The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-19
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
Meeting ofthe Union League.


Scarcely any of the prominent members. were
absent, and punctualy at eight O'Clock Hon Morton
McMchael, president of that most influential
oTgeni zs ton, called the citing to order, saying:
Gentlemen of the Union League: The board of
directors have convened this meeting, as the notice
published in the daily journals and sent to each of
you through the post, has informed you, "tor the
purpose of considering a proposed application to
the Legislature for the call of convention to
amend the constitution of Pennsylvania" They
have been moved to take this action not only be-
cause their own convictions of duty prompted them
to do so, but also because prominent citizens in
different sections of the State have urged that,
recognizing the necessity of and the public demand
for such a movement, an institution favorably
situated to promote 1t as the Union League should
give 10 it the sanction of its Endorsement and aid it
by all the means in its power
For some weeks past this subject has been under
discus sion by the Board of Dir ctors and they will
present for your consideration this evening pre-
smbe and resolutions which embody their views,
and which they trust will receive your appreciation.
As presume there are several gentlemen present
who will address you, | shall not anticipate what
any of them may desire to say by further comment.
| shall content myself with the declaration that
join most heartily in the good work we have inau-
gurated; and that when it shall be crowned with
the share which our League win have had in its
consummation not the least of claims to that
ahigh character for patriotic effort which it has
always been our aim to establish.
have now the pleasure of introducing Mr.. Glib
bons, who has been selected by the 8osrd to pre-
sent the resolutions.
The resolutions read by Mr.. Gibbons were as
follows:
whereas, 1t is declared by the constitution of
Pennsy ylvania that all power is inherent in the peo-
pie, and all free governments are founded on their
authority and instituted for their peace safety and
happiness; and that for the advancement of these
ends, they have at all times an unalienable and
indefeasble right to alter reform abOlish their
government in such manner as they may think
proper;
the Legislative department. of the government
were delegated by the people, with the full conf
dence and expectation that they would be exercised
for the common benefit, and that no temptations of
private gain or advantage would ever control or
influence any branch of the law making power of
10 N nj
And whereas, the history of the legislation of
Pennsylvania for many years past is strongly
marked by the corruptive power of corpora
tions, seeking special favcrs by the tempta-
tons OF bribery the franchises of the State
bartered for money. and our legislative halls have
often been converted into market places, where
inn oTtant public Offices have been sold to the high
est bidders by fathless and venal public servants;
vested rights have bee II threatened and assailed
for the sole purpose of extorng ransom from their
lawful proprietors and public acts, which concern
the common welfare. are passed or rejected with
out intelligent consideration and thus the safety
and happiness of the people are frequently i'm
paired and imperilled by dishonest and ncompe-
And whereas, There appears to be no other re-
medy for these monstrous and acknowledged evils
than such well-considered amendments of the con-
stituton of the State viii deliver the legislative
body from the temptations which continually assal
it, aud improve the character of its members, by
securing the rights OF minortes in all popular cleo
Resolved, That the members of the Union League
of Philadelphia, now assembled in general meet
| ing, do approve and recommend the calling of
convention, to be composed of delegates chosen by
the freemen of the State, for the purpose of pro-
posing amendments to the constitution of Penn
! sylvania
| of the Commonwealth may be duly ascertained in
respect to the calling of such convention that ap-
plication be made the Legislature at its
sion for the passage of proper act submitting the
question to the people for their decision at cleo
ton to be held for the special purpose on the first
Tuesday in May next, or at some other convenient
| tmes
opf hmm han fak rnr fba hnd nf
| the League and five from the Board of Managers
of the League be appointed for the purpose Of di-
recting public attention to the subject of the fore
going preamble and resolutions, with authority to
| confer with any other committees that may be ap-
pointed by other organizations or meetings having
the same ends in view, and with power to take such
measures in the premises as to them may seem meet
| and expedient.
In supporting the resolutions Mr.. Gibbons spoke
most eloquently. He said
| The preamble and resolutions which are now
submitted to the action of the League were un ami
| mously approved, as stated by the Board of Di-
rectors 1 believe they do not magnify the corrup-
our our state government 1t & the inevitable result
of a system which gives to that department the
upon one set of men and deny the like to others
who seek them for like objects equally mertorious
Wherever such power resides in a legislature, all
experience proves that neither those who seek nor
those who confer such favors are beyond the reach
The franchises of the State are secured in these
! latter days less by considerations or public ma
ture than by means Of private gain to individuals
of that corruption which is shaking the con-
idence of many people in the stability of popular
! government. Public opinion exhausts its indig-
nation upon those who have surrendered to the
temptations of bribery, while the managers OF cor
| poTations who permit the money of their stock
holders 10 be applied to such purposes escape OBJ
| servation and punishment, and seem TO imagine
that no share of the responsibility rests upon their
shoulders. sounder morality teaches that they
| who procure the bribe to be offered are the first
! transgressors and are more guilty than their VIC
tins, who were too human to resist it. SIT must
be that offences come but woe to that man by whom
the offence cometh!"
II it be right to grant the franchises of the State
for particular purpose in one county, 1t Is equally
right TO grant them for like purposes, when re-
anired, in any other county. Or if it be right to
grant special powers and privileges to one corpora
ton, 1t is equally right TO grant the like powers to
all others of the same character. The people are
entitled to impartial legislation Railroad compa-
nies, manufacturing companies, mining banking,
insurance and trust companies and other corpora
tons, created for other purposes, have performed
and will continue to perform important services to
the State, and are 80 completely interviewer with
all our social and material wants, that they should
be created and regula only by general dos. Such
reform would strike the root OF the corruption
complained of.
may be seen by reference to the pamphlet laws OF
the State. They exhibit the fact which may proba-
bly, excite some surprise that our vast and expensive
machinery for making laws hnds very little em-
ployment in matters which concern the public
generally. 1t costs, perhaps hundreds OF thous'
ands of dollars TO set 1t up every year. and IS then
employed amest exclusively In special legislation
additional annual expense of $500 0OO The laws
of 1868 printed in huge octave volume OF lil4
pages the awe ot % 1872 s5o a. siiis ou Of ~
pages; making a total of 497O pages.
Twenty one thousand copies OF these laws have
teen printed at the public expense and about three
buEdred1 pages out of the whole number coutaiI
all the general laws which have been passed fol
the last three years In 1868 the Legislature passed
1868 it passed II general laws and i2i5 special OF
private acts