New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-26
the aakng OF any farther contracts for

work on these Canal
Thus you have, fellow citizens, al one view, the
position IN which the Wing party vas placed when
it came into power, il reference TO our public
works, and the policy pursued IN regard 10 them.
That policy was indica;rt by the necessity of the
case. The former Administration had created ex-
travagant expectations Ia II. public mind respect
ing works OF lnierns improvement, which were
based upon NEST errUaeous estimates OF the cost
o th. proposed works II was Impossible tor any
party. the then state OF public feeling, 10 arres;
those works Could the Enc Canal Enlargement
have been accomplished al Inc estimated cost OF
Sl2 500 CO., and the Genesee and Black River Ca
as completed at The estimated cost OF So COO Coo,
as was represented hv those whose duty II was 10
represent truly, no difficulties or embsrrassmenss IN
your STATE finances could by possibility have oc-
cured.
In 1927, while the present Executive was dis
tingushed member of The Senate of this Stale, the
policy Of issuing and oanlng 10 interpretations the
credit Of the State was established. Gov. Wright,
then chairman OF the Canal Committee, reported
bill authorizing loan OF State stock 10 the tiud-
son and Delaware Canal Company, and which on
his favorable recommendation became law. snb-
sequently, on the recommendation cf Gov. Van
Buren this loan was increased 10 SS00,CI ms
is the ORIG in OF Inc policy Of ioaning the credit oi
the State 10 corporations. Loans were Afterwards
authorized and made TO the New-York and Enc
Railroad of So, ,000, 900, 10 The Canalohane and
Ithaca and Oweso Railroad Company OF S3!5,No
The first law authorizing the loan 10 the N=w-l crk
and Erie Railroad Company, was passed III 1870
and approved by Gov Marcy. The loans 10 tie two
latter named companies were authcrlzed oy laws
passed in 1885 also app.oy ed by Gov Marcy. The
policv Of oanrg the credit of the State TO ncorpo-
rated companies was well established when tne
Wings came INTO power In 1889, and they are not
10 ne charged with the consequences OF that policy
The loans the three corporations last named have
proved unfortunate, they having failed 10 pay the
interest on the stock and there Is no reason TO sup
pose they will ever reimburse the principal.
The most important question that has engaged
the attention OF the Legislature, during the session,
has been that OF Constitutional Reform. For yeas
il has been conceded that important changes were
demanded in the Constltutlon OF this State. lhr
extent Of Executive patrcuase-ihe mode OF GP-
ponment to ofiice-the reorganization OF oar Ju-
dietary, with many other subjects OF an important
character are very generally deemed to require re-
vision and reform.
Since ls2S. continued efforts have been made 10
reorganze our judiciary system upon some plan that
would render ii efficient bu; such efforts, though
honestly prosecuted in the manner pointed OUT by
the Constitution. having proved unavailihs The
difficulty In brinlng according 10 the requirements
of the Constitution Two consecutive legislatures 10
unite upon any distinct plan OF reform has been a.
ten cxemeieG and no rational hope Is now en-
tertanrd that and proposed reform OF our ndlclar;,
amendment of our Constitution can be ELECTED
through legislative action in the manner provided III
the present Constitution.
Al the session cf the Legislature IN lSi4, varlsus
amendments TO the Constitution were proposed and
passed by both Houses One of these amendments
proposed 10 add three Chanccllors to the Courts oi
Chancerv, ard Two additional Justices 10 the SD
premc Court No one has been fully satisfied that
these additional Judges would enable that tribunal
to dispose Of the mass OF business with which II is
a. - Il
amendments any judicial reform AT ali adequate 10
the public eXi2encics would be effected
Two other amendments Of the Constitution were
also proposed, by the Legislature OF lSi4. These
have been usually denoninated 'ihe financial
anendmeats'' They were designed 10 arrest the
prosecution OF our works OF Internal Improvement,
and if adopted would have had that effect. The
operation of amendment No. would be 10 place
the entire Canal revenues of line State under the
control and management oi The State officers, arc
tn take from the People, through their Legislature,
AL power 10 apply any surplus Canal revenues t.
the prosecution OF works oi Internal improvement
until the entire Canal Debt OF the State should be
paid Amendment No. 2 was intended 10 prohibit
The Legislature from making any loan whatever
for the prosecution OF the Public Works. II Is
true, this amendment permits such loans with the
assent of the People /; but II was evlsehtiy framed
under the :upposluon !hat disiinet proposition 10
sanction a law 10 borrow money 10 finish any par
ticular portion oil our now unc0Rpleted Pubic
Works or 10 construct new ones, which law, az
this constitutional provision required, imposed
direct tax upon the People of the whole State for
the payment of the principal and interest OF the
moreys borrowed would be regarded as so tar sec
tonal liz lis character that II could never receive
IN. approval of those portions OF The State not I'm
mediately benefited by the contemplated improve
ment.
The demands Of the People in Town Meelnas,
County Cor"entlcns and primary assemblies, Tor
81. fher afa al.
enpts 10 achieve such amendment ~ me hiode per,
nt,rd bv the instrument liseii, and The continued
failure OF such attempts, demonstrate that Consiltu
tional Reform Is demanded by The People, and that
under present circumstances the mode indicated
by the Constitution Is lmrractlcsble The present.
s crisis forcseen and attempted 10 be provided tor
bv the trainers OF our present Constitution. Goa
scious of the intirmity OF human nature. they did
not suppose they had anticipated The wants oi me
future, but looked 10 the amendment OF the Worh
Gf their hands as experience should GeVelopc i's
def, cts in this spirit The mode OF amendment by
The legislature was suggested, not 10 preclude the
Inherent original right OF the People TO revise their
organic law in Convention, but 10 relieve them
from the trouble and expense OF exercising that
right in respect 10 amend! ents OF such oovicus
propreiy as TO be beyond controversy; Ihat Inc
preseut or any Constitution may be made so perfect
As 10 be incapable OF salutaIy amendment IN pro-
cess OF fine is an idea winch may not be reasona
biy ndueed the wisdom equal TO such a device Is
not human endowment. Wise ard prudent, IN
deed. will that Convention be, which shall make a
Constitution equal IN all respects TO the require
mens OF the present
II is a soundand safe principle, fellow citizens
to correct errors and supply omissions in our or
ganic law rs promptly as experience shall reveal
their existence. Under our institutions this princl-
pe NAV not be departed from without peril We
save deemed the present period one OF the eharac-
ter 10 which we aude. The experience OF qua.-
teriof century has established the absolute neces
sity of important constitutional! amendments, Inc ~
Gully OF accomplishing any thing satisfactory TO The
public through The acuon Of the Legislature. These
considerations have influenced Us TO advo ale, as
we believe, successfully, the passage Of law sub
mii,ins 10 uwhethera Convention snail be called
We have advocated the passage OF this law, con
6ding in the intelligence and virtue OF The people
to:decldc correctly all questions OF public interest
GShould you determine 10 cali a Convention, The
delegates selected to represent yon, will be men IN
whose virtue, integrity and ability you have eElre
confdcnce They will meet n Coa7euiion. II noi
altogether withou, party feeling oc bias, with much
less of eiher tAan may be expected from members
Of the Legislature, selected purely patty grounds
They will approach the great Guty OF revising The