Year: 1867

Work to bo Done.


A very brief time is allowed to canvass tho
merits Of those who are to be put forward -
candidates for the State Constitu ional Con-
vention; but the Importance of the questions
that will come before that body for considers
ton and action renders it very desirable that
none but responsible, practical, representative
citizens be selected as delegates. The expe-
ricnce of twenty years has shown many irnper-
fections in the organic law Of the State, and has
suggested many improvements upon the present
system of governing the Commonwealth.
The principle of the decentralization of power,
popular in 1s46, and adopted by the Conven-
ton of that year as the basis of the State con>.
stitution, against the judgment Of some Of its
most intelligent members, has not been found
to work to the public advantage or 10 fulfil
the expectations Of its advocates. The people,
taught by the great lesson Of the rebellion the
value Of concentrated power and direct re-
sponsibility in national and State governments,
and believing that by such system alone the
alarming corruptons in our legislative, judicial
and municipal bodies can be stopped, demand
radical change In the organic law, and look
with anxious hope to the coming Convention
OF Revision.


The first duty of the Convention will be tho
remodelling Of the system Of State government.
We believe that the popular sentiment ID
largely in favor Of such reform in this drec-
ton as will secure more direct responsibility
to the people and confer greater power upon
t;vo hoa ock he Ckoka he
should have the exclusive privilege ofappoint-
ing all subordinate officers whose duties are
simply those of heads of bureaus formed for
the purpose Of carrying on the details Of tho
government under the executive authority
such as the Comptroller, the Canal Commis-
sioners, the Adjutant General, the Attorney
General, &C., and his appointments should
require the confirmation of the State Senate.
In order that the exercise Of this large power
may be brought directly into accountability
to the people the Governor should hold offco
only for one year. The necessity OF submitting
his acts every year to the test Of the popular
vote would ensure an acceptable and honest
discharge Of his duty by the Executive, and
would do much 10 deter the party to which he





influence over his appointments The salary
OF the chief magistrate Of the State should be
raised to q respectable amount, say fifteen
thousand dollars a year, and he should be pro-
yided with suitable executive mansion,
properly furnished, at the expense Of the State.


The elective judiciary should be swept out
of existence high and low, and the judges
should all be appointed by the Governor, with
the consent OF the Senate, and should hold
Office during good behavior until attaining the
age Of sixty years, when they should retire
with pension amounting to one half Of the
salary received by them at the time Of leaving
the bench. The power of appointment should
reach all judicial officers Of every grade, and
include also the chief police officers Of incor-
porated cities. This change in the judicial
system would we believe, meet the public ap-
proval and receive the endorsement of the
popular vote.


| Every respectable citiEon and taxpayer adj