New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-02-10
CONSTITUTIONAL KEF0RN.


the subject Of Reform of our State Constitution
was held a, Aurclius, Csyuga Co. on the lst inst
We have reason to believe, from the letters which
reach US, that there Is a very general desire Tor
more thorough Reform than any Legislature vii
be likely to originate and disposition to act il
behalf Of such reform. The only obstacle 10 such
actons the want ofleadors Z the men who usually
get up and manage public meetings not feeling
much intcres; in the Reform. cause. We trust
however. that tie ranl. and file will find some
way Of surmoun;ng this difficulty. Here ia the
account OF the frs, public demonstration l845
From the Seneca Falls Democrat, G.li list;
CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL REFoGM.
At a meeting OF the citizens OF the counties Of
Cavuga and Seneca, held in pursuance OF public
notice al the house OF A. Horton, Il? the town oil
Aure!ius. on the first day Of February, 1915; D.
JoHysoy Of Aurelius was chosen President, and
/. ALDEN of Caydga Village, and u. liwGEE,
ID of Unon Springs, Secretaries.
John McIniosh, Cyrus II. Davis. u ia"ger, u,
~ :. Cummings, and l.. II. Whitney, were ap-
pointed 10 report resolutions upon the SUBJECTS md
Gated by The call for the meeting.
During the absence OF the committee, IN article
upon State Reform was read from the =. !. In
brnc, and warmly commended.
The committee reported the following resolutions,
which, after an animated discussion, were undH!-
mGusly adopted:
Rcsoired, That in the opinion of this meeting
the Constitution of this State should be amended
as further 10 restrict he action OF The legislature IN
the appropriation OF public money, and The creation
of public debt,
Sol to restrict the Legislature from creating Of
fees not enumerated IN the Constitutions
"a. IN for The creation pt court liiuc-
pendent OF the Legislature, and not composed IN
whole or in part OF llsmcmbers. by which Inc CON
stitutionaiv OF Legislative acts may be Impartial
Is decided:
and tl.eir necessary powers devolyed upon the law
courts, and the distinction between law and equity,
that the existence OF separate tribunals serves 10
keepnp, be thereby abuliShed
j. So that such re-org anlz4toa al our whole iu-
dicia system be had, will provide for tie trans
ACTON of the legal business OF the country nearer
the homes OF suto-s, and At less expense. than by
th;: present system:
s. So that tle power of the legislature 10 amend
the Constitution, OF 10 propose amendments Tor tle
popular assent; be abrosated, and llfal Instrument,
which should be eIupnaucaIly lie peoples own. be
committed TO Their Keeping.
RCso,red. That the question ofdividing the State
into as many Assembly Districts as there are iTenl-
bers 10 be elected. and OF Biennial instead OF an
annual session Of the Legislature, ought 10 engage
public attention.
Resolrcd, That we lave no hope Of such alte!a-
ton of the Constitution the interests OF the peo-
p,e Of this State demand, unit! Tie Legislature pass
a law submitting 10 the people whether they desire
4 convention of popular deeg2trs, as was done
previous 10 the convention oi 1921 ana that we
will petition the Legislature Tor tie passage OF sucA
Resolred. That the public interes, demands tao-
rough investig alton into The necessity OF so large
STATE County and Town otiicaii-t establishment
of all Offices not clearly demanded By paDi!c neces-
sity. and general and large reduction Of the lees
of such as shall be continued.
Resoicei, That such reform OF judicial proccet--
mortgages, the partition of lands. TIE ad;neaSIre-
menI Of dover and all other proceedings, shon'do be
% smpliiied as 10 diminish the attendant expenses
TO the 10 ;;es' possible limit. :,
Rcsgicsd. That two of what are called 7''the iibe-
raj professions are not allowed exclusive IrVl'e
res and we can see no necessity or prepleiy ri
Continuing the special privileges that now exist IN
favor OF the legal profession It's honors, Ms advar-
,aees. and lis abors, should be open TO al 10 the
poor. self-educatcd young man, upon as favorable
conditions, as to those who have had the advanta-
yes of collegiate or academic education al tie pub
lie expense.
Rrslrcd. That the action OF the last and several
preceding legislatures, in incre2.!ng Professional
fees in litigated causes in the collection OF debts
and foreclosing mortgages, inpromoiins ratherthan
discouTaging litigation, admonsh US OF the necessi-
" of appealing 10 the popular power TO arrest me
tendency OF the legislature 10 Tie commission OF
snch wrongs; and to spiritual shall relieve
4 long oppressed people from iie numerous unne-
cessarv and Onerous eXactionS thai ate made upon
them BY our present system,
RcSotrcd, That the public burdens wonld be more
ins;Iv distributed. and more rigid scrutiny and
economy, practised, by devoving upon each town
The duty of paving every oinctI II elects, and as
far as possible oil deiTayng every pubic expense It
creates
Rrsoicsd, That we recommend the examination
of Town Associations 10 promote the Objects OF NE
above resolutions and that when there shall be IKE
towns in county that shall organize. that County
Association be formed and when I'VE counties
shall be thus organized, that STATE ASSOCIATION pc
formed for the purpose oil promoting thorough a@l-
taon OF these subjects by pnhhc addresses ana ihe
press: and for the purpose OF concentrating ne ne
cessarv eXer;ion and peCunary means 10 oppose 'hS
active and influential interests thalmay De expected
TO be arrayed against H.
Rce0J,rd Tina; Ansel Bascom OF Seneca Fails, "
rus II Davis and John Mcintosh OF Cavusa, oe a
Committee of Correspondence 10 carry out 'ic CD
ect of the above resolution, and call Il state Con
yention when the action ct a sufficient number OF
comnt;rs shall indicate its proprie;y hnd that gen
tl.ler of other couacs be requested 70 address HE
Chairman of said Committee, ASSET BAsCoi, ESQ
seneca Falls. Seneca County
Res9lred. Thatthe proceedings oil tbs meeting De
published in the papers OF this county, Inc lew
York Tribune, and evening Post, the Argus, Jour
nal and Alias Of Albany, and such other papers as
Will Publish, and that the publishers Of such papers
as comply with ourrequest, be invited to send eopy
to the Chairman of the Corresponding Committee,
An Association for the town OF Aurehus was linen
formed. and the following officers elected:
NoSELEY U,-TcHIysoN, President.
+. II. WHITNEY, Secretary.
JoyA Stout, Treasurer;
And il was t:reupon resolved, thai the first resu-
lar meeting OF the Association be held at The hT.is
OF A. Horton in Cayusa village: On aGGIb4 yp
towns n. in bail counties be invited 10 attend
soIysd hat public meeting b. held at Per; Byron.
Cayuga coaniv. on Friday, the IA INST 10 further
consider The objects of this meeting