The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-23

Journed last week Tor the holidays, and Will
reassemble on the l4th Of January at the
Common Council chamber in the city of
Albany, as the Capitol at that time will be
occupied by the State Legislature and the
lobby. The work Of the Convention has pro-
crossed slowly; the judiciary article, which
has occupied most OF Its time, Is not yet
completed, nor are any of the important points
of the new Constitution concluded, with the
exception Of the negro suffrage clause, which,
under the lessons of the recent State election,
will have to be reopened, rcconsdered and
submitted separately to the people, unless the
whole action Of the Convention is to end in
broad farce indeed, the people are 80 little
impressed with the wisdom and competency
of this body Of constitution tinkers that 1t is
more than probable their work will be re-
jected, whatever it may be; and 1t will need
the clearest and most selfevident improve
ments, unencumbered with any unnecessary
matter, to give 1t any prospect of success.
Among the canal propositions before the
Convention is one by Israel I. Hatch, Of Erie,
to insert provision in the organic law of the
the canals other than such as may be necessary
for their ordinary repair and running ex-
penses; or, in other words, to lay down the
principle in the constitution that after the pay
ment Of existing debts the canals shall be used
for purposes Of commerce only, and not for
revenue. The object is to place the canals,
as far as possible, beyond the reach Of con-
stantly changing Legislatures and Canal
Boards, and to insure the lowest tolls upon all
goods carried by canal, in the belief that the
State realizes a greater advantage from the
increased commerce, secured by cheap trans
portation, than out OF any profits that can arise
directly from her carrying trade.
Much might be said in favor Of Mr.. Hatch's
proposition. The canals have been prolific
source of corruption in almost all our State
administrations, and our Legislatures, always
under the control of the railroads, have been
too willing to sacrifice the real interests Of
commerce to- the policy OF those corporations.
But the only sound principle Of government is
to leave the question Of revenue entirely free
and untrammeiled in the organic law. so that
the Legislature Of a State may deal with 1t
according to the exigencies of the time. No
constitution can BIO mlde, bamp red with
financial limits and restrictions, that will serve
the purposes Of State for twenty years.
Emergencies will arise in which Il will DC ne
cessary to break down such restraints, and
full power must be left TO the Legislature in
all matters Of revenue II we desire to have
sound and strong system Of government II
we cannot elect honest Legislators, che fault
Is our own, aud we must pay the penalty
But it is idle to attempt by any straight-laced
constitutional restrictions to provide against
official incompctency and corruption. a
Devci0pmcnts In the south.
Although some Of our contemporaries seem
TO find CLEANS Of sunshine in the condition OF
tho South, we confess that no such desirable
signs, eres 2rAsk4sss SS3T SspA. II is tide |
TIL: 4ine ccGsrSsa - }enohsr Sfstiea5Harc just
occurred in Richmon\ i'm Macon, Ga, in
Mobile, "a Little Rock, Ark, and elsewhere,
Conservative clubs are in process Of organiza-
ton in. the Carolinas, woil as insso me OF the
other uDrcconstructedS States. 1t is stated that
Florida has chosen an an!i-radical majority
to her constitutional convention General
Hancock, the military commander in New
Orleans, has also thrown new and more
congenial feeling into the administration
Of affairs in Louisiana. But no one whose
eyes are open can tail to observe indications
of . determination on the part of Congress to
enforce its extreme doc trines Of Southern recon
struction- This is bad enough, If no other
unpleasant cloud obscured the view to happier
days for the South. Yet wo find that the
Alabama Convention has adjourned and pre-
scented a constitution for the sufftages Of the
people Of that unreconstructed State--or those
who are favored with the elective franchise
containing provisions abhorrent to every re-
spectacle and responsible white man living
within its borders. Wa also know that black
supremacy conventions are now In session In
Georgia and Louisiana, that others will
shortly assemble In Mississippi and Arkansas,
and that SO far from expecting reason and
only be expected. Moreover, we have accounts
Of unspeakable distress among both whites
and blacks throughout the once fertile Southern
domains These accounts are accompanied by
others which exhibit tho lamentable lengths to
which Northern radicalism has progressed in
prostrating commerce, destroying agriculture,
sundcring family ties, uprooting civil law, and
In seducing the ignorant blacks into the belief
that no more labor IL due from them, that tboy
have worked long enough and that the inher-
itance Of the whites, once their masters, be-
comes now their own The tact that conspira-
cies exist to carry out their ideas Is no longer
doubted. Names, places aud dates 10 that
effect are in the hands Of the authorities, and
that great mischief Il neditated cannot be
doubted. In view OF these developments,
occurring every day, We say we confess wo
cannot discern the CLEANS Of sunshine through