New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-05-14
Popular Rights-Rcform.

Popular Rights-Rcform.
The Er.ning Post, in exultng over the down
fall of the Native ascendency III our City, closes
as follows
There never can be really any parties here,
elsewhere in America enc, disrustic OF the people
thriving upon its ignorance fostering is vices and prsld-
and Wrestling power continually from Tue hands oil me
many and the other full OF hope and confidence conscious
Of the destines Of great republic aud eYei !ehe 20 uPn
the great truth that aiee and ielgeut people h always
Its own best guide"
We commend these assertions TO the earnest re-
gard of the Aibany Argps, and lis OLD bunker
coDfeaerates in The Legislature who, white profess
ing not TO oppose Constitutional Convention, so
uniformly s,igma,ize it most Perllous and
Revolutionary resort-someihing 10 be JUSTIFIED
only by aterrbic necessity and only 10 be permitted
under the most stringent limitations Conven-
ton, they would make the people believe, can only
be trusted if trusted it must be, by being fenced up
on every side by the Legislature, so as TO be kept
strictly in the path OF duty and sound policy
as the Regency understand IL Blu, why Is 1t that
this Legislature, not chosen with reference 10
organic reform, if indeed to any thing else but the
relative fitness Of the rival cauddatesfor President,
should be so trustworthy aud safe, when Con-
vsniion elected with express reference 10 The better
securing of popular rights, cannot be trusted at all
And il the Convention be so dangerous that 1t must
be branded in advance. why cannot the People
trust themselves ?-since without their fnal and
direct ratification the labors oi the Convention must
come 10 naught.-We have not seen an argument
adduced in favor Of the yokips and wringng OF the
Convention by the Legislature which did not ap-
pear 10 us direct attack the rightfulGess and
security of Popular Sovereignty. They all virtually
assume that the People do not know how 10 choose
and instruct Delegates, and are certain to fall into
evil courses unless prcservedby The guardian care
of the Legislature.
We ask the attention Of The People Of New York
to extracts from two Speeches in the Senate on this
subie ct-and first from that of Mr.. SHERMAN, rad
ica Loco Foco We follow the report Of the A.
bang atlas:
Mr. SHERMAN said that having from his infancy been
ardcny devoted republican institutions. and enthu
attached democratic principles he had been
naturally led very early day 10 notice the measures,
doctrines and principles OF the democracy In the number
less struggles made them to gain the cdomnancy and
TO retain the ascendency In this Si4e and among all the
conflicts which the friends G equal rights and privileges
had taken prominent part none had made more durable
impression upon his mud thln tie memorable scenes OF
R9O and 1921 Mr. s. said IL would unnecessary for him
TO say that he alluded TO the circumstances attending The
Introduction aud passage through the Legislature, IN the
People VI this State to amend the Constitution upon the
Abortion of which he enabled TO cast his first vote.
lie would say that the objections 10 its passagc-ihc
covert opposition its becoming lawand the unusual
course of conduct its deadly opponents were In all par
tcuars analogous TO the objections. opposition and con-
duct Of those who have struggled against the law for
unrestricted Convention. pnder considerations but he
constrained to alude 10 1t as showing marked aud
striking coincidence or views entertained by the old Fed
era party 1920 and the opP,sers of this bill IL will not
be denied that there exists most strange wonderful
and an unaccpun,abc similarity OF views between those
who urged their objections and cvinced their hostility to
that bill and those who resist the calling Of Convention
now In those days. the Fcdcrsts whose opposition
by the friends of REFORM urged and insisted
that Il should require majority OF the whole people 10
sneak out armatvcy In favor of Convention before II
houd he allowed be called and after the bill had passed
h,a,ch both houses of the Legislator ami trans
nitted to the memorable CouHci OF Revsou 1t WAS re-
turned by them with their dsapproval and among the many
objecons raised against It, WAS the omission to require
his affirmative expression Of the public voice. before
Convention should be called. The proposition urged
with eaua! tenac vchemence and codncnce by the Fed
crali,ts of 1890 is by those who claim that unless
tbs amendment is engraftcd upon Ibis bill that will be
moral perjury for Its passage-that IL will be
utonizing and disastrous In Its consequences This old
war cry OF Federal party Of $500 proclaimed by Chief
Justice Spencer who stood coascuosy at is head. hos
been revived this Legislative hail. and this amendment
il insisted upon measure, The adop
ton of which would heal ul divisions and uni
cd and uncomfortable front In the democratic ranks.
The leading Federal Member the emncnty talented John
C. SPENCER In the Legislature of $780, eravey raised the
the power OF
10 mass that hill recommending Convention to The people.
Hero TOO in this chamber. have heard Senator'S with
annnren seriousness with Selemulty of manner
aiming ard advocating the OBJECTIONABLE
vertnS To the sacrednc>s of its character and the awful
emnty of their oaths TO sustain and support that Const'
tuition as reason why they could not without material
amendment vote this bill Recommending Convention
10 propose amendments to the organic law How striking
,be coincideuce The opponents o. aConvcnon In 1920
vi xe,e tormeutcd with similar fears The much dread
cd reforms hat then demanded by The sovereign peo
MINI
privileges In those days with the same untrusei horror
cxcny the same apprehens!ons and haunting the imaS
of the opponents OF the measure with the fore
seen csamtes that appear so seriously to disturb and
alarm oppoaents OF Convention al the present day, How
rrmsrkahle this coincidence! The people IL is spprchend
ei-a majority OF hcn-arc about to intrigue and COM
hrc si,h themselves destroy thcmsevesto overthrow
all that vauable-a that is sacred and dear 10 them
az, -. =. ho,cycd 10 no Inevitable unless throuph tho
Aid of their servants they shall! be enabled
N so shane this bill 10 conform 10 hevew and opinions
of the who opposed the Convention bill OF 1920
al On that occasion the Arisocacy were startled at the
radical doctrines preached by the oppressed and DOWN
r,en who were visited with the evils OF the then
Ing svstem-thcy shocked with the suggestion of
abolishi.g property qualification c: the citizen, to
tile him 10 The exercise OF the elective franchise which
ws nroposd he extended 50 as 70 materially diminish
the powcr OF wealthy ard the irnnen;i. In the decisions
al the baoi-boN. The recipients otronage from the old
n.,ous council OF appointments were appreheusve of a
loss of occupation and the JUDICIARY a; that time REGARDED
cal of Convention, rs an attempt o the people TO lay
uu.anctaed HANKS upon The pure ana unauthorized iou
aided 10 dsreIs- justice and Judgment. and compel
them 10 pass through ordeal from hieh aresponSbe
nower nil central iafiuence. ever SEEKS Ia escape.
Since the adoption Of the Constitution OF l>2 this State
had been sngulay Blessed, ou; amid is prosperity and
some measure in consequence oi as desned Interests
and the acknowledged evils III oar present Constitution.
restlessness was apparent among tie People Selfish and
sor5 pen had oppressed those whom they have been
permitted 10 exercise powers how natural then hai ihe:e
should be party divons-tat there should be signs OF
aiscon,ent AMI demand for refo' IN BGt these things
should no more produce dstrust in the capacity OF the PEG
nile 10 govern themselves without the otacio0s. and II
NIGH, be- said Offensive of the Legs AZURE
ro,c restrictions upon the People or the Convention than
they did In the struggle OF lssOsl In ls2o-2 the Fede
rs,,,,s IN the Legislature pressed the ENGRAVING upon tins
bill of An imperative rcou, that The amendments 10
the Constitution should be submitted separately, and this
viii he found among the objections 10 the bill Sot up by
Federal Council OF Revision
Here again. the coincidence. lis urged by Demo-
cratic Senator's as qa non that this Imperative re-
Qursment should be ensted the el or that Demo-
cratic Senator's epres ntng Democratic Constituencies
and who boss OF their undated conhdeuee IN the capa
hity and integrity Of the People govern VIII De COLI
strained record their against this ti Then IT
Ap.R ,p.l nor