New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-10
TIN VIEW CONSTITUTION.

We republish to-day IN tuli INC new ConsUi
tuition of the State of New-YOrk, which ls 10
be presented to the people for acceptance OF
rejection at the next general election IN NO
vember The time is still distant but during
the Summer months, when political issues are
ouiet. we hope the provisions OF the instrument
win he carefully and calmly studied. LIZ they
are generally understood, we have little rear Oh
their beng rejected. The new Constitution, we
holiove must commend itself to the approval
Of all thinking men, and, though nobody VIII
indigo it perfect, it is 80 great an Improvement
upon the present one that we are anxious IL
sbould be accepted in all its provisions. Some
of these provisions will be, in party sense,
more favorable to the Democrats than to u.s.
Nevertheless, they are good provisions, and we
homo Republicans will vote for them.
The best features of the new Constitution
are those designed to prevent bribery in the
Legislature and at the polls. They promise to
he effective in destroying the greatest danger
of our political system. Any official who is
convicted of accepting valuable considera-
ton for his vote or for any official act is to be
punished by fine not exceeding $1,000, and
imprisonment in the Penitentiary for term
not exceeding five years; and what is more
important, conviction is facilitated by securing
immunity to the person who pays the bride.
The present law makes the one who pays
equally guilty with the one who receives; and
as no one can be compelled to criminate HIM
self, it is of course impossible to obtain legal
evidence of the offense District-AttOrneys are
obliged to prosecute whenever an act of bribery
is brought to their knowledge, and if they
neglect TO do so are to be removed from office.
A reasonably honest enforcement of this pro-
vision of the Constitution would completely
cleanse out the lobby in few weeks.
For the other great variety of venality,
bribery at tho polls, a sweeping penalty OF
acknowledgements is provided, and the Leg
islature is authorized to pass the necessary
laws for the more complete suppression OF
the evil. This sort of corruption is in its
nature harder to reach; but the new Constr
tuition will do much towards its reform and
enable the Legislature afterwards to do more.
Finally, the pay of Senators and Assemblymen
is raised from $500 to $1,000 year, that they
may no longer say they have to sell them
selves in order to pay their Albany board
bills.
The reorganization of the Judiciary promises
very beneficial results, partly by increasing
the number of Judges and providing for clear
ing off the docket Of the Court of Appeals,
and partly by raising the Bench little higher
above the turmoil and corruption of party
than it is now. We wish the absurdity OF an
elective Judiciary could have been abolished
altogether; but the present arrangement IS a
compromise with which our friends must
for the present be satisfied. The term of Of
fee of Judges of the higher courts is increased
to fourteen years; and at the general election
Of 1873 the people are to vote directly upon
the question of filing those judgcships by APP
pointment
Lastly, we commend the new Constitution
because it recognizes the principle of impartial
suffrage, and removes from our fundamental
law the invidous distinction which now inn
poses upon the cOlored voter property quail
fication, which is not exacted of the white
With all its minor defects, the Constitution
demands our acceptance, and we urge our
friends to give it an attentive study, and then
IN vote for H.