New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-19

Convention sustained the report OF the COmitlee, hu
adopted. A. ,,o..,...
ported section regulate the elective hanchse IN he
scheme propose i,y the Committee had been derived
iron the law ling the Convention, ana lnasmucn as
me ELECTIONS for convention and in the choice of dele
gates the Comm tee deemed advisable 10 make ~ me
constitutional plan for the elective FRANCHISE III lhe Stae
The report of the Committee, however, proved the
speech 10 sOphsm. The section submitted provided
THAT anv male ioe citizen of the of 81 years, who
had resided SIX months in the state, &c. &c, should be
entitled to vote The PROPOSED amendment IN effect
ton OF I'm and thus extended the right OF suffrage TO
Insertion Of the word ie 1t denied the right of the bal
lot those who actually possessed and exercised It. on
out by a vote of 6S Yeas TO 80 Nays The majority of
the Convention seemed therefore, 10 DO In favor of Impair
men si however u dynigUd the temper Of the del
egates to be decidedly in favor m OF eHtepGIng
forciby discussed by the abest men In the convention
and after contest extending through TWO Weehs
which provided that no man of color unless he shall have
been for three years citizen OF the state ana sna pe
possessed of freehold estate of the value OF $3.50 win
taxes paid &C. shall be entitled TO vote Upon the JUDI
cary aud the appointing power the Convention mao
OF the state Government were thoroughly examined
until finally scarcely pillar ~ the ve9eisSe f staiS
had been left standing The Executive, Legislative
and Judiciary Departments were radically enangeId
and newmOdeled SO as to colnport WIN tne
conception OF republican liberty, that nad bceh kheu
fOsered and defended by the people Two Sea
framed adopted at the outbreak or the war OF inc
Rey0ution aud was more aer tne oue and %, Therefore
wholly unlike the newborn chart of liberty under winch
tuition of the state cast in the American mold ana
made TO conform TO the national model ,o,, r., No
The Convention adjourned sine de on the lOh OF NO
yember and the Constitution submitted to the people
complete charter so that the question was
The election for the adoption or rejection OF te pro-
posed Constitution was held on the So a aIG S' wS as
75422 giving majority OF 35925 in favor OF the ratea-
tiOn of the new Constitution.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1896
The agitation which resulted in the constitutional
Convention OF 1916 begun In lS4l by ArphaGed
LoOmls, prominent politician frem that year uht 1901
In the session Of 1912 he member OF the lHgsa
ture from the County of Herkmer and at that time pro-
posed amendments to the Constitution looking to the
limitation Of the power of the Legislature in borrowing
money and issuing State stocks but he did not at first
contemplate q new Constitution. AS consequence
however OF his efforts, and the continued aglta-
ton OF the subject, Convention 30 frame a
new Constitution ordered BY a popular vote
in 1s5 Early In the year act passed by the
Legislature providing for the election OF delegates to the
Constitutional Convention The last Tuesday OF April in
that year the day named for the election ana the
Convention assembled on the lst day OF Juno 1ooWhs'
continuing in session until the 10th OF October The
Wings took part in the organization OF the ConVehoh'
but the Democrats then divided into Hunkers and Barn
and in the endeavor to unite candidate for Pres
dent The Barnburners had under their control the en-
tire Executive power Of the State, aud were not disposed
TO make large concessions and the caucus hed on Sau
day preceding the Convention adjourned without coming
in whose gfh tf Ss s spon as the Democratic Cand
date aud his election was virtual defeat OF the Hunker
or Conservative Democrats.
In the Convention many men OF great experience
and ability. President Tracy had been ut.-Governor
under Marcy in 1882, beside WHOM among many others
Judce Rucgics Of Duchess Admiral Hoffman OF Hcrki
mer Naval Officer at York; and Charles OConor
the Convention was ordered was also "a member, ana
was Chairman Of the Standing COMMITTEE on irirdte Cor
poatols The only member OF foreign birth was camp
bell 7. White, native OF Ireland -. -,
The first few days Of the Convention were spent an
marketing organization and running debate on the
best Of performing their trust was conducted by the
Democratic members, the Wings not participating 10
was on the fifth day that the Convention resolved TO
place The work Of considering the method 10 De pnucu
IN the naG5 o, sp Se oDention plan Of opcrons
select Committee OF Gight' previously appointed re
ported Of resolutions on this day for inqurng
into the expense Of the administration of Justice in 1915
Upon the report OF the Committee OF H. eighteen standing
Committees were appointed to consider and prepare
business on the various subjects 10 be determined
by tho Convention such as the election ana me
elective franchise nights OF citizens, education, tenure,
&C. The work Of the Convention was performed very
slowly. Two weeks had expired before the standing
committees announced and II was not until the
fourth week that any visible progress was made IN fran
mttec Of the Whole the FIRST section Of the report on the
election and duties OF the Governor &C. by when was
provided that Governor and IAeutenantGOFeThor
should be elected by the people Tor term OF two years
native citizen Of the United States should be eligible 10
the office Of Governor This section HAD scarcely been
discuss H. The floor was accorded to Mr. Murphy
who Mt proposed TO strike out the word nAtiye;
No The work Of the Convention continued to be slowly
perfected and the first day Of Its fifth week The
TRIBUNE said: One hundred and twenty eight egisla
tors Of the highest caber NewYork can afford have
been in close and friendly consultation Tor i3ur weeks
"A Of hay INIT
part and in Committee Of the Whole II has been re-
solved that shall be and not 20 Governors and
the like Lieutenant Deputy Governors" on the 26h
day, Mr. Talmadge. from the committee on the Rights
FOR the new. chiefly In Ire words of the Old
Constitution, bat with a few amendments ON this
DAY The Sfl OF June debate carried with equal
abfy on both Sides the question whether any, and II
So what qualifications ought 10 bo required as 10 age
aud residence in candidates for the office OF Governor
Against restriction The principal spcakerS were Mr Harris
making particularly DulhaIt ana hhsteny Speech
Following tbe article reported on this the most brilliant
reports 81 the Standing Committees appointed on the
18th of June, hut the 18th OF July but II OF the Com
mtees had yet reported In part. There then
only 06 working days left 10 the ConyentOn, should 1t
adjourn on the LIST OF October 10 give the people "a
month consider the Constitution before voting in
November and on the 18th il resolved TO meet at
o'clock in the morning proceed with the public business
te ower 10 grant pardOns vested the Governor and
the debate participated IN by Mr stephens the cele
America Mr. stephens was then 80 years Of age and
lawyer profession who had been voted for bv both the
Wings and Democrats of New York lecciving 20 2J9 votes
or wi n 2i of the number received by Mr. OCOnor the
bIgcsi Of any member of tho Convention. On the 18th
of july evening sessions resolved upon, and the Con
yeniini seemed TO DO thoroughly Weakened mp to
fbc work before 10. The veto power ci-
fectively used by Gov FcnOn during the present session.
Of the legislature was discussed on this day. NOtwh
standing c good Intentions OF tho Convention pro
gress sti slow, and the 2lst Of July il
planned that all ii had actually accomplished to strike
The word native" from the proposed Constitution.
the 2lth the tenure of the Senate fixed by vote Of
lOg 10 ~ two years, aud the election Of ITS
bcTs regulated The number of the Senate yet 10 be
deternncd-it finally fixed at 32-wlle the Cons
tuition oil The House si remained 10 be considered,
we'll M the judiciary and the regulation Of railroads, and
cspccliy the Canal improvements and the Canal debt