New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-26
49, AMENnED CONSrIrrTTON.

MI Folger has submitted to the Senate a
bill providing for direct popular vote on the
Amended Constitution framed by the delegates
who met in State Convention at Albany in
June, 1867, and continued their labOrs into the
following year. We trust that the bill will be
promptly maturcd aud passed, and that the
Amended Constitution will thcreupOn be care
fully considered 10y the People Of our State.
1t is well that it was not submitted last year,
when the Presidential contest precluded a
thorough, dispassiOnate scrutiny of its prOvi-
siOns, and when the prejudice created by the
nterminable debates of the Convention would
have melted thousands TO vote against it re-
gardless of its merits If fairly submitted and
fully considered now, we shall confidently ex-
pect its ratification. To this end, we urge that
it be universally scrutinized and studied.
Probably, no Constitution was ever perfect
in every detail, and no one was ever adopted
that did not in somo respects, displease its
stanchest supporters. This Constitution has
defects, doubtless; yet 1t is an immense im-
provement on that under which we now live,
and which it is designed to supersede. To
prove this, we need cite only those of its pro-
visions which deal directly with the alarming
venality of our elections and our legislation.
Here is that section which is aimed at the
bribery of voters:
ART H. SEC. O. No person who shall receive expect
offer receive pay offer OrprOmso tOpay, contribute,
offer promise TO contribute to another to be paid
used any money other valuable thing. who shall
make any promise to influence. or rs compensation or
reward for the giving Withholding vote at an election
shall vote such election; and upon challenge for such
cause the person challenged before the inspectors
other officers authorized for that purpose, receive his
vote shall affirm before such inspectors other
officers that no has not received or offered does not OK
pect 70 receive has pail offered promised to pay
contributed, offered promised 90 contribute to another
TO be paid used, any money Ohor valuable thing
made any promise to influence, a compensation
reward for the giving or Withholding vote at such
election. The Legislature. at tho session thereof next
after tho adoption Of this Constitution SHALL and from
time thereafter may enact laws excluding from
the right of suffrage all persons convicted OF bribery OF
any infamous crime, and 'o deprivng posOn who
shall make or become directly indirectly interested ill.,
any bet wager depending upon he result Of any cleo
tion Of the right 20 vote az such election.
This, it will be seen, makes the paying, or
promising 90 pay, for u vote, 4 ground of chal-
lenge and disfranchiscment, as well as the re-
ceiving or conserving or expecting to receive,
money or other valuable thing for q vote. 1t
would cut up bribery by the roots, and render
the buying Of votes a moral impOs5ibilty. What
honest man, what friend OF republican liberty,
does not wish this imbeddcd in oT funda-
mental laws
Now turn to the Article which deals with
the more or less direct bribery OF Legislators
and other functionares and see how sweeping,
stringent, and thorough are It's provisions:
ART Kill, SIC l. Any person holding office under the
laws Of this State, who, except I'm payment Of his legal
salary fees or perIuste receives OF consents TO
ceiVe, directly or indirectly, any hing Of value OF per
sOnal advantage the promise thereof Tor performing
or emitting TO perform any Official hc or with The press
or implied understanding that hs Official action or
omission to act TO be IN any degree fuenced thereby,
shall be deemed guilty Of felony, ard on conviction
shall be punished b. imprisonment In State prison. for
term not exceeding five years 10y fine not exceed
ing five thousand dolors. Doth IN discretion OF the
court This section shall not Affect tho validity Of any
existing statutes In relation TO the Ocnse u bribery
SEC. @ Any person Offering bribe, II 10 shall be
cepted shall not DO liable TO civil OF criminal prosecution
therefor But auy person who oilers promises bride.
II IL shall be rejected BY tho officer u whom it ten
dored shall be deemed guilty Of attempt TO bride,
which Is hereby declared TO be felony. and c0nvic