Year: 1867

their own redemption, and not look to Con-


grsss either for free farms or fresdmen's


bureaus any longer


The Csnveneiea Of Revision.


The approaching State Constitutional Con-


vention appears to give the party journals and
politicians . great deal Of trouble. and to


create quite commotion in the rival organi-
cations in this city. There is likely to be


mixed fight ON the Senatorial district delegates
in New York, II not all over the State, and tho
election viii probably foreshadow the general
disruption Of parties that is almost certain to
take place next fall There will, of course, be
large majority Of republicans returned to
the Convention, and with the exception Of the
sixteen delegates at large, who are sure Of
election, the democrats will have very


meagre show. They are not at all likely to


secure as many members Of the Convention As
they now have representatives in the State
Assembly. The probable results are already
beginning to be discussed by the party jour-
mails, which are predicting what will
be done, or discussing what ought to be
done by the Convention, according to their
several political proclivities The Convention
will have it in its power to consider and re-
model the whole constitution from beginning
to end; but there are, in fact, only few points
which there is any real necessity to touch.
The reform of the judicial system, the increase
Of the power Of the Governor, plan Of re-
sponsible government for the cities Of the
State, and few minor matters, such as salaries
Of public officers and the pay and term Of the
Legislature, are ill the subjects to which the
Convention need give attention; and as these
are important and necessary to the well-being
of the State, the more plainly and simply they
are put before the people the better.


We have no doubt there will be Q large
majority Of second rate politicians from both
the republican and democratic parties in the
Convention, and the chances are that they will
control It's action. The effort on the side Of
such republicans win be to frame . constitution
under which they would be enabled to secure
party advantages and to psrpetuate their
power In the State, while the democrats
win strive to embarrass the proceedings Of the
Convention and to crowd in some Objectionable
amendments that may enable them to defeat
the revised constitution by the popular vote
next fAll, and to leave the judiciary and the
executive and the municipalities in their
present condition. A1s
The large majority OF the intelligent, respon-
sibls citizens Of the State are in favor of GER
tain great reforms In the State constitution.
OF that there is no doubt The elective sys-
tenn Of the judiciary has proved worse than .
failure. II has fastened political judges upon
| the State and rendered law and justice only
terms of mockery. The business Of the courts
il crowded and numbered up 80 that it would
be impossible to clear the calendars for the


next ten or fifteen years, il al litigation should
cease tomorrow and the present system be


suffered to continue. At every term, especially


in this city, the impossbility Of keeping politi-


cal influence out Of the halls Of justice is made
painfully apparent Crime is suffered to 70


unpunished, whenever the criminal can COM


mand the influence of the grog shop politicians


and ward bullies who are all powerful at the


polls The people earnestly desire to see this
dangerous evil removed and the bench puri-


fed by. having JUICES appointed for life, during
good behavior, Or until reaching sixty years
Of age, and then to be retired with pension
equal to half thsir salaries By this means
they hope to secure an independent, fearless
and capable judiciary. 1t is also the popular
desire to increase the responsibility and
efficiency Of the executive by enlarging the
powers Of the Governor, electing him every
year and holdinf him answerable for the good


conduct Of The whole State government
Under our present. system the Governor has


but little more nal authority than the dgure-


head of our Municipality, called Mayor. He


should have the power to appoint all the sub


ordinate heads II the State departments, and
should be responsible to the people for their


honesty and capacity. The system Of muni


cipal government laid down in the constitu-


tion for the citi@ OF the State should be framed


on the same model as the State government


The Mayor q the chief executive officer,


should be Il fact, as well as in name, the head


Of the municipality, ~ the Governar should


be Of the Shts. He should have the power to


appoint allbub ordinate heads Of departments


under him without the cooperation Of the


Aldermen, Ind should be held responsible to


the peoplelfor tho character and conduct Of


his sppoinSss. He should be elected only for


ono year, 10 that his responsibility to the


people mi&t be direct There should be no


other or c&nicting executive authority in the


whole citkovernment, and the powers Of tho


Board Of aldermen should be simply and


strictly letlative. These reforms we believe


the State leeds and the people desire but


nom the chracter Of the nominations thus far


made by Hth political parties for delegates to


the Convdtion sf Revision, we see but little
hope that they will be secured. On neither