New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-20
THE TRIBUNE.
-r1EsnAY moRNING. MAY 20, 1876
M. co,.,,fnt,onaI Convention.

Ihe COnTtT o. Et4UIG va ySSsNAN"y ~ 49,
all reasonable bounds in its abuse OF
the advocates of Convention that we are iinpel-
led TO answer more pointedly than we would have
preferred. We do not perceive any necessity tor
or prcprey in dragging personal characters or opn
ions OH irrelevant topics into this discussion; pnt
since the Courier persists in so doing, re cannot
refrain from saying that, if il were true that the
ANTI repudia;e their contracts and refaae
to nav their honest debts, and if it were as true as
ii is false that the Fourensts advocate sexual LII
centiousuess, the responsible Editor OF the Courier
6 ENQUIRER is not the man to rebuke them. we
have seen no evidence that the Anti-Renters, as
such. have taken ground in favor OF Convention,
and we know that the Social Reformers have not.
Rnt ,vhy should we waste words in rcpelins such
absurd calumnies?
The Courier thus opposes aCenven'ion:
sThat the whg party in this State and throughout tne
United States Ia the Conservative party NO man ~ ms
sensss will pretend to deny nor will be aened tt a
vola tendency Of our government from Its foundation 70
thIs period has been towards radicasm we stae INTO
national existence Republic, with suitable guafos anu
checks agans the oatbursts OF popular passion out
hnye unfortunately segcnera,ec into aDe'noTac ~ wc
the majority claim the right TO trample down all checEs
upon their U and In which the minority nave no ra,
The fabric OF government was III an us pa'9 -
nam solId foundation which other than judi
coeiy restricted elective franchise. That ioundauon mas
hesn removed the materials OF which II was composed
have bean scattered TO the four winds oil heaven ana In
its pace we have substituted uRfcersdl uTd3s Between
the oao and the other there affinity than bo-
tween foundation Of rock and one OF sano ana we
would save the whole supersucture from falling we nust
not It. unnecessarily TO the storms which the c2cit-
ed feelings Of too apt TO ensender when acted
upon by base and unpriRciped dcmagogues Since 1873
the downward tendency OF has been more
rapid than during any previous peIiou oi out P'teH'
history
We rejoice that the Courier so distinctly draws
The line between the advocates and the advefsa-
ries Of Popular Government. Those who tear or
haze the People, and who believe that Government
is device by which the cunning few may pest
control and profit by the simple many, WIN ioiio"
the lead of that journal, and vote against ConVen-
ton.
Had we aided. as the Courier did, to bring Jack
sonism into power we might, like that paper, de-
plore the downward tendencies developed by that
cheat, but we should not at the same time boast OF
our unchsnging devotion to the principles which
have proved so perncous. There has not de-
noralization or calamity since Detaea the he
public which canno, be clearly traced TO or fairly
deduced from Jacksonism as developed before 1892
that is, while the Courier and its Editor were
Jealous III llo SuPPSIt, huu ui6iHn PS'PNtN''~''
of the dynasty in the elevation of Van Buren, and
Marcy. And now when the Courier unJustly accu-
ses us Of advocating resistance to the decisions OF
the Supreme Court, we tell that paper that, when
Gen Jackson and his party did SO overule the de-
cision of the Supreme Court with regard 10 the I'M
munity of the Cherokee Indians from responsibility
te the laws Of Georgia for acts done upon their
own territory, the Courier was one OF the proml-
nent organs of that party and defenders OF Gen.
J.'s Administration. We cannot positively state
that the Courier expressly approved OF that high
handed violation of Law and Public Faith, but we
confidently believe it did, and are sure, that if it
had disscn,ed, the fact could hardly have passed
from our memory.
But hear the Courier on another point:
with regard what wond be the action Of Conven-
tion II II should ever assemble, there opinions
among Its advocates opponents Even the Tribune has
heretsore admitted that may and probably WILL do much
thsn that paper dare advocate whatever II may de-
sire; and we have no hesitation In charging, that we'll
knors that all In Albany who advocated, a Convention
openly admitted that under Constitution the whole
judiciary OF tho State would become elective! The Editor
well knows that such the daily admission of the friends
of the Convention in tho legislature and that the Editors
Of the Albany Evening Journal have always openly and
above board declared that such ono OF the Sea objects
of those who advocate Convention Yet knowing this,
no has tho mpudence try and deceive the Whgs Of this
city In relation to this feature OF the Convention move
ent because he fears their conservative feelings would be
roused against the measure by such an admission
We shall meet this accusation as fully as lan-
guage will permit We do not know that any body
atAlbany admitted that, under Reformed Con-
stitution, our Judiciary will become elective. We
never heard any human being advocate any such
proposition, at Albany or elsewhere. We do not
know that any such "daily admission "was made
by the friends of Convention in the Legislature.
We do not know that the Editors of the Albany
Evening Journal have said anything in the pre-
lnises. And we have no opinion or belief that the
Convention will make the higher Judiciary of the
State elective by the People.
And now we shall say with equal frankness
that we canaot be frightened, and we do not be-
leve the People can be frightened by any of the
Courier's busbcars about the Judiciary. We have
seen Judges appointed by Governors and Senate,
and not TO inferior Courts only-far less com.
pelent and worthy than the People could ever
have chosen. We know well that there was more
clamor against the Popular election of Justices
OF the Peace, prior TO and upon its adoption than can
now be raised against the choice of County Judges
IN that way. Even Mr.. Van Buren, deliberately de-
cared IN the Convention that he farther this power
teiec,ing Justices Of the Peace] is removed from
the People, the better" This was doubtless an
honest, sincere opinion and We, Mr.. Van Buren,
would now admit, as we must all see, that il was
an erroneous one. Our elected Justices are better
as Glass; than were ever appointed either in this
or any other State. Even party ties yield to the
general desire for the selection Of good Justices
and the strongest party majority is seldom avail.
able to elect an unit man 10 this office While,
therefore, we dc not propose or advocate any
change in the tenure Of mode of filling Judicial
stations, we have no shadow of fear tina, calan,.
itous consequences would result from making the
Judiciary in good par, elective. For those who re.
ally believe that the People would prefer dolts o.
villains to capable, honest men for their judges. i,
must be fortunate that Canada and Cuba are so ac-
cessible.
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