New-York tribune., 1867-08-03

districts Senators holding office for three years,
tnITd OF the senate oelng selected eaeh year.
having arrived, and the Convention took recess to
o'clock y. m.
EVENING SESSION
The Convention reassembled at y o'clock. Mr. MER
RIFT said that the President and the President pro ten
both absent, and II was ssary the convention
TO select another President pro tenn He therefore moved
the time beng and that the Secretary notify the Comp
troler of such appointment The motion was carried
whole the report of the Committee on the Organization
Of the Legislature Mr. Archer tRep.. Wayne) In the
Mr.. PRINDLE rep, Chenango could not agree with
the report OF the committee with reference 20 large Sen
ate districts II would take the power OF the hands
Of the people and place t in the hands Of politicians. IL
teps az be Csuto and # wSnd control be nomipatons
Of political parties. He would have Conservative Sen
and with that view Senators should be kept the peo
pie and held responsible TO their immediate representa-
nearer TO the accomplishment Of such result.
Mr.. MERWIN (Rep., JefeTson) was in favor OF large
body of men, prevent the evils at present complained
OF but while he expressed tins OPINION he opposed
the appOrtiOnment That duty more properly belonged
70 the legislature AS soon as this body entered upon
the work. they were compelled TO enter the political
arena, and partisan feelings must necessarily be aroused
1t important that should not act here with refer
ence to party interests or party results Ihe party In
power may give place 10 another and IL was unsafe
and unvise TO predicate action with reference to party
Mr.. F0LGER Rep., Niagara) had not at first thought
he should support the report of the Committee for eight
Senate Districts; but the discussion had uon the SUB
ject had wrought change upon his mind He had con
cuded that larger number of Districts would be pre-
ferabe II this body should make the appOrtionment 1t
would stand forth the first instance. Why not pass 1t
over entirely to the legislature l. was legisatSe I'VE
proprety OF passing the subject TO the Legislature
However the Districts may be arranged it would AFFECT
thousands Oh votes TO be cast with reference 10 ho ado
ton rejection Of the Constitution 70 be proposed TO the
people If an angel were to form the Districts he could
not give entire satisfaction.
Mr.. KEENAN, Dem, oneidal said the Senate should be
constituted that it would be less affected by local
preudces and fully represent the state at large
than the lower branch OF the legislature In his judg
would the making the Senate such body
as ought to be It would secure pernaneney in that
interest and State reputation IL would give that body
higher class OF than could be secured by small dis
trcs The counties have their local represe natives m
the Assembly The experience prior ls46 had shown tnat
fIe dd not desire 10 offer any particular for this,
but thought the general recollection OF men would con-
firm this view. Experienced men would always be
secured in that body one-quarter of the number only
being elected in each year He believed mere was
mistake in dividing up the State into small Senatorial dis
trlcs. That we had not had good Government since,
Of the Legislature such senate would prove a check
upon the popular branch elected every year He
thought careful consideration on the subject would
confirm his view, and that our best efforts should DO
brought 70 bear fair apportionments Of these
districts He believed that such apuTpose would acnate
this Convention Let us cast aSde our partisan views
He further hoped that we Would 20 back to the old sys
tern OF eectiIg Members OF Assembly by e0unues Inc
the Assembly who would not have been thought of for
that position the county system had been IN force lie
perience under the present Constitution Under the
present constitution there no head 10 the Government
having officers appointed by the Executive; -,
Mr. COOKE Rep Ulster repelled attacks that h3o
been made upon the majority by the minority Gentle
men had travelled out Of their way 70 hunt up grievances
The committee had been charged win \, ,Isa; gerry
Wandering the State Ia make Republican dlstrcs
He knew that in making up the districts as reported. %
question of politics did not enter 10 the consideration OF
f,a at al cOmplalnt
Republican majority in the state was only about Two pei
cent that by this appOrt0nment the Republicans would
get "a Senators Senators for the Democrats But the
committee could not help that because the DeihoetHuo
GUS counties The committee could not dihUse the ma
iortes the State and hence they were compelled IN
making up the districts OF contiguous territory 10 40 he
they had done. From all that could be gathered Iom te
opinions OF members the committee supposed they were
representing the views OF tins convention ~
ing large districts There no proprlety ia ahg Dotn
branches of the Legislature substantially alike ana there
good argument In the claim mat e cohsutee.sy
should select the man tna should be sent 10 the
There no strength in the argument tat POI
cIans would more directly control under te atge sls
than under the small ones Dd not the poitcsns
control the nominations now lie saw the IneuIt oi az
apportOnment and would gladly nave peSh Iehops;H t;
from any responsibility with II. lie had no paTtI-
san feelings in the matter he dd not sec
for he did not why NewYork should not be RepuD-
lcan in the course of the next three years Hes lie saw
nothing TO prevent IT, His friends were 'DOnt 10
take the negro cut of politics and there wouc ge notg
left for the Democrats to base an issue upon
The trial of John II surrat was abost cohendeu ana h
would be disposed Of by the time TINS convention sh9ua
adjourn, that he did not see what NOuIu DC leit
lLaughterl He had prepared another appOrtlonmeht
which he would propose 1t was not necessary 10 sIe
up i'm despair being able 10 make eght senate
districts that would be accountable.
MIR CARPENTER REP Dutchessl did not approve OF
the plan for large districts II would not secure an aDieI
class of men The four Senators would be selected
from specified localities which would claim the nominal
tiOns The change in the boundaries OF districts would
not prevent corr1ptons nor secure nUn
of more honesty integrity. II We should tel our
constituents that this plan haG been adopted 70
nreyent corrupton ticy would laugh at US.
other means should be rcsorted 10 20 that ehd
The representative should be anenale 10 tie psope
At first we only had four Senate districts ih l otae
then il was enlarged 10 eight and then 10 Nh t"u
Thus it had been shown that representation hd" pee
enlarged. Ia. 80 o,a ,oa,o
Progress was reported, the Committee rose ana leave
was granted to sit again. Adjourned to 10 oc0eA 10 Or
morning.