The Constitutional Commission

The Constitutional Couimission perected an organization by electing Hon. S. M. CirrcitEOX, of Washtenaw, Chairnian, and HENRY S. Cr.ums, of' Ottowa, Clerk. At'ter in informal reading oí' the present (Jonstitution, and a running discussion of its provisions with snggostions of lefects and amendments, it was ordered ninted in bill form. The following standing coinmittocs were also appointed by the Chair, by order of the Commission : On Legislatura, Boundaries, Seat of (íovernment] anu División of the Powers of OoTOTIlment, Messrs, l'])snn, Divine, and Grouse. On Judiciary, Militia, nul Miacellaneous iiuittevs, Messrs. Withoy, Hatch, and Pond. On Finanre and Taxation, Salarias nnd Exemptions, Mossrs. Jerome, Mason, DpBQn, and Cuteheon. On Oorporations, Bailroads, and Eleotions, Messrs. Me.lihiuüli. liiley, Witliev, WoodWBSd, and Devereaux. On the Exeentive, State Oificers, (vountios, and Townships, ïmpeftohmenta and lieinova-ls froni Office, Messrs. Wells, Crane, and Woodward. On Arrangement, classification, etc, Messrs. Pond, Hatoh, Divine, Moffatt, and Crane. On Ejducation and Salaries, Messrs. WiUitts, Moffatt, and Biley. The discussion which took place on the ronding of the Constitutioii developed au almost unaninious expression of opinión in favor of the State oöicers and judges :eing appointed instead of elected ; and also in favor oí' remitting the wholeques:ion of salaries to the Legislature. The üommission will do well to recognize the nevitable rather than their own notions. Thero may be Btrong reasons for the changes indicated, although Presidents and Governors are not always happy or 'ortunate in the selection of theii' aprointees, - witness the appointment oi Deake lo be a judgeship in Utah, and then of Strickland to be his successor, and the nutnerous Ministers, Consuls, etc, disgracing the country abroad, - but il may be set down as certainand inevitable that the people, who are to adopt or reect the work of the Coinmission, will nol surrender the right, so long held and exeicised, of electing the State ollloers anc judges. And any effort to induce them so to do will X)p "love's labor lost." The sanie reraark will apply to the l'iestion of salaries. Within certain liniits the power to fix and establish the salaries of all ofiloers of higli and low degrbe in the service of the State - whether executive or judicial - should be remittei: to the Legislature, as the control of the salaries of county otticers.is given to the Supervisors ; but it is too soon after the disgraceful Congressional salary-grab for the people to yield a hair to the Legislature. It may not be considered manly for the Commission to takc 'counsel of their fears and yield a point of principie or right ; nevertheless it is but folly to run their heads against a stone-wall. Better recognize tho well-dqfined Jxmndavisi of their poteer ín aecomplish and act accordingly. Mako the salaries jnst aiid liberal, and then the respousibility of continuing the present narrow policy - which only invites inefficiënt officers or the alternative of neglect of duty and peculation - will rest upon the tinal arbiters - tbr eieetoTB ot' the State. In considering the Legislativo artiele Mr. Jeiïome proposed the election of Senators for a term of six years, to be divided into three classes. Mr. Wir.LlTTS favored a four years term, in two classes. Mr. POND thought this arrangement necessary or "a standing commission, which should be in attendance on the Legislature, and to whom all proposec amendments to statutes should be refer red." Subsequently, on motion of Mr Jerome, the proper committee was in structed to iuquire into the propriety o providing for three classes and a six years' term. The medium proposition o Mr. WlLlilTTS would be more satisfactor; and suffioiently conservative. Mr. ELá.TCH desired to strike out sec tion 20, which provides that no law shul embrace but one object which shall bt. stated in its title. He thought it " a ver; burthensoine and expen3ive clause, aiu fatal to many woll-inteutioned acts, also as leading " to much litigation anc inconvenience." IfMr. ÜATCH wishes to inaugúrate in the Legislature the corrupt and disgracef ui " omnibus " system which prevails in Congress he can do it by eliuiinating the section in question. It is one safeguard which cannot be spared ; another is the requirement for the calling of the yeas and nays on the passage of evcry bill, and another the requirement of a majority vote of all the members olactjor any bill to secure its passage These safeguards should all be incorporated upon the national Constitution and not one of thetn be Strioken from our organic law. The Coinmission transaoted no business on Saturday or Monday. On Tuesdaj, the com mittee jeported a full " Edueational Article," on which we shall cominent auother week. On Wednesday the "Executive Article " was reperted without material change, except the omission of section IS), regulating the issue of commissions. A motion Jooking to annual sessions of the Legislature was lost by a vote of 4 to ( ; a resolution adopted of inquiry into the propriety of pruviding for instruction in architecture, mechanical drawing, and other iudustral arts ; also a " local option " rcsolutiou - that is a resolution of inquiry into the expediency of pemiitting towns and cities to adopt either the prohibitory or license system ; also a resolution lavoring restricting special legistation upon numerous subjects ; also, one squinting at the submission of the womau suffrage question to the women themselves at the spring election in 1877 ; and one for an additional Senator from the Upper Península. THE coLoitEl elector of Virginia will have to imitate their brethren in Ohio and demand their rights of the Republicans--"the right to be voted for as well as to vote." They poll - so the Itepublicans claim - 120,000 votes, which is 27,000 votes more than Grant received in the State in 1872, or to reduce the claim, "full nine-tenths of the Kepublican vote. And yet not a color ed man has been put upon the State ticket. They will be but " hewers of wood and drawers of water" for their political masters so long as they silently submit to such an indignity.