New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-21
THE TRIBUNE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY 81. ls45
The Convention-who arc our Friends, and
who our Foes.

The Convention-whoa arc our Friends, and
who our Foes
Among the anecdotes illustrative of Western
character extant, we recolect one OF rough and
ready Kentuckian who, riding up, a stranger, 10
gathering Of some fifty or sixty Hoosiers' or
'Wolverine engaged in general fracas with clubs,
.sts &c. and an occasional pistol or bowieknife in
quired -" Gentlemen, is this free fight :" Ii II
were, he-wanted chance in with the rest; bu, 1t
there were any thing select or special about H. he
preferred foregoing his share in the dveron 10 IN
curing the imputatlon of an impairment or lntru-
sive in,ermedling with other peoples affairs.
In the spirit OF this Kentucken, we wish TO ad-
dress few words 10 the Albany 4Atlds-a journal
which may be regarded as the organ OF the Re
forming section OF the Loco -Poco party. That pa
per, az we understand, owes It's existence 10 the
strong and growing desire among the rank and
file Of the now dominant party 10 inuse into It's acts
and daily life something more OF that Democracy
which is 80 profusely proclaimed IN lis addresses
and embazoned on its banners. Accordingly, II
was an early and has doubtless been an effective
advocate of Convention TO reform our State Con-
sttution We regret TO say that we observed,
IlIUuRN pOOu pdIl vi tIir idtC
on lis part to fall into the very errors which 1t was
called into existence 10 oppose-to make 'he
question OF Constitutional Reform subordinate to
party interests and party tactlcs-and 10 prefer The
defeat of the Call, if j, could be charged on the
Wings. 10 its success il the Wings were TO receive
q share of the credit. On what grounds, cOnsls-
tent with an intelligent and earnest desire for Re-
form, it INDUCED in its reiterated attacks on the
Wing Members Of the Legislature as lnsincere IN
their advocacy of Convention and anxious for a
cha1ce to back out of It's support, we cannot dis
cover But no matter Toward the last, we OBJ
served with satisfaction that the Atlas stood up TO
the work with manly fairness and earnest resolu-
ton And this impels US TO make these inquiries.
We shall not ask leave Of the Atlas TO advocate
and support, with whatever ability we may have
the calling Of Convention by the People, nor do
we seek any understanding with II tor the sake oil
success in that preliminary step The Convention
will be called, by Fifty Thousand majority; and II
is hardly within the power OF all the presses IN the
State TO prevent it. Neither have we any anxiety
as TO the Political aspects OF the Reforms 10 be
effected by it. We are fully aware that II either
party shall reap any advantage from the dongs o
the Convention, it will inevitably be that one
which is least anxious to achieve such advantage.
Ifeither party busies Itself with making capital IL
any way out Of this Reform movement it can only
be saved from resulting loss by It's adversarys eS
ceeding il in the slme error. II we believe that
the Wings will profit by the Constitutional aglta-
ton, il is because we think they will generally
evince less anxiety TO do so than their opponents
But we deem it most desirable that the advo.
Gates OF Constitutional Reform. of either party and
all parties, should know how they are TO regard
each other. We have arduous though mol
doubtful battle TO fight on the preliminary question
mot to convince the People that Convention
should be held, but to counteract the bugbears and
sordid appeals 10 vague fear, 10 narrow partzan.
ship, or to personal interest, which will be made
by our opponents. And, after tina. battle shall
have been won, deep responsibility rests on us
all as TO the result of Convention. Should il ac-
compllsh no substantial and papabe Reforms
should it devote itself to transiory and partisan OBJ
lects-should its dongs be rejected by or prove iH
furious to the People-we shall all have special and
lasting reasons for regret And it, by connivance
and back. stairs management, the Convention shall
be thrown into the hands OF the adversarles OF Re
form, no matter how composed as to party politics.
we may be sure that lis results will be nothing or
worse than nothing and the blame will be cast upon
u.s. II will be said thatwe have convulsed the State,
put the people to the trouble OF Special Election
and entalled an expense on the Treasury, when i,
appeared, upon coming TO the test, that the People
did not desire any change. While, therefore, we
expect to stand opposed, in the Political contests OF
the day, to the Constitutional Reformers who voted
Il.
what attitude they choose 10 stand toward Whie
Reformers in regard TO the Convention. We will
thank the Albany Atlas, therefore, TO favor us with
It's views on the topics contemplated in the follow
ing questions.
l. Do the Reformers of your party, so far as you
can Judge, desire to have stricken out or retained
that clause OF our present Constitution which de-
nies the Right OF Suffrage 10 portion Of our Adult
Male Citizens unless they severay own $3.50 worth
of Real Estate And, If averse 10 this, will they
probably desire some other restriction founded on
Color
2. Are they in favor of retaining those clauses Of
our present Constitution which virtually prescribe
a Religious Test, by excluding Ministers of Reli.
gion from office, and undertake TO atone for this
wrong by the equal wrons OF exempting cerlain
Property of those Ministers from taxation and them
selves from public duties required Of other citizens
8. Have they any objection TO the division of oul
State into as many Senate and Assembly Districts
as there shall be Senators and Assemblymen chosen
so that each shall be elected by and responsible
distinct constituency?
& Will they be likely to look with disiavor on
the idea Of abolishing all Constitutional require.
nents Of qualification for office, save citizenship OF
the State and majority Of the legal votes. And,
if they insst on continuing the present trequremeni>
of residence within the district and the attainment
of certain age, on what principle will they do il
5. How will they probably regard the idea Of con-
sttuting High Court Of Appeals, of three or five
Judges holding for a long term ii not for good be,
hsviour, instead Of having our highest Judges an.
nualy elected, as they now are, and this with
hardly thought OF their fitness for this most I'M
portant duty
There are other points on which we would
like TO compare views with the Reformers Of poll
tics adverse to ours bat these mus, suffice for The