New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-02
THE CONVENTION.

ALBANY July The Convention held q very BRIEF
morning, and succeeded in adounng over
10 Monday July at "A p M. Only about 40 members
were present Mr. Avord aTeeably to the notice given
ny him. moved call OF the Convention, but withdrew 1t
after short debate question to the presence
OF quOruN was not raised
Petitions were preseBted by Mr. i. A. Brown In favor
osthe prohibition Of the liquor traffic. and by Mr fO"fr
1or equal eHGrage to men and women
MI Fowler presented petition for prohibiting the
Legislature and municipal corporations from approprat
sng pubic funds churches, schools, &c, OF sectarh
character; and An. Baker offered similar resolution
which was referred the Committee on the Powers ahd
Butes OF the legislature 10 the same CohItIso w.s
York presented by Mr. schen, for provision that the
code al known as the Revised Statutes snail mere
sftcfe the General statutes, and that shan
qnescribe she manner ia which laws altering OF
amending the same shall he enacted. -. A.. ,,,s
The following resolutions referred to the JUDE
AIRY or Waterman, allowing the party accused OF
eoSSsel for the prosecution Of MT Fuller, striking out
psia9Pa OF e go 81 sSo S
Grand jury and substituting instead nuh1ef OF pefs9s
net exceeding five, TO be aPpoin'edDy the bOaru O ou
pervis0rs of the several counties
Nj II W Dwight presented the following commune ca
Goo from the Hon. John T. Hoffman IN relation 70 the
memorial of the Committee o. tine PTlson AssOea a Pse1
II approve the proposed clause relating TO prisons,
striking ont compensation Provision should also DE
"JoHN II HOFFMAN"
S,ESTiT MTH or ms COMMITTEE: The memorial of the
undersigned Committee OF the Prison AssOclabon OF
Maw-York Prison Reform respectfully report; That
Nv the Fxecnfive Committee of the Prison Association
ss@ommee the present organization of our
lIsons and 20 report plan lor Their
sdeTaton and been collecting facts and studying
principles with view 10 the satisfactory Performance of
tVO OF car rambler were commissioned in 1865 to visit
other States and examine their prisons and prison sys-
tems Xlese gentlemen pursued the inquiries with
which they were charged IN Is states; and TO sonne ex-
tent in Canada also. They have embodied the results
ln extended report, which IS going through the
press and VILLAS issued he Laid upon the table of
he inemers For further prosecution Of the work
pointed, clothed with special power by the Lcgis-
prison officers before them, and receive their
statements under oath touching the condition aud man
AgeHet Of prisons Some % or more witnesses were
examined, most of them gentlemen Of great experience
with the evidence itself as taken down from the wit
hesses printed in the twenysecond annual report Of
lad upon the tables Of the members. The undersigned
40 not propose to weary your honorable BODY Win me
viii found fully set forth in the reports, either
placed be,paced, in your hands We will content
ourselves with few brief references In Pennsylvania
party politics arc felt disturbing element in the
rcniod by the Supreme Court of the state they il
turn choose The Tadens and these officers are retained
political opinions also the subordinate officers APP
sae IN ~ MassachSsetts The appointment Of the
warden is made by the Governor and Council, and he
ing serve He also virtually appoints his ssordnate
IN doing which NE never taxes account OF ther party con
Of the other States well as our own, political
infIence exercises much power the government and
a0,nnist ration Of the prisons although in none of Them
tcye does Influence make itself felt to the same
sXteIt operate so dsastrouy as IN New-Aork Here
II rs toe dominating power The prisons constitute
management the interests both OF the convict and the
community ofkn sacrificed to that OF the politician
OF the connected with it; and in particular the
Of instability in the tenure OF Office and in that
want Of pennanence in the Executive Administration
which render Improvement difficult and all ap-
pIOaeh toward perfection quite out Of the question
We freely acknowledge the utility and importance OF
parry politics Within its appropriate sphere 1t has
force The ruling power intoxicated with its prerogative
nnaded 10y the Vigilance Of opponents aud released from
pOtism and tyranny would hold perpetual carnival
but there things which touches only U mar
There precious interests in reference to which the
warning must be sounded: "TOuch not. handle not"
le penai institutions of the State constitute third since
tLey combine, in high degree the characteristics of
oNrn e be- religious and educational One OF the man
:tissts Ss nav S is y N Te.r 1;
far as Prseeebl~ . prisons from politics and also
~si sr".t lem from this baneful and lighting influence
honaI pToyisiSns and for such change
10 yo Honorable body S N 6Ee Z er v6 ohe
appreciation. in tie Amended Constitution which you
he Executive Committee Of the Prison Association and
has been unanimously approved by them IL is in the
TheTe shall be a Board Of Governors Of Prisons, who
ia have the charge and supernteDdenee Sf the state
{rsons and power 10 appoint the Wardens principal
Keepers lhe chapaiDs clerks and ply sielans thereof
aud the power OF removing the officers above named
and the other officers the but such removal shall
he cause and the accused shall in all cases be emit
heard said Board shall also have the
superntendence. with Of visitation of all insttu
prevention of CRIME. shall consist Of five persons TO
We appointed the Governor by and with the consent OF
e Senate aud shall hold Office for ten years except that
ihe persons hrsthppOuted SHALL in such manner as the
Legislature may direct be SO classified tRaHhe term Of
Of the persons so appointed shall expire at the end Of
fSe c tSO r s 5s Se lS
fnanhef They shall receive such COMPENSATION q Ih5
S0wsTs and mp6se sueh duties upon said board Of Gov
eTnors IN respect TO the comfy yalls, local OK ds
within the State shall be deemed expedent
We respectfully submit the foregoing paper TO your
consideration the hope that II itself TO
your Judgment that 10y official action IL may be in
soporaed into The tgnd9aep'qllsw OF the state And
TnEoDoRE W. DWIGHT, francis LIEBER
n. r. ALDEN, JOHN II. GRlsCOM,
---'e-=xys-ssFzs, C. B. HyBgEtLLa -.
Of aepetes g meetings, with the above communication
attached tleieT6.
, MsAxY, n Y, July 1.-The Constitutional Con-
,en,ion reassembled at II o'clock this morning.
Mr. ALvoRD Rep) said that on Saturday last he gave
notice that Immediately after the reading OF the Jonrnal
Ma now made that motion but being satisfied that IL
would be sustained 10y the Convention he WthuHe"
the motion .,,.,.
BY Mr., T. 4. BROWN Rep of the citizens OF Lewis
County incorporating liquor prohibition IN the Con
BS Mr. FOWLER Rep)-of the citizens of chensngo
county for provision prohibiting towns or counties
from donating any moneys to religious societies OF corpO
BatOns ~, ~, a.. a. o-,o..,o,. -, I
The suffrage 10 men and women alike
nv Mr.. esCHEIL CDemJ-Of member OF the New
vide that the code OF laws known the 81 Revised
Etatutes" shah be known hereafter as the several
, amendment shall be made by the Legislature.
| RvNfr wAKFAIAN eRepJ9To so amend the Constltu-
ten the counsel for the accused may have the last
appeal 10 the jury; Referred 49,, 49,, p,orroa |