New-York tribune., 1869-06-07
OUR NEW CONSTITUTION.

ioice that they will so vote at a season OF
comparative quiet in politics, and under cir
cumstances which render it difficult to give
decidedly partisan aspect to the issue. Two
years earlier, some Democrats would have
voted to reject, on the assumption that this
Constitution increased the power and patron
age of the Governor and other State Officers;
but. since these are now Democrats, the objec-
tion loses its efficacy if not its force. Apart
from the single clause which abolisles the
Property Qualification for ColOred Men, we
know nothing in the instrument which the
Democratic Party as such, can make ground
of opposition.
Most heartily approving the New Constitu-
ton as a whole, we would like to vote for 1t
as a whole; but that privilege is denied us.
We must cast four ballots where one" For
"tbe New OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES answer our pur-
pose exactly. The People will be just enough
to bear in mind that this submission in parcels
was exacted by the foes, not the friends OF
the New Constitution. We were willing that
those who wished to vote for a part and
against other parts should be enabled to do
so; we asked that those who wanted to vote
for or against the whole should enjoy like
urge every foe of corruption to vote for the
New Constitution throughout, though obliged
to cast four ballots to this end. Were
it only for Art. Kill, which declares
the receipt of bnbe for performing
any official act felony, and Furnishes
it bv a fine not exceeding $4,000 and conline-
ment in a State Prison for not more than five
years, good citizens should work hard for this
Constitution. He who offers an accepted brlbe
is no longer punishable therefor, so that he
cannot refuse to testify on the plea that to
tell the truth would criminate himself. Every
District-Attomcy is required to prosecute each
case of bribery that is brought to his knowl-
edge: the Governor must remove him II he
does not. In short, this Article (cntircly new
cuts up bribery by the roots, and can hardly
fail to Danish its minions from the Capitol 1t
is well considered at every point, and its adop-
ton will be worth Millions OF Dollars to our
long-suflcring taxpayers.
SO with regard to the purchase of votes at
popular elections. Just examine the section
which deals with this dangerous vice, and see
how thorough it is:
ART H. ?, No pcrson who shall receive expect or on,r
10 receive pay. offer or promise TO pay, contribute
offer or promise TO contribute 90 another 10 bc phu OF
make any promise % influence or as compensation or
reward for the giving Withholding vote 40 an election
shan vote al such election ana upon GuaenFv Ol io,
cause, the person so thdltt,", i,io!c lIu i,
or other officers authorized FOR That purpose, receive
Insncet0ys or other officers. that ho has not re-
/ ceiVcd, offered, does not expect 10 icctiN,'
"fcred or promised 10 contribute 10 another be paid
used any money other valuable thing, nor uhue ny
ihe giving or Withholding vote AT such election. Inc
Legislature, at The session thereof next al the aop
thereafter may, enact laws extending from thg fgt OF
suffrage all pers9ns convicted OF DtO,y "r VI @ '1
make become directly or indirectly interested h, ahy
bet wager depending upon the result o any election
! OF the right TO vote at such election
This section DISTINGUISHES for the time those
who bribe rs well as those who are bribcd,
| thus preventing bribery by rendering IT fatal
! 10 the votes of all concerned. We look 20 1t
to secure n heavy vote for the Constitution in
! Counties where ,votc-buylng has become
| chronic and gcucnl-in Columbia, for example.
! BY Art. Ill, the number Of Asscmbymen is
increased from 12S to 139, and each County is
authorized to elect the full number which shall
be apportioncd to that County. Now this ar
rangomcnt makes against the Republicans, who
uniformly elect more members under the SIM
gle District system; yet we are satisfied that
IL ought 10 be adopted. When We elected 10y
Counties, we almost always had m able man
at the head OF the tckct-Oftcn another,
next TO him - both Of whom now
come up missing. Such men as David
b. Ogden, Willis Hail. Samuel b. RUgslcs,
Daniel d. Barnard, Michael Hoffman, Abjah
Mann George p. Barker, Luther Bradish Pres
ton King, Victory Birdseye, George W. Pat
terson, Francis Granger, John c. Spencer are
now rarely chosen to the Assembly by either
party. We zcaously supported the Single Dis
trict system; but it has not answered our cX-
pectations, and we now want it abolished. We
shall urge return to the County system with
full knowledge that will add decidedly and
uniformly to the Democratic strength in the
Assembly. Had it been made previous to our
last election, the Republicans would have lost
members by it as follows:
Albany ...............1 Rensselaer, ............1
NHtTsiYE........ Ne%sYoiE....
We should have gained on the other hand,
as follows
Ere....................1 Niagara ..-............1
Monroe. ...............1 Oneida. -..........l
Orange. e..-......-.'.-......-.l-0.
Our gain by Single Districts is usually much
greater than this, as Erie and Orange Coun-
ties are apt to so Democratic Had they done
so this year. our gain by Single Districts
would have been 6.
The New Constitution increases the pay OF
Senator's and Asscmblymcn from $500 to
81 900 per annm-a change of immense value
to our taxpayers. Now, yenal, miserable
wretchcs excuse their corruption by the plea
that "what We get from the State don't pay
our board'-a paltry excuse, but one that
should be taken away. There is no profit IN