CHAPTER V

CONVENTION OF  182I----PERSONNEL OF THE CONVENTION----FALL OF

THE COUNCIL OF APPOINTMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF RE¬
VISION----LOCATION OF THE VETO POWER----DEBATES OVER NE¬
GRO   SUFFRAGE----EXTENSION   OF   WHITE   SUFFRAGE----INCREASE

OF governor's POWERS----THE NEW SYSTEM OF APPOINTMENTS

----CHANGES    IN    THE    SENATE----BANK    CHARTERS----POWER    OF

AMENDMENT EMBODIED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

The convention of 1821 was destined to draft perhaps the
best constitution that the State has had, and the people were
fortunate in their choice of delegates. Men of less ability might
have accomplished the destruction of the two councils
and the broadening of the suffrage, but they could not
so well have dealt with many other problems pre¬
sented to the convention. The persons chosen as
delegates were mainly of the Democratic party^ and included men
prominent in the affairs of the commonwealth, or thereafter to
figure importantly in its history. At least one county rose above
narrow and provincial considerations in the choice of one of its
five representatives. To the wisdom of the people of Otsego
county is it due that Martin Van Buren was elected a delegate.
He was not a resident of that county, but he was chosen by its
people under an impression,  says Hammond, that "the public

I. The old Republican party, the name having been gradually
changed between 1810 and 1820. Tammany Hall still clings to the com¬
pound name, Democratic-Republican, which was used in the time of
change.

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