The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-29

We perceive from number OF newspaper an
nouncements in Albany and western New York,
that strong and powerful movement has been
made In favor of " constitutional reform,' as it is
called, headed by Mr.. Hoffman, member of Assem-
bly, from Herkimer county, and supported by a
large portion of the democratic party in both branch
es of the Legislature. This movement has several
very important objects. 1t embraces financial re-
form, and also decided and radical reform of the
gross abuses which have been committed with the
administration of justice in all the courts and Judi
cial tribunals throughout the State.
Perhaps, indeed we are sure, there never was
time in the history of this State when such
movement as this was more needed In relation
to the finance of the State it is a-important that
some constitutional checklshould be nterposed, SO
as to prevent profigate expenditure and the unne-
cessary creation of debt. The truth that the peo-
pie should devise some constitutional and efficient
| means OF counteractlng prevailing, corrupt and
nudicious legislation in their financial affairs has
been written IN great and glazing characters in the
recent history of Pennsylvan Mississippi, Mary.
| land, and other States. Had it not been for the
hdehty and vigilance Of the newspaper press, anC
| some degree OF decency in the democratic portion
| OF the people of the State of New York, we believe
| that she would have been reduced to the same dis
graceful condition as the States Just named Wher
the wings were In power, they were running as ra
pldly into debt as they possibly could, and in two
or three years longer this State would have beer
as great butt as Pennsylvania for the Rev. sgd
ney Smith But it is manlfestly unsafe to trust &c
such accidental preservatives in future. Let us
have some constitutional provision which will ef
fectually secure us against disgrace and ruin by
means of corrupt politicians of all parties.
Again, in relation TO the judiciary and reform oil
| the administration of justice Look at the scenes
which daily pass before the public eye in courts of
justice IN this city-look the strange unblushing
evasion of all law, all equity, all justice-look at
the inequality in the melting out of punishment to Of
tenders. Here, in this city, we have had dozens of
defaulters-publlc robbers, who have pundered
banks and insurance companies and defrauded and
beggared hundreds and hundreds of widows and or
phans, and yet not one of them has been convict
ed. On the other hand miserable, starving, half
naked offenders have been subjected to the utmost
rlgor of the law. Some poor editor, with three
cents in his pocket, like Mike Walsh, happens
to say something hard of some fellow who spouts
about politics in the dirty rum-holes of the Five
Points, and he is at once packed of to the Peni-
tertiary, whilst rich old scoundrels who have out.
ragged the moral sense of the whole community, are
able defy courts, and in their it is quite
impossible to remove the scales from the eyes o.
| justice.
The necessity and importance Of this great reform
movement clear MONDAY. We therefor,
greatly rejoice in il and wish it full and speedy sue
| cess