New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-30
Constitutional Reform.

state nave rcSOIVcC 10 Celedl lhe just, Sdutdly
and necessary measure of allowing the People to
say whether our State Constitution does or does
not require radical revision by a legal Conven-
ton. Well; they have the power 10 do this;
but that power involves a serious responsibility
On their heads be it
Instead of Convention, the majority have
adopted the principle of what was known as
" The Peoples Resolution" declaring that no
State Debt shall hereafter be contracted except
with the express assent Of the People, by direct
vote This we do not object to per Sc, but It's
manner rcnderst decidedly unfair, unjust, desruc-
tive The People are to be required to declare
by vote, for instance, whether they will or will
not authorize an expenditure of Half Million to
complete the Genesce Valley or the Black River
Canal. But my vote for either of these measures
depends upon the decision of other questions.
Will cheerfully vote fer the completion Of either
of these Works as part Of the system; might
be averse to completing any one and leaving
all others to decay. Let the People decide by a
direct vote whether they will authorize loans on
ished and dilapidating Works-or so many be
ing speci6ed) as the Legislature shall see fit to
60 on with-and we do not object But in the
shape fixed by the Legislature, it is just like
asking the People, before the Erie Canal was
made, to decide whether they would 90 in debt
to cut canal from Buffalo to Lockport. There
is no fairness in it.
A groundless, and ignorant panic is cot up
against :" Forty Million Debt, by assimatng
it to debts of European Governments, when in
fact there is no real resemblance between them.
A debt incurred to carry On wars, or to support
an expensive Court is all dead weight upon
the People, and should never be created but a
debt incurred to construct Public Works, which
pay the interest on their cost and arc annually
increasing in productiveness, is practically no
debt at all-ccrtainy no such debt rs the other
Suppose the State Of New York did owe Forty
Millions drawing Two Millions interest," and
her Public Works yielded net annual Revenue
of Two and a Half Millions, which was steadily
Would any sensible man say the
State was insovcnt THAT she was borne down
by public burthens Remember that a great
part Of this annual income is paid by citizens of
other States, who enrich New York by twice the
amount Of their tolls while our own citizens who
pay canal tolls receive at least twice the value Of
every dollar 50 paid. If we ind expended Forty
Millions for Public Works, the Government
would be Fifty Millions and the People Fifty
more the richer therefor. Surely no friend Of
Internal Improvement, any where or at any time,
will give countenance to this Hoffman propo.
sition.
But, apart from and far above this question
Of Improvement and Debt, there ought to be IA
radical Reform of our State Constituton-some-
thing entirely different from what may be ex-
pected from the Legislature. We need a sweep
ing Judicial Reform, to begin with-not the
creation of half a dozen Chuncoore and
Judges, but renovation Of the system. The
following Reforms appear TO US imperatively
demanded, viz:
l. A limitation and definition Of the powers
of the Court of Chancery, if such Court be
longer needed at ALL
2. A renovation OF our Judiciary System the
separation of the Legislature from the Judicial
power by the abolition or reconstruction Of our
hybrid Court of Errors.
3. Less Law and moro Justice in our various
Courts; such a simplifcation of the machinery
or multiplication of the ministers OF the Law
as will ensure more prompt settlement of lltl-
gated cases. avoiding the unjust and expensive
delays now encountered
4. A Legislature elected for two years, and
the Governor for reasons given;
5. A complete adoption Of the District Sys-
TEN, dividing the State into as many Districts as
there are Senators and Representatives respective
ly, each choosing one Senator and one Member of
Assembly for the Legislative term of two years !;
6. Fewer officers appointed at Albany and
more chosen by the People. If it be deemed in
expedcnt to elect Surrogates, &c. let them be
appointed by the Judges and Supervisors of the
several counties;
I. An extension Of the Right of Suffrage to
every withdrawing citizen who shall have been
registered one year citizen of the State, six
months OF the county, and one month Of the
Town or Ward in which he offers to vote.
The following memorial we learn, is circu-
lating in some of the central counties of this
State:
To tha Lcgislct:Ee Ct Neg York:
tt undersigned inhabitants OF the County OF
have learned that bill Is before your body, for sub
shall!
amended through the medium Of poru ar Convention and
they desire that said bill may become law.
We desire the adjustment of three the Clerks Off
cf Of the Supreme Court no longer necessary rsnce
Judge De docketed County Clerks Office be-
fo,e hscone Ion TIE axnsr.e ,ha.e