The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-19

quote IL here illustrating the axiom, that "the
price of liberty is eternal vigilance" IT, under the
more complex conditions our people assuming,
there are rot sufficient safeguards against violence
ana fraud in the administration of our public af-
fairs. now the time to eDgraf such features upon
our State constitutions as may effectuslly resist
profoundly conscious of imperfectlons in their or
ganc lave, have engaged in and, for the time per-
We need SO to amend eur constitution that if bad
men do succeed in getting into Office and power,
ability to do mischief If T rufsns S oyerawe honest
men at the polls, or seize by force the ballot-box
or frauduently count the votes it contains for the
purpose Of sending to the Legislature, or elsewhere
in public life, tool of theirs vile enough to do
their bidding, we must provldein the constitution
When the representative shall have been proved
imr oient TO reward the wretch who based his
claims for remuneration upon a plentiful display of
knife and revolver at the polls, by bursting with
brutal violence into the chamber where return
judges peaceably performing their duty, then
sheil one great motive for the display of political
TUtianism be removed. For will do the worst of
hun an nature the justice to believe that it loves
not evil for its own sake alone.
How our legislators shall be disabled from the
commission of venal cri mes, and be compelled to
render honorable service to the public-for un-
happily the skirts of the Pennsyl vana Legislature
ore foul, and we dare not pronounce them clean
will be determined by the convention which
is now proposed An increase in the number
of our Legislators, as practsed in New Eng.
iland, will make their services more difficult of
purchase. An oath taken previous to the occu-
paucy of their official seats that they have spent
money, nor used any improper means to obtain
office, will exercise restraining influence. The
publication of every bill of consequence before
final action upon it, and then the insstence upon
the approval of an actual majority of the members
Of the Legislature, and that upon call of the yeas
and nays, would etlectually restrict reckless and
vicious legislation
But these are matters to be discussed hereafter.
Our great want Is to secure good men for public
life. For years we have been steadily driving them
from it, and have almost made public life ignomi-
nious. If institutions to live this must
No republic can exist If overlaid with vio-
and frnn1 (Nn1 mt hat fha Vsnlu
come, as heretofore when there shall alone sit in
public halls men
upon whose front engraven deep,
DelberatiOn sits, and public care,
And ptincely counsel in their face
Majestic shines.'
Mr.. Buzby was succeeded by Mr.. Speakman
who, indorsing the action proposed, felt that the
6rdwas so difficult of accomplishment, that some
thing more than an amendment TO the constitution
politics in the first stages, and this the speaker
considered could be reached by giving suffrage ID
women, and by this means only could perversion
be prevented.
MIR. william Rotch wistar, following Mr.. Speak
man. took exception to the preamble while @ agree
with the idea that the rights of mnorities to re-
the only tDs 80 re
should be given to the idea that an elective judi
cisIy is great evil,
MIR. John Price WetherIll continued the debate,
and claimed that the meeting was called to sho "
the necessity of convention and not to discuss
items, and advocated the resolutions as they were
written.
Colonel Francis Jordan, secretary of the com
monwe ealth thought that no time should be lost in
carving this movement to a head. In his opinion
the sentiment of the country was already ripe for
the movement. In all preliminary action details
and partisan effort should be studiously ignored
Colonel Jordan himself felt that a State Treasurer
should not be appointed as now. Legislation at the
State capital, he was prepared to affirm from his
fficial knowledge, was thing of the past, con-
sidered it used to be in the early days of pure
%n No ss gyss
are left to fall to the ground. This can only
be remedied by constitutional amendment and no
improvement can be expected until this course Is
taken.
After some participation in the debate by Messrs.
James Milliken, Jr., John Goforth and others,
the preamble and resolutions were read, and the
meeting adjourned. On this subject the following
! letter frcm Governor Geary is of interest
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRISBURG, PA, Oct.
II, 1S70.-George h. Boxer, Esq, Secretary Union
| League-Dear sir: have the honor to acknowledge
| the receipt of your note, inviting to attend a
| meeting OF the Union League, TO be held at the
League House on the 18th inst, at O'Clock p. M.
| 'fer the purpose of considering a proposed app-
cation to the Legislature for the call of conven-
| ton to amend the constitution of Pennsylvania"
l cordially commend the object for which the
meeting has been called, and notice with pleasure
that the Union League of Philadelphia has taken
the naive in the preliminary discussions of so inn
| portant measure, before the meeting of the Le-
gisature, to elicit public opinion and to give
| 1t is generally conceded that our Commonwealth
has outgrown the constitution of 1893. L hope,
therefore, the subject will be thoroughly discussed
by the people during the brief period prior to the
meeting of the next Legislature, as 1t Is my pre-
sent intention to lay my views in favor of calling
constitutional convention before that body in my
forthcoming annual message.
Previously deter mined official engagements else
where at the time indicated in your invitation, will
| deprive me of the pleasure of meeting with the
| League az you request.
| Yours truly, JNO. w. GsARY.