New-York tribune., 1873-12-09
THE Nrw PEyysYLV4ylA CONSTITUTION
A MASS MEETING AT PHILADELPHIA-PAIN Ian
GUAGE on THE SUBJECT.
TDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSF.l

A MASS MEETING AT PIILADELPIiIA-PlAIN Ian
GUAGE on THE SUBJECT
[BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNF
PHILADELPHIA, Dec Sin response to
call the citizens OF Philadelphia irrespective OF party
who are in favor OF the adoption OF the new Constu
toD a large meeting held this evening IN Horticu-
tural Hall. Henry j. Williams presided, assisted by
score or so OF vice-presdents. among whom were
many prominent merchants, lawyers and public men, on
assuming the chair the President briefly stated tho OBJ
jeet OF the meeting to be TO urge the ratification
OF the Constitution framed by the Convention
elected under the act of April. 1S72 The following
resolutions were then offered by Richard G. McMurtrc.
and although they hardly be considered models OF
STYLE they very clearly express the iews Of the
meeting:
Resolred That this meeting earnestly recommend the
adoption Of the Constitution. FIRST, bccaIscithe
legislature are thereby restrained from en-
pSynS ease te purpasss Ss mere prySe gH
which the statute books and shameful experience proys
has been many their chief occupaton Second
because the community may reasonably hope that the
value of the Office Of legislator and the demand ON their
time being thus diminished. Is persons may be selected
THIRD: Because Legislators are thereby compelled 10
submit themselves ann Their eos,nents ner.no TO all
corruption impose tyrannical or unjust laws on
particular localities, from which themselves ana
their constituents exempted. Fourth: Because the
cardinal rule Of legislation is thereby recognized ana
TO be equal under the law without which the
Government really ceases to be representative ana
legislation becomes mere lOOl IOf VIduny-' rum
because the dangerous and increasing control Of the
legislative power by corporations Is restrained am,
especially because railroad corporations are deprived OF
power which, incredible as II seems, has Deen granted
them OF employing the property OF those VINO are inca
pable of cOnsenting IN hazardous commercial enter
prises and from buying all competing roads, thereby
occurring monopoly Of all transportation upon Whlcn
the very existence Of community depends.
Sixth Because the enormous cmolumeDts OF 0nclals
for which adequate services are rendered,
are lessened, and this community relieved ron
tins indirect taxation, while these rewards OF
corrupt partizanshlp TO mere political hacks 10
which all the corruption OF the ballotDoN may be
government which history shows is essential Ia free
political life Is secured and "a stop put 10 recent
hagant violations of that right Eighb.: Because the
right TO sell surrender tho powers Of Government
over corporations aud taxation has been restrained or
destroyed, and large quantities OF property
auired TO bear their share OF the public
from which they have been exempted by means
Of private legislation. Ninth: Because the power OF
parionng convicted criminals rs restrained and pro-
tected notorious abuse, whereby all ei-
forts to punish the vioiators OF the cleo
nave used their high prerogative article
of InerchandisoJ Tenth And whereas the efforts
of the Convention to secure true return OF the
voice of the people Of PhadeDhia have been frustrated
by the exercise OF extraordinary Judicial power we
earnestly request all who interested in the future
webeDg the State to be digen In recording their
votes and TO exercise all their vigilance in guarding
against fraud at the polls
Succeeding these resolutions which unanimously
adopted, speeches in favor Of the new Constitution
were made by eS-Gov. Curtin, e1Chef Justice James
Thompson, the Hon A. X. Mcclure, Col Forney, aud
others,