Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-10-24
DEMOCRATIC DOlNGs.

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The efforts now in progress in several States
of the Union to amend their respective State
constitutions. are pregnant sign Of the times.
They show that the principles of the demo-
cratic party in the country are daily strength
enlng their grasp on the public mind. In the
great State of New York, this Constitutional
Reform movement has taken the most definite
shape, and is rapidly approaching success
full contamination. 1t is not in form, perhaps,
strictly party movement; but single glance
at the leading objects Of the reformers, is e.
nough to ascertain the party principles with
which those purposes are in sympathy, and
out OF which they spring.
In New Y ork, the party of constitutional
reform propose to limit the official patronage
OF The State government-to restrict the pow.
er OF the Legislature to pledge the credit Of
the State-to reform the present judiciary sys-
TEN and to abolish the present unjust and OPP
presslye privileges of moneyed corporations.
These are the main practical objects of the
movement; and no long examination of de-
bates, or careful scrutiny of votes in the legis.
lature, is needed to indicate to us the party in
which such an effort took its rise, and bv
which 1t will be sustained. It's democ ratio
character aud line ge are written on its fore.
head.
IL may we'll be that the wings of New York
will make show of cooper ton in the mea-
sure. The wing party is the party of expedi-
ents. 1t may. for time, affect zeal for con-
stltutlonal reform, as one Of the expedients
which 1t knows SO we'll how to adopt and en-
pioy. 1t may, too, urge the call of Consl-
tutional Convention, in the hope Of appealinr
successfully to the sympathies of the anti.
renters, or OF the abolitionists, in some Sec.
lions OF the State, and so gaiaing temporary
preoomnance in the State government. That
such expectations are entertained. the course
OF some of the wing journals makes. manifest,
even TO the eye Of distant observer. But
we believe that, in all such<aniicipatiops. tha
wings are doomed to sure and signal disap-
Pointment. The democracy of New York
watches with vigilant eve over the succ..r
OF its tiVonte Measure, 1t IL too deenlv
pieoged 70 1ts ancient democratic faith. and
;oo Ply iEanued with its ancient democrat.
- Iee'iIg, to be found remiss, or slothful, OF
Negligent, when its highest interests and its
brightest hopes are thus put in jeopardy. ii
knows full well-none better than it, the de=
mocracy of the Empire State"-that the
whlg party is at hearth the party of conserva-
ttsm-not the conservatism IF great principles,
Tor which the democratic party will fight to
'he oeath-not conservatism OF all p
gooo In theory, and found valuable
tise-hut Of that selfish and blind ar
shaken conservatism. which hugs ey
abuse, and shuts the door on every JUS
knowing this, the Democrats of Ne
Will not be caught sleeping. This gr,
sure OF constitutional reform is their
because 1t is truly the measure of the u.
ana while they fight out its battle
against the attacks of opan foes, theyv
eqoai zeal and assiduity, shield it +
s'rangiIng embrace of pretended friene
Washington L b