New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-08-16
co,et,tu.ionaI Changes.

earnestly engaged in forwarding the project OF re-
v;suo our State Constitution, the Object OF which
movement, so far as we understands it, is the over.
Clans, yulgarly styled Old Hunkers, who have
for many years monopolized most of the patronage
and power Of the State Government whenever
what funnily styles itself Democracy has been
in the ascendant. Very good: we agree to thls
and think of lending ita helping hand. Then as
to the ostensible object ofthis movement, the !lml
tation Of the powers Of the Government, and the
election Of more officers by the People, we are
wellinclined toward that also. On the whole, we
rather think VIC shall favor the call Of Conven-
ton, though with some doubts whether more OF
good or evil will result from the movement. Hon.
Michael Hoffman, in a public letter, thus sets
forth the objects of the proposed Convention
II retrench expenditure reform useless Offices
and make the equal in short and reasonable Pc
rod the payment Of The whole ef the public debt secure
that revenue from destruction DIVERSION by the legislative
power and make II certain that the people shall be
freed from debt and taxation for H.
IL mast limit the legislative power debt and expen
dture. Except nsurrection repe INVASION
no debt should be- contracted without the direct deliberate
assent OF the voter.
g. 1t must secure the Common School, Literature, De.
post other Trust Funds from conversion destruction
by the legislative power.
1t must make all bankers issuing paper money indivdu
siy responsible for all demands against them their corpora
lions associations, aud prevent Them from dealing
stocks fany kind and especially the stocks Of the State
s. II must safe and certain limits the powers OF all
municipal bodies TO debts and burthens those
siding owning property within their taxing and al
corporations to create debts
6. I, must secure the citizen against special Legislation
aud the grant Of exclusive privileges whereby the favored
few are authorised by law devoUr the and by all the
ways and known experience, otge delegated pow
eisiaon 10 regard that law OF nature and com
mand of God which declares that he that VIII not work
shall not eat"
T. 1t must limit the officers Of Government TO functions
strictly governmental and to the smallest number that io'
moderate COMPENSATION discharge the duty we'll ard
Ter their appointment Ear practicable 10 the people and
bodies the and most depsnden, and responsible
10 them.
/, must strip the legislative and executive far prac-
tieableo the appointing power
o. 1t must divest the Legislature OF all Judicial power
and provide Courts Of law aud equity with original and APP
relatc Jurisdiction b held by judges 10 be elected b the
people or reasonable Of years These Courts Of the
people must have power decide constitutional ques-
tons and thus maintain practice the limits eby the con-
suu,iop on delegated power
TO- The constitution shoull provide fora convention of
the people eas, twenty yearsto correct
reform abuses and make all needfui mproyemenm ef
ectually the equal natural rights Of ererg man"
Let US consider these points in their ORDER
/. Rctrenchment and Reform'-of course.
Very good. But taxing the people to pay off, the
whole State Debt within short time is unwiso
and unjust. Really, the State owes no Debt, in
the proper sense Of the term. She has construct
ed Internal Improvements ON credit, and they are
paving their own expenses and moro too. So
long os they do this, (and they should always be
made to- the Debt amounts TO nothing. Totax
the whole State TO pay the Debt, and then reduce
The tolls (as would inevitably be done would be
GROSS Injustice to the Counties not materially be.
Melted BY the Canals and Railroads. Make the
Public Works, as general rule, support them
selves.
g We have no objection 10 requiring popular
vote to sanction loan if the question be fairly
put TO the people. Map out your System of In
tcrnal Improvement, and then let the People vote
that II be prosecuted or Abandoned But to put
The question whether one particular Canal or
Railroad shall be prosecuted will be unfair.
s. No objection.
4. This Individual Responsibility is clap
trap FOR the ignorant. We think ii would rather
weaken the solvencY of Banks, by compelling
careful and wealthy men to keep out of them, and
throwing Banking wholly into the hands otthose
who have nothing TO lose. FoFbidding Bankers
TO deal in Stocks is childish. 1t is creating
special privileges for favored classes, and would
never DC enforced.
s. Special legslation'-' exclusive privileges
brave words these. But if q Railroad is TO
be built from Newly ork 10 Lake Erie the build
ers must have the exclusive privilege of taking
at fair valuation the land whereon to build it
why not? As towoyking and eating, we suspect
the Convention itself would afford an example OF
the violation of this salutary law.
IS. Very good. We re agreeable.
., We go this, ali but the election of Judges by
the People, which we want time to think about
10. No need OF this. If this projec, succeeds
we shall have Conventions often enough, ant
there will DC errors to correct and abuses tc
reform, all the time. Nomattcr: go ahead, Con
venton.
u The Eeeaiag Post thinks ii will be
great thing for its party ii the Wings have los
the Tennessee Legislature, and so the ascendancl
In the United States Senate! Now, TO pass owe
the Democracy of the Posts chuckIng at tht
hope that The minority Of the People OF Tenacs
see may somehow secure majority of the Legis
lature, we must inform the Post that the Wing:
of Tennessee had sot he Legislature to lose
they had had it, the L. S. Senators would hay,
been safe long since. The Legislature of 'sS
was soaoiiy against us; that elected in II Wa:
Wing in the House bet Loco. Foco in the Senate
so that the Loco Focos being a minority il
Joint Ballot were enabled to prevent any cleo
ton of Senators by refusing TO go into JOINT Bal
let. Now, the Wings haze certainly carried tht
House and probably the Senate also, How, then
.,a, ,ye bo,,o Loot ap,, fh;pr