The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26
WHAT TIE LAST ONE DID.
1HE KoRK or TEE ooSsTTTUTToShL
CONVENTION OF 1891


Part In It-what the Voters DID with
tie Rseop,mendstioas - Mr. eideon ..
fuckers Beeouecuons Of the Affair.
Who will he the Horace Greeley. the Samuel
]. Tilden. the George William Curtis OF the
Constitutional Convention whose members
| have Just been selected7 They were distin-
eulshed and active members OF the Convon-
tion Of 1SB7-09 and the eve big volumes OF
the journal Of that Convention give evidence
OF their activity in the reports OF almost every
days proceedings. That Convention was
called to order in tho Assembly chamber Of
the Capitol In Albany on the morning OF Tues
day. June 4. 1857. aud sat there continuously
until Sept. "a OF that year. when the ConVen-
ton adjourned for the fall elections Its de-
liberations were resumed again In the Assem-
bly, chamber on Nov II. but when the LeRis-
lature convened the Convention moved to the
Council chamber OF the City Hall. where 1t
remained in session until Its final ADJOURN
ment on Feb. 2S 1853.
Tho law M ads by the State Legislature under
which the Convention OF 1857 was called to-
gother- provided for thirty-two delegates at
large. and assured an equal number OF Re-
publican and Democratic delegates at large
by restricting electors to sixteen names OF
such delegates. But the Convention was Re-
publican. nevertheless . fact which Horace
Greeley took pains to emphasize before the
Convention was an hour old The Convention
was called to order By Francis G. Bar
low. then Secretary OF State. whereupon
the Rev. DR.. W. ID. SpraRue OF Albany prayed
for divine blessing upon the delibera-
lions OF the body. The members OF
the next Constitutional Convention will do
we'll to bear In mind that the religious element
was strong in the Convention Of twenty-s six
years ago. for the frat motion made and car
ried outside OF the motions necessary for the
organization OF tho Convention. was by Dele
cato Bell. who moved that the Convention re-
quest it's Secretary to confer with the regular
clergy Of Albany to tho end that arrangements
might be made to open each days session with
prayer. and this motion was adopted. An evil
dence OF the deep interest fet in the work OF
the Convention was the fact thnt the first roll
call which was made by Erastus Clark. deputy
Secretary OF State. showed all present but
three delegates at large and four district dele
gates.
The Nom bers Of tho Convention had met in
caucus. the Democrats and. Republicans sepa-
rately. OF course. on the evening OF June . and
It was stated by some OF the less strict partisan
members that the chief object OF the caucus
calls was to agree upon ticket OF officers
which should be elected unanimously. This
was done as q part OF the plan OF number OF
uelcRatts WIN tHhJ klo EesulLiHE
work OF the Convention would be viewed by
the State at large with much moro favor II the
Convention from the start showed an absence
OF partisan spirit. This proved to be q quix-
otto undertaking. as an effort OF that kind so
soon after the violent partisan spirit engen-
dered during the war period was sure to DO.
Although It was known when tho Convention
met that the effort had failcd In the eau
Gus. Delegate J. Brook made one moro effort
to secure at least the election OF a Chairman
by unanimous vote. He made calm appeal
to the delegates to let at least this one office
be filled without display OF party prefer
ences. and cited the evident desire OF the
Legislature when it had provided by law for
an equal representation of both parties in the
delegates at large. but this effort also failed.
There were twenty-one mem bers voted for for
Chairman. william A. Wheeler. aiterward
Vice president of the United States. secured
cast. Among others who were voted for was
Erastus Corning. who received four. Samuel
In taking the presiding otricer's chair. Mr.
Wheeler said that the people had called the
GSpyentSn to devise means ITO secure the
closely interviewer with our growth and
prosperity. which has stint lated as we'll our
created villages and cities and made vast con-
tributions to our foreign commerce: the regu-
lation and government OF our State institu-
lions and multiform corporations, municipal
and other; wise. lust. and economic adjust
ment Of State finances: the eonterrinG OF such
general legislation, and an improved system
Of judiciary which shall supply efficient, rem:
the rights OF person or property"
The organ ization of the Convention was then.
%e SseretSfy 2dwsrd tndorSii es ste an
rapher; samuel {. Pleree. congratulations.
Arms Oh h t. 81 IL. ns
ton OF the Convention, although an effort wgS
made 20 extend the list OF officers, and this
cessful objection. Mr.. Sylvester had moved 10
appoint a Postmaster for the Convention. an
officer that. ne regretted TO notice. had not
been provided for by the Legislature Mr..
Greeleys first speech was Very briei. He said:
81 trust this resolution will not be- adopJed"
Greeley would not interTose an objection to the
election OF so necessary an official rs a POST
master To the Convention, and read a nice little
certificate OF good character for the man whom
he proposed to nominate for that Office II no
standing Mr.. Greeleys objection. that the Of
flco was a necessary one. Mr.. Greeley again
arose, look ed at Mr. sylvester ovar his glasses,
regarded the Chairman through his glasses.
then swept his eye, underneath his glasses
over the constitution makers ami said:
II trust that this Convention will not com
mence its labors by violating the laws OF this
state in regard to the officers provided for.
Certainly eight doorkeepers must he four too
many. and two sergeants -at-nrms at least one
too many and We could spare one Of these
officers 10 act as Postmaster. TRUST that this
Mr. Greeley wiped his forehead with his
handk eTchief. swung his head slowly from
side 10 side few times, and then sat down,
Mr.. Sylvester was not heard from again that
day. This first little scrimmage was llualy
settled by the ADOPTION Of y motion. made by
Delegate StTatton that the deputy sergeant
at-urms should act as Postmaster. This was u
small matter. but IL gave Mr. Greeley a taste OF
victory. and this aroused a combatIys spirit
possibly never very difficult to arouse In Mr.
Greeley. and hef,'Te that first day's one brief
session had closed he had overturned all the
hopes and calculations OF tho peaceaby dis
posed and plunged the body into . red-hot
partisan fight ny FemaTking apropos of nothing
at all. regard as imposed on the Republican
majority Of this Convention the duty OF re-
Thereupon Mr., Greeley called from the ranks
ol ths enemy n fosmAn worthy Of his steel. for
the one VINO arose 10 answer to his challenge
was MI. lllden. tie wanted to know II Mr.. Gree
Icy Thought the Democrats present were there
with the intention Of antaEoniZing any honest
ana wise EFFORTS made TO improve the COnsti-
tuition. without waiting for MIR. Greeley to an
swer; Mr. llden proceeded in diRn fled and
scholarly mAnnerto read the great editor Ices
tuTe on the lneXpediency OF too freduently and
publicly end earnestly asserting that all po-
ltlcal virtue resided In the Republlcan party
The three articles 81 the new Constitution
which occupied the greater part OF the long
sessions of the Convention We're the judiciary.
the tax. and the article relating 10 uualtlrA-
Ion for colored persons who might receive