany, had filed the Offices of fAssemblyman and
State Senator. Among the prominent mem
bers of the convention were Ansel Bascom,
Robert Campbell Levi S. Chatfeld, James M.
Cook, Richard P. Marvin, Of Chautauqua;
Arphaxed Loomis, Gouvcrneur Kemble, Am
brose L. Jordan, David R. Floyd Jones, Ira
Harris, Hiram Gardner, James c. Forsyth,
David Munro, of Onondaga; Henry G. Murphy,
George w. Patterson, of Chautauqua; John X.
Porter, Elijah Rhoades Charles p. Kirkland,
D. B. st. John, Lemuel Stetson, Charles H. Rug
giles, Horatio J. Stow, Moses Taggart and Aaron
Ward. The New York representatives were
Stephen Allen, William S. Conely, Benjamin f.
Cornell, John II. Hunt, David r. Floyd Jones,
John A. Kennedy, George s. Mann, Robert II.
Morris, Henry Nicoll, Charles O'Conor, Lo-
renzo B. Shepard, John L. Stephens. Samuel J.
Tilden, Solomon Townsend, Alexander +.
vache and Campoell p. White. These names
sound very unlike New York delegation Of
the present day. The convention was pre-
sided over by John Tracy, of Chenango, who
had gained his legislative experience as Lieu
kc~ 49, rAv~ ~ he tokn
officer Of the Senate. There was in
the convention a distinguished array
Of practical ability on the important
subjects Of the judiciary, the finances,
banking, currency and canals. Some grave
errors were, however, made, as time has shown;
especially in respect to the principle Of an
elective judiciary. A large number of plans
Of judicial system were placed before the
convention, some originating with members
and others with outside parties. The CON-
mittee on the judiciary and the appointment or
election Of judicial officers and their tenure of
Office and compensation was composed Of
Messrs. Ruggles, O'Conor, Kirkland, Brown,
Jordan, Loomis, Worden, Bascom, Simmons,
Patterson, Hart, Stephens and Sears. Four
reports were made to the convention from this
committee, BY Messrs. Ruggles, O'Conor,
Kirkland and Bascom, respectively. While
there was general disposition in the conven-
ton to favor the popular idea Of giving Is
much power as possible to the people, opinion
was much distracted on the question Of an
elective judiciary. Charles O'Conor de-
nounced the new judicial system as certain 70
prove signal failure. Charles p. Kirkland
made vigorous opposition to the election Of
judges, and proposed as compromise that
they should be in part elected, in part ap-
pointed by the Governor and Senate and In
part chosen by joint ballot Of Senate and
Assembly. Charles O'Conor voted against
the new constitution In consequence Of the
judicial provisions, as also did Judge Stow
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