New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-09
MIR. UCONOR ON CONSTITUTIONS

SOME STARTLING CHANGES FAVORED.
SUGGESTING THAT GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENTS bh
SELECTED EACH MONTH BY LOT IRON HE
LEGISLATIVE BODIES
The Constitution of the State of New-YOrk
was adopted April 20, 1777. To commemorate the nun
dreth anniversary Of this event the New-fork historical
Society held a meeting at the Academy of Music last
evening and Charles O'ConOr delivered an ADDRESS on
"The Constitutions" NETWORKS old ana hohored GU
zens were represented in the audience which was very
large and enthusiastic III its reception OF the ADDRESS o
Mr. O'Conor. Among those present were Villain Cueh
BRYANT Peter Cooper, Robert C. winthrop President OF
the Massachusetts Historical Society; Samuel j. Tlden,
William A. Whitehead OF New jersey Judge Clifford
Of the supreme Court Charles A. Peabody Judge Brady,
judge Benedict, John Austin stevens, Edward Cooper,
AIgernon : Sullivan John r. Agnew, Benson J. Losing,
aud Gen. John Cochrane. A large deleg tion OF the
order of the Cincinnati present. band OF music
was in attendance and the platform was decorated with
flowers
Frederick De Pevster the President OF the society in
troduced Mr. OConor who said that his purpose to
review circumstances connected with the frame ana
effects of our written constitutions might seem most
interesting. The fundamental principles OF government
as contemplated by the American system, were few,
simple ana easily understood MonOgamy aud absolute
equality of all hc Indian and African at first over
looked were the ideas which constituted the basis OF
American politics and civilization, and from which there
must be departure. There was perhaps an un"lsc
tolerance OF Mormon polygamy in recent times, and an
Dudicous facility Of divorce in some OF the States III
was not the private right OF the citizen TO
vote, but his public duty. Ncw-Iorks first Constitution
ordained that the people the only source OF po'i-
cal power and couaccltcd in perpetuIty all those com
mon rights exemption in property and person from al
btrary power which tie coonstS had claimed for BRUSH
subjects including The privilege Of trial by jury Inc
INST might fairly DC pronounced new political institute
Ia nf
iupcrled 10y abuses, were deemed ancient ana already
sacred. one other new doctrine was li0mnSated' IT
was declared that the free exercise ana enjoyment OF
6 tIc( tIcre5frcr he allowed within this STATE 10
ail mankind" Religious liberty was mus secured D!
o ii c5,id ,at he sad of ANN other state coustitu-
ton adopted during the Revolutionary conflict, uulcs 1t
be that oi Virginia she might perhaps claim equah}
with New York in regard Tor religious liberty FOR t,ir
ea IN aryoon o MS osiabi-ucnt New-YoIks john Jay
ana Nirrla's George Mason became entitled to statues
in the national pantheon.
Undoubcdy Tie best and irccsi tutiou forts own
creators lh any people mad cvcrc'ytd before i 70 was
rrlcimc.s the main adopted b. tue most enhgIt-
cucd of The American C'OnlSt9 IN Ne"-1ofk uic ~
VOvlug prEcplC had been made since lSOl Inc a'er-
atoms EMBODIED IN the new Constitutions o. ISL" now !"
force, were merely formal "Nscs lt orcu MA ~ III t'V
qualifications OF voters. Under the nrst constitution ING
Governor and the senate were ccccd ny HoSe l','ssel
OF freehold, OF &iOo IN Naine over HNt "'"vt i1l'u
brluCcs The secret ballot me considered al cN Pfic-
tcr: o. Should have been long since abolished All Yot
ing should ne viva Nocr; ana ptSi's alholIVli- IiH
coic. tue voter IUuj be required 10 write ana sun
the election judge, ana 90 deposit IL WIN teh as au
tncutic evidence Of his act.
Mi O'Jonor cyptiue how different in principle and
practice was lhe l1rHEtuU"Il GOV y. i, a.,
Britain ANY Office OF the state u.s. contemplated by
she founders Of Tie American Republic. Tine greatest
error Ia the past bad been TIE investing OF TIE hgSa-
body with Discretionary power To govern ~ special
veal, hUt few leaders IN each political camp consul
tuted tie party. Great social evils we're fet an, II vas
valuly IMAGINED that relief from them could be had
n a sci,. al c;dy,rI!p,p Tn, was a mstfkc
Co. MIA Tf
action Of its pnyai5 Inrinhcrs in me ordi-
mary pursuits of Hf sup lea tIe Commonwealth with
the vital current which created and sustained national
prosperity. TO be let alone by politicians ana inter
mcddug officials ak that society needed To secure
that immunity through the constitutional la% oi INC
future was the task dcvoy.ng ON the present TO t'ccI
tins needed M new written constitutions ol cA,
plndcd proportions ANA flied with minute and detailed
bowers OF individuals Thes were matters OF detail
which ~ general might be LETT to occasional adjustment
The stale constitution OF the lHuie suoIiu a'tI,t.t
the principles civil and religious liberty ~ heretofore;
" government by strictly defining and limiting the
but II was not Impossible. IL should forbid public
body fumcuonary 10 create by taking up loans OF
cunstanccs II snoud cOrgi1c the legislative depart
mcnt by abolisituf the pcrnlcOus system Of single
cally established, such rs cities and VII
lagos, Tue rignt Of Representations The futile
US ' ~ m ,',i s,.f. va ZEN, Jaws v"u.d
become similar what constitutional amendments now
were, and IL well known mat the convention, winch
was ftyOric agent for framing these, hdd IN every
instance OF It's been composed OF single chamber
Withholding executive power from the Legislature
should not be allowed TO produce miscleyous eX-
cess uf authority IN the Chief Magistrate. On the
contrary, there should be "A corresponding reform IA
that quarter That Office should not bC elective. III
should be illcd by lot every month from the rep
rcscntatiyc body This would impress upon the people
the necessity OF cccng as legislators hut such as
we're competent to the higher Office The brcyy Of tine
term would prevent serious mlsChcis from ncompe-
teucy where ID happened to supprycnc, and no would
devote life of effort TO Keeping on loot niermuapt
election for the purpose securing himself long
term of -cuuI-ICga power over his cOuntrNmcn. Ke
forms approximately similar should he instituted in the
General Government by altering the Federal Consntu-
liOu These changes were lew ana simple Ihey Would
abolish faction ana the trade OF politics.
NOml.chicf could result from them. GOdkc aInbl-
ton ana even that emulation which melted 70 account
iatng Wcallb would find ample employment III the
pursuits OF private life. There no beHcht 10 society
In the frivolous and aCtItIOus privileges that result 10
from the misUhcyous power Of exercising governmental
authority over others Tor scif-aggI1udiZClncit
Very controlling arguments might he offered 10 prove
that IN thus substantially cXtuguslng the great ONCE
OF President sound pdDhc policy would he violated
any oil ght thrown upon the seemingly piaSeWorh!
ambition of the denigOds who 10
and capyatcd by the ar-Uf prize spent their lives VA
prodi Ous displays of ability for the purpose of cstan
admirable feature in the British system OF
government that the chief m1alsnacy was he
yOrd tie reach OF any subject. II tAi- regal
cnncuce the euadtcnula presidency with It's vast power
ana patronage, must remain elective the ptlly niue
rcis of faction the trdiy eagles OF the lana, womb
almost invariably win aud wear the purple.
IA conclusion, Mr. O'COuGT presented a EOWlug picture
of hc future OF the country under the reformed stem
OF government which he advocated
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