The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-09
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CENTENNIAL.
Commemoration Of the Kingston Con-
ta sttution of TIT.
-ES o'CoNoR's ADDRESS.
Have We Bcttered the Work OF the Faith
erS !-Thc Country's Future.

their friends who met TO celebrate the hundredh
anniversary OF the adoption OF the constitution OF this
State. Upon the stage sat delegation from the Gin
cinnatus Society under the leadership OF General
John cochrane, and about $50 gentlemen famous
on the Bench at the Bar aud in other profess
sions. Among them we're Judge Clifford,
Of the Supreme Court; william Cullen Bryant, Judge
Josiah s. Sutherland Ex-Governor s. j. Tilden, Rob-
ert c. Winthrop President OF the Massachusetts His
torcal Society; Judge Benedict DR.. Morgan William
A. Whitehead, J. v. L. Pruyn, John T.
Agnew, Andrew Warner, Peter Cooper Benson
J. LOSING Aigernon s. Sullivan and Senator ChaiTce
Of Colorado. In front OF the stage was suspended q
wreath OF dowers, with the Inscription s1777, in
slossd Frederic Do Peyser president OF the society,"
presided, and the comfort OF the guests attended
10 by reception committee composed OF Messrs
John Austin Stevens, Edward +. Delancoy, Court
land De Psystcr Field, David o. Fisher. William
J. Jay. George H. Moore, Philip Schuyler, Charles
Z. Morcau, Henry T. Drowne Frederic De Peyster
Foster, Alfred I. Ackert, William L. Brcesc, Francis
Baker, Douglas Campbell Edward Cooper and Frederic
Foster. The chairman read q letter from Governor
Robinson expressing regret his inability TO be pres
emit on account OF "a pressure OF official engage
ments"
THE CHAIRMAN's REMARKa
. Ladies' and gentlemen" said Mr. he Pevster, tthe
Now York Historical Society have wished friends
TO unite with them IN celebrating this evening the one
tnton OF the State OF New York. The constitution or
Kingston, N. ", on tho Goth OF April, III, but
the present commemoration has been delayed as a
later day in the season more desirable. The so.
oiety has been fortunate in obtaining from Mr.
O'Conor his consent to deliver address on this oc
cason The subject he has selected Is The Constitu-
TONS have now the pleasure OF presenting to you
O'CopoE"
The distinguished lawyer was received with long and
loud applause as he came forward and began his ora
an ouP ind half In its
delivery He Was frequently interrupted by applause
and when he resumed his seat al the close Mr.
George II. Moore offered resolution the effect that
'the thanks Of the society be and hereby are
presented to Mr.. Charles O'Conor for the masterIy
eloquent and instructive address with which he has
favored us this evening, and that he be to
furnish copy for publication" This was spoken to
by Judge John K. Porter. who took occasion to pay
the orator high compliment and it then unani-
mously carried
MI O'Conor began by reviewing the condition OF the
State At the time the rst constitution whose establish
ment they had met to celebrate, founded. Taking
into Wow the existing OF attainment in pol-
Teal science 1t might DEFY just criticism, and opinion
was now divided as to whether, in the progress Of
that enlightenment to which it afforded a
Cnon. Treating as comparatively OF light moment Its
20 Tor the
ment WHOM might justly be called our organic
t ,sw I hS compared SsYo with the alsera
being 10 exhibit those fundamental principles
which !. was the proper office Of written consttu-
ton to preserve. II Was an error quite consistent
with the theory Of government inaug on our
separation from the parent Stale tho act Of
vote was no more private right than the payment of
srrc inst tax or the so,, &C. Of submitting to
confront an assailing Toe. These were public duties,
not private rights Mr. O'Conor argued thence that
would should regarded as an encroachment
upon personal right but - the enactment OF exemp-
lions from the performances OF public seevcc.
Tho orator reviewed in detail tho provisions OF the
first constitution OF this State dwelling with emphasis
upon the new doctrine which It promulgated in de-
carng that the Tree exercise and enjoyment
oil religious profession and worship without discrm-
inaton. should forever thereafter be allowed within
this state TO all mankind. No other state consttu-
ton adopted during the revolutionary conflict had
secured religious liberty by language liberal and
comprehensive. The English constitution was re.
ferred to by the orator the best
that any people had ever enjoyed before 1776 In its
arrane for the TRANSACTION OF public affairs II was
closely initiated by the trainers OF cons,itu.
ton. IL was IN respect only to provisions merely
modal and not involving any principle that the first
constitution subjected 10 any alteration prior to
1916, when new constitution was adopted. This
went into effect in 1S47 and, with alterations scarcely
uore than formal, It is still in force.
ECONOMY VS.. WASTE.
Mr. O'Conor pointed out tho fact that the nrst
law remained without atera-
lions Tor seventy years, and that the force
had in like manner subsisted for thirty years, and
as thing Of the past He 's CONTESTED s 's sSs
to the 1rst particularly in the matter of economy
One circumstance brought about by the traders In
so much OF public is held abroad that we pay
TO Europe for interest 1t every year 500 00O
s us ne ssses shat WITH such drsa
universal concession that reform 10 neediul.
be proceeded to inquire what features OF our
civil institutions needed TO DO remodeed He argued
that tho Executive, Legislative and Judicial depart
ments Of government should be jealousy kept apart
and invegned against the passage OF special acts Of
executive nature under the guse OF laws The English
system anay zed and the orator pointed as
the result OF IL the British Empire In political sense
consists exclusively OF the favored upper classes,
who enjoy tho wealth of nations through their Para
ment, and, though few IN numbers themselves, gov
srn the 90 ooo, 600 of Iaboring population. In CON.
trast 10 this Mr.. O'Conor exhibited our own sys-
ssm tho with early s"y. % The seoS
the simplicity and frugaty OF prevailing
habits and the absence OF great individual wealth
moderate individual ambition had lett the necessity of
expressly defining and limiting the power OF legisla-
lion unperceved, and hence the task devolved upon
tie cry OF both political parties, and 1t should be easy
to enforce such constitutional changes would pre-
vent the recurrence oil past errors.
AGAINST SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Mr. O'Conor called attention to OF the injuries
past, specifying that relating to banking as fragrant
instance from 1872 until the outbreak OF the war He
then spoke OF the amendment OF 1874 iorbldding
special legislation embodyn the Will OF the
Here the lecturer skctched several desirable features
IN what he termed 'the constitution OF the iuturc."
One OF these was the prevention OF Mr.. O'Conor's
bete notr-spccia leg lsation-and In that
remarked that withholding executive power IRON the
Legislature should not bc allowed TO produce a ms.
chicvous excess OF authority in the Chie Magistrate
ON tho contrary, there should be corresponding
form that quarter That Office sho uld not be elcc
tive II should be filled by lot every month IRON the
representative body. This would impress upon our
people the necessity OF eIccting none as but
sucn as were competent to tho higher Office. Tho
brcvty Of the term would prevent serious mschics
from incompetency where IT happened toupervenc, and
mi ma IN m fnna Nrrf In InA
nterminable election bros tor tho purpose OF SECURING
bimsef long term oil sem-regal power over his coun
trvmcn Reforms approximately similar should be IN.
sttutcd In the general government by altering Tho
federal constitution
In conclusion the orator said -
A BRILLIANT FUTURE.
Let our country be governed by general laws varied
NV eli ms no,