New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-15
New York Constitutional Convention
SEVENTH wEEK-xxXtv1a DAY.


Renters-0n Vestlng The Power 10 Pardon in
Governors, kc.-To State Prison for so Cents
Justice School superintendent Bank Stock
in New.York-Costs Of Law CourtS-RuggIeS on
Taxation.
ALbAxT, Monday, July 10, ls'e.
To He Edtto1' q The Tribune:
SIR This morning proposition was made by Dir.
Chatfed that Tic Convention should meet each
morning at nine. He seems to be fully aware Of the
responsibility the party assumed on the first
OF June last.
Mr. Loomis remarked, ,ha, ne had taken q fort
night 10 consider Two sections Of report-that ne
regretted that the debates thereon had often been
very irrelevant to the question under d cussion-and
that, as the reports Of ~ 20 Committees had 10 be
considered and acted on, the Convention would not
have four days eis 20 consider each OF them suppos
ing lis session were TO terminate on the lst of Oc,o
Der, to give the People month to compare the old
and new Constitutions, previous to voting in Novem-
Der. There were only 95 working days to the
election
The Convention, By large majority, agreed TO
meet at nine, thereby exhibiting their anxiety 10
proceed without delay with the public business.
All the Standing Committees were appointed on
Friday Jane 18th. and although 80 days have since
intervened. only three OF them-Morriss Taylors
more-Chaiteds Cambrc!epg's and Loorns's--
have reported 10 part only.
Twelve Standing Committees have not reported
in any manner or form whatever-nameiy, No :,
(S,eson s. on the powers OF the Legislature No 3.
Hoffman, 81 on Canals, Revenue, Taxstions &c
No. 4, lBouck 81 on the Elective Franchise No. :.
angels on the Appointment and powers OF Local
Officers; No. 8, tWard'sl on the Militia No. Q.
lRhoadess) on Oatbs; No. 10, tRuggles's) on the
Judiciary: No r. (Nicors) on Education; No. IL,
lMarvns on Future Revisons OF the Constitution
No. a. (Murphys) on the Power OF Cities and VII
lagos; No Is, (Bro~n's on the Powers OF Counties.
Towns, &c. and No. IS. NELSON 81 on Landed
Estates Tenuree Rule OF Inheritance, Division &c.
Mr.. Justice Nelson is much OF his Time absent.
MIR. Brown is on two Com mittees. Mr.. Ruegles 1t
is said. will soon report. There are some 6o work
ing days between this and the lst OF October, or
less than daya to each Report.
Mr. Whites Coumittee TO provide plan " here
by The laws of England, in use here may be ar
ranged so that none other than the authorized YER
sion can be appealed 10. by crafty men, to cloak
crime, battle justice and mpoverish honest cltlzens,
are said to be interchangeable In their efforts Hence
their reforming propositions may be daily expected
Gen. Ward, one Of their number, 'hought OF refer
ring the matter 10 the Legislature. Would not mat
swamp reform altogether
Mr.. Shepard proposed to send copies OF the Jour
mails 10 the City Convention, which led Nj. Pauer,
son 10 remark that the contractors Messrs Carroll
& Cook, Troy Budget had Invented an entire new
system Of printing. When the Convention ordered
document TO be printed the contractors printed II
es document, charged for that; next In place OF
referring 10 it, they printed il as part OF The Jour
nal taking the types standing, and charging twice
as ifthey had been Get up a second time Perhaps
they had contracted do all this but 1t was entire.
ly useless excep, for the purpose OF putting money
into their own pockets.
THE Contractors, Ike the Committees, ere the OF
spring OF party Caucus held 10 the teeth OF voluntary
pledges offered to the public By the very men who con-
trolIed It, What these pledges were and how and by
whom and for what they have been violated will here
ai,er show. Messrs. Carroll Cook offer, as contrac
tors to do work lower rate, perhaps than It
can DO fairly done-hey thus deprive all others OF
share in they greatly delay its exccution-ihey spread
many leaves Of paper, SO that what could be
properly placed on one page occupies some three or
four and tia, twice charged for. Pages lie to
224 Of the Journal form a case in point
These gentlemen are strangers to me-l never heard
of them Till recen,y-bu, when Thomas Richie,
pretended Democrat who has feathered his nest by
crlpeing to power whoever happen to possess 1t
40 years. receiving from corrupt majority In Con-
eress which calls itself republican, over 100000 for
printing documents which him $50 oo0 there
sbouts-and when know that this SO 600, OF re.
tanning fec s paid him for the purpose SIS Fan.
ny Esler paid SO 500 Editor you, namely for
puing-puttng that corrups majority and lis leader,
James X Pok-it creditable to Mr. Patterson. though
shut from the party here that he has risen
aud protested in Convention sgains, precedent per
hsps for like Object here
The Convention went into Committee on Me. Nor
riss Report the Executive and al the ggesiion
of Mr. Flanders left GU, of 81 Inc Governor titles
of Admiral Of The Navy &c, substituting that o.
Commander in Chief OF the Military and Naval for
res of the State instead thereof
Several Resolutions were referred. and The rest oil
the day was occupied in discussing ", on the pow
er TO grant pardons and repreves now vested In the
Governor.
Mr. STEPHESs THE well. know n traveller in Greece,
Egypt Yucatan and Central Americn,) wanted 10
bring the exercise of the pardoninG power under
the wholesome review of public opinion. by giving
publicity for two weeks 10 the names OF the appll-
cau,s for pardons and the grounds alleged in each
case. He considered the certainty of meried pun
shment the surest means Of preventing crime. Par
dous were often got through forged papers, false eN
parte representations, unknown 10 the public prose
cutors TWAS cruel toward The community TO turn
criminals loose upon them after Witnesses, jurors
Judges and counsel had secured for them fair trial
on the bare representation OF relatives and friends
Papers for pardon pass round secretly and are sign
ed by the public frsm sympathy. and otten by poll
ticans 10 secure vote. he would publish the
names in tho newspaper, with the allegations, so
thar the reasons against as well as for pardons or
combinations might be known.
[Mr Stephens is native OF New-Jersey, 80 years Of
age an earnest and grave by profession law
yer and seemingly independent, arm and determined
man. He was nominated and voted for BY the Wings and
Loeos Of New.York receiving IN all IS s votes or within
about 81 Of the very highest Bis remarks were attentive
~ listened 10.
In the Convention OF 1921, Chancellor Kent opposed
Governor Tompkinss motion for giving publicity to the
causes Of pardon, becsuse they were often granted
through tho hope OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. from dis.
sausiseton with the mode convic,ion-snd and
then on condition oileavlps the ssste He seemed
think that rcrason would not be aided By rnskipsa
mans oaence, with the testimony, &c standing lesi,a.
tive record
Mr.. BAscoa thought TIA, if /, was proper to ,rus,
the Governor with the psrdonins power. i, should
be left unrestricted Mr. BKowS admitted that there
was srea, improperly IN the exercise OF that power
| liz had been abused from hunas feelings, having
oeen given project innocence, so thai, il person
not su'isy were condemned he might be saved from
,fr-. L. - l.