The New York herald., 1844-08-30

Albany Consaitutional Reform Association.
An address of this important association hasj just
been published il was presented to and adopted
at meeting held in Albany on the 7th inst. After
reviewing the defeat Of the peoples resolution Of
amendment to the Constitution in the Legislative
session of lS43, the address proceeds to an emu
meration Of the abuses which required reform
| The wild career OF debt and speculation-the ne
cessity of shielding the mass Of the people from
the exactons Of this system, and the social dsor-
ganization that must follow fluctuations, bank
frauds, bankruptcy; the creations of corporations,
in which the Legislature had given extraordinary
privileges individuals at the expense Of the mass,
and Of powerful monopolies with which private la
Dor and capital could not compete the surrender
Of many Of the important functions Of the republi-
can government to the federal head; the defec-
tiveness of the Judicial system the profigate use Of
the patronage of the executive, which, having in
its gift the appointment of three hundred judicial
officers, fifty-nine surrogates aud a multitude of
other officers, possessed control formidable to
popular liberty to remedy these, the question of
calling convention was seriously agitated, in or
der, to use the language Of the address:-
"o check the Of debt and consequent taxation;
provide safe currency for the peoples to stay the pro-
/
Of monopoly to return the power Of local and private
legislation TO the people or their boards OF
system. and separate from egsaon to restore to the
people whom belongs the exorbant patronage OF the
executive and to guard more ehecuay the places OF ie
| tations of ofcen
/ The address then takes up the legislative action
Of l844, as exceedingly important to the friends of
reform. II refused to submit the question of re-
form to aConvention asserting that the legislature
was the proper, if not the only power which could
take cognzance Of questions such as to adjust the
balance of government, and to settle the limits in
which its several departments should act. On this
assumption OF it sole jurisdiction, If passed, fve
! amendments, the FIRST two relating to State debt
| and liability; the others deprived the Executive
| and Senate of the power OF removing judicial
officer without hearing his defence, and notifying
i Supreme Court, aad three Associate Cnancellors.
AS to the first resolution the address attaches to
| it much Importance; but having hitherto passed
through but preliminary step in its progress, the
| democratic party are called upon for renewal of
/ their exerons TO procure the two-thirds vote OF
/ the Legislature, which, as well as final appeal to
| the people, is requisite before its embodiment in
| the Constitution.
In orderjto procure these las we'll as other desir.
| able changes, the friends of reform are invited to
| active and renewed exertions, to appoint commit
several associations Of the State for the purpose of
concentrating public opinion thereon, and by their
combined effort to give efficiency to the cause,
In addition to thls.we record our hearty approval
deratlon 1t is useful manual to put in the hands
Of every voter Of this State, that he may study and
| mark well various issues between those who are
| friendly to sound reform and those who are not;
| that their sufIages may be bestowed upon men
/ worthy OF it-upon men who will 60 tor the great
work Of reform, and for the adoption of these i'm.
portant resolutions by the Legislature. Upon the
whole, the document is a useful one, and will be
read with interest by all who have given the SUBJ
ject OF Constitutional Reform any degree OF atten
tion
BooKsELLERs' TRADE SALE.-The Mayor was
greeted with great applause from his brethern OF the
trade at the semi.annual sale the other day. He
made one Of his quaint little speeches the occa-
sion, which we suboin:-
GENrLEMEN-I have been engaged this forenoon in Of.
hs tie py the
this demonstration (lluding to his reception of your
kindness gives me confidence to express my attachment
for the profession to which have devoted the greater
part Of my life Though recently called by dispense.
tion Of Divine Providence. to l an official station, yet
after twelve months shall have elapsed my return
among you hope shall not be regarded ineroper
but shall be received friend and brother, for, if
have any PRIDE desire to be known any character
it Is in that Of humble bookseller and publisher Gap
plause)
to society. As booksellers associated with the
Statesmen Philosophers and TheologaHs Of the age We
number among those to whose can look back
with proud satisfaction, examples worthy OF imitation
Such as Matthew Carey, Lunds, Gilley, Dykink, Long,
and still farther back Benjamin Franklin 1t is in your
| power, gentlemen to give impulse to the national
character for the virtue and intelligence Of the book
sellers depend in measure, the moral character Of The
country.
Now, gentlemen, we will 60 on with the sale and II
you bid lively thar il give low price, will consider
| what is to be said a. the end
During the sale Mayor Harper made many hu-
morous and characteristic remarks, which we are
sorry we cannot record for the amusement and in.
struction Of our readers. AT the close of the sale
he said
entertan the favorable opinion of you as before
the SALE but If any thing think have you
hib great thirst for intelligence you have shown
the present occasion, and have doubt, that get
ting home and looking the subject with calm deibe-
ration you will fad that you have paid full prices.
u. =. COmmissioncr's Office.
| Before Commissioner Rapelje.
AUG. 29.-William Merchant, Phillip smith, Thomas
Thompson snd John Tilley four seamen, brought
before the Commissioner, charged with having created
revolt board the ship Elizabeth Dennison," the
l2th May last her way from Mobile in the Gulph oi
Florida.
Capt. Russell H. PosT, being sworn, deposed That he
captain OF the ship Elizabeth Dennson, her last
voyage from Mobile, on the 18th and 18th days OF May.
His wewas i'll and his attention attracted by SQUAD.
BILE that occurred on deck. On getting deck, he found
Merchant Of the prsoners and the second mate