, 1873-12-08


Tho recent adverse decision Of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, touching tho ordinance
Which was prepared by tic Constitutional Con-
vention to submit tho new Constitution to tho
people, whether 1t bo in accordance With law or
not, is 4 decision in the intercsts OF corrupt
government, and giyos tho notorious City Ring
Of Philadelphia fresh lease Of power, and an
opportunity to intronoh themselves In their po-
sition so strongly that hereafter it will be moro
difficult than ever to dislodge them. Tho ordi-
nanoo contained cortain provisions which we're
calculated to Offset the infamous Registry law
in Philadelphia, and, by making the Convention
itself the canvasaers Of tho returns. Rocure IN
honest count Of the yotcs. The Ring we'll know
that if tho ordinance WAS submitted to the poo
pie 1t would be carried by IN immense majority,
regardless of party, rs tho majority OF the
Democrats were in it's favor, aud every reputable
Republican papor In the State gavo it
hoarty support. Even the $4,000 fraudulent
votos, which tho Ring can caAt in Phi1npelphia
by means Of it's false registry, wonld not have
endangered It. OH tho other hand, competent
judges have estimated that even making allow
ancos for these, 1t would DO carriodb by 100, 900 ma
jority in tic State. The Ring therefore mado
bold stand against this measure, which, if adopt
cd, would oust thom precipitately from tAoir
places, refused to recognize 1t, and prepared a
petition to the Supreme Court for an injunction
declaring the ordinance null and void. A decia-
ion has boen given to this offoct, upon the ground
tint tho Constitutional Convention had no juris-
dfction in tho matter, hut had usurped logIsla-
tive authority and ignored the general statutos Of
the State. This decision is q aeyore blow at tho
hopcs Of tho Reform Party, which fancicd It al
ready bad the opportunity in ita hands to cloan
out tho corruptions Of tho Ring, aud which had
at loaat the warrant Of precedent to suppose
that the Constitutional Convention was compo-
tent to carry its work into practical operation.
On this point the New York Nation Gays: Tin
1867, soyonty-eight Constitutions Ind been sub
mittod to tho pooplo for thoir approval, and tho
Convention itself ordered and regulated tho man-
nor of tho submission in sixty-three inBtancos out
of the uhole numbor. In about one-lalf Of these
instances, the action Of tho Convention WAS pre-
scribod either by the State Constitution Or by tho
originating statute, hut In tile otllor instances
there WAS no such direction, and tho
Convention assumed tho authority to bo lodged
in isaelt AZ III existing clement Of Its exiatcnco
and functions" In thie case, tho snprqnlo Court
Of Ponnsylyania has stepped In aud oujouol tho
Convention from assuming any authority, md
thus tho people, who created tho Convention aud
inspired Its work, era dobarrod from confirming
that work; and, worso than tl.is, thp door Of
escape from tho oppression Of tho corrupt RIng
ID shut III thoir faoes For tho prasent, at loast,
therefore, the condition Of tna people Of pon,l-
gylvauia jn simply this: Thoy aro prevented
from revising their own Constitution, TAoy are
tho lew-makiug power without tho power to carry
out their laws. As tho Nation says,
Notwithstanding saI Constitute hiHhng
mot branches OF TIM Legislative funoop and tho
notion, 1t first so'ewhat i!mly conceived, has baon
gradually developed aud perfected, tho people lave ro'
tanel those fundamental processes Of government III
their own hands. nrustlng tho preliminary work to
their direct agents chosen for TINT specific object but
roscryg 10 themselves tho dual and absolute voice ln
tho act Of adoption. II IL isske, u aaalyxipg thla