New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-25
New. York Constitutional Convention
wEEK-XXh DAY


No Reports except through ReDorters-Mr-
Van observation-disclosures Hofman-stow
on the Judiciary-A Capital story-How
they make Judaes-yalue of the Canals.
ALBaST, Tuesday, June %, 1896
To the Editor Of The 7ri6sne:
SIR: The Rule, that it is ineZpedient Tor Com
nittees TO accompany their Reports with the rea-
sons why they had arrived at the conclusions TOR
or against any proposition that may have been sub
nited to them is ordered 10 remain in force, by
vote Of sc Ayes against 50 who were for expungng
it. There much ability displayed on both Sides
and the effect of the opin,on-for il is not the an
junctton-of the majority will not proven, Com
nees from Offering their reasons for any report Ii
they think fit although ii is intended 10 discourage
and dissuade them from doing So II is said on the
one hand that no such rule ever was heard OF be-
fore; and on the other that in all Conventions the
uniform practice has been according TO this rule.
mfr. Van schoonhoven, Senator for this District,
Delegate for Rensselaer,, and distinguished faror.e of
the party in this and the adjoining Counties who have
taken such conspicuous part Of late years IN the great
of improving the Law on land enures, and
who are known 'AntRenters, addressed the Conven
ton yesterday He young-a la~yer-and as speak
err agreeable earnest, and argumentativehas strong
voice-does not talk often too ong-speak to the
not at all surprising
He was opposed TO the rule. not alone because II
had no precedent for this was the age OF progress
sion but because he had too much confidence II the
intelligence sagacy and integrity OF the people 10
fear that they would be unduly Influenced by any
reports that might be made By any Committee. II
a repor; is wrong there are those who revise 1t,
and show in what it is wrong If there was not
upenimitv there would be reports rom the minority
as we'll es the ma iority--if the Judiciary Committee
were TO differ would not both sides give their rea-
sonsl 10 the Committee on Land Tenures, should
lis honorable Chairman. the late Chef Justice Of
this State, fNeson) differ from other Members,
would he alone be allowed present his views =
He tMr. V. 81 wanted &c have the reports OF Com
mittees in a permanent. tangible shape. that they
might be read by Members before they voted
Mr. V. S. argued greater length, adopting for the
part the Socrac mode Of reasoning so effective in
popular assemblies. lie was followed by Mr.. Waterbury
who was for allowing gentlemen TO brace up their position
and with reference TO delays in the business OF the
Convention had expected be back to his farm In Della
ware i'll two months, which did not seem probab!el
The discussion was continued, 10 day. Messrs
Nicholas Burr Bascom, Strong, Ward and Chat
field spoke in favor of the rule.
1t was said that it was natural for the members
of Committee to be influenced by, and adhere in
the face of new arguments. 10 report containing
their reasons for given course OF conduct or poll
cy which they had signed md which was pub
lished-lhat statistics might be presented by gentle
men, as part of their arguments, in debae-that the
uniform practice in 1921, was according TO the rule
and then adopted on the suggestion OF n venerable
member of that Convention, and OF this (Talmadge)
that neither in that of 1921, nor in any other Con-
venlon since could case be cited in which Com.
mittee had reported lis opinion and added the
reasons there for-that il was not done in the Con-
yen,ion tina, formed The Federal Constitution-lhat
,bo -n1a he nOGslbp
dom of action, bat would prevent the Convention
from being hampered and flooded, and, having its
action delayed, by multitudes OF volumnous re-
ports-that the question: waR, How much power
will you give your Committees that II was not
Will you gag the Committees? but Shall they
gag the Convention that nearly four weeks had
elapsed and only one report had been made, and
none acted on-that if the twenty Committees
were TO be set down 10 draw argumentatve reports.
with minority or counter reports, no time would
be afforded 10 deliberate and decide upon the many
imnortant measures which these twenty Commit
tees would soon place before the Convention =
that there ought to be time given TO the peo-
pie also 10 deliberate, as 10 the adoption OF an
amended Constitution, betwixt lis completion and
their final action on it next Novemoer-that II the
chairmen Of committees were 10 be allowed 10 draw
up and spread on the journal their reasons, an I'M
due advantage would be given them over other
members-that the amended Constitution should go
10 the people unencumbered. and they be allowed
10 Judge of it, by reference to It's letter and spirit
and not 10 the one.sded, written reports OF any
pary-that the rule fettered no one, for it merely
gave the sentiments of the Convention, that rea.
sons need not be annexed-that il report with
an argument should be offered, the chairman could
not saw This Is not in order'-that, where there
are two branches of Legislature, reports might
be useful but not in Convention which was, or
was like TO- single legislative body-lhat it was
wrong 10 make members appear responsible Tor rea-
sonings which they might have entirely disapproved,
although they had voted age to the conclusions ar
rived al by the reasohers-that II was better
to go 10 work at one and frame g Constitution,
than 10 wait two three weeks longer Tor long
written reports and that to say that members
were as open 10 convictions after their own arsu-
men,s on one side had been waited, as ii were. 10
The four winds of heaven, as before as would be
10 throw aside the lessons oil experience.
Messrs. Rhoades Hoffman. LOOMS and Simmons
spoke in opposition TO the rule.
MIR Hotfman's manner exceedingly felicitous'
He has powerful masculine voice, great command of
language and force of expresson-the tones Of his voice
were modulsted and varied to suit the subject in hand
His eloquence real, native unsdorned-he atilled
the chamber unbroken silence 1t no, his matter
that attracted attention, il his manHer no longer
wondered 81 his success in Herkmer and elsewhere
AT the commencement of the session he spoke ten
times day like the Chancellor the Exchequer in a
British House of Commons more recently he has
spoken but seldom and such voice his relief TO
the ear when he is warmed up By his subject
II was said that man often spoke one way and
voted another but that Il was not 50 as 10 reports
that it was not necessary to give Committees a hint
not TO offer their reasons neither might ii be expe-
dent to receive place all their reports on the
ournal-that If the privilege were granted Ia write
out long reports il would probably tend 10 shorten
the speeches and save iime-that CommilIees should
be left now untrammelled, as in ls2l and since, to
take their ow n course-ihat the rule was uncaied
for-thatwhen Committees required 10 sustain their
course by an argumen; in the form OF report II
was unwse 10 prevent them-tha; ii the rule is sus
tanned and Committee come 10 conclusion agains!
measure they will defer reporting, because pre-
vented from stating their reasons till the last day,
and then ask TO be discharged from its consideration
tina, If the report of Committee rested on tacts
they would offer the facts with their report and that
if both were received, the practice OF the Conven'
ton would be shown 10 be al variance from This
rule which would thus become obsolete, but that II
facts were rejected, everybody would desire to see
the suppressed statement-lhst this rule bad but one
raoson in ia fevor-a desire TO suppress truth and