New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-09

Wildly upon the troubled Earths unrest,
Like great arInadas on the reused Seas
And then lit up song Of solemn march
Amid the glorious temples crumbling there
The beautiful records OF 4 world which was.
Msjesiic types OF what world must be.
The Mississippi.
Published by Huntington II Savage, loo Pearlst
Discussion. on Radical Constitutional Reform
by the National Rcformcrs.
Reported for The Tribune
The second OF n series of meetings, called for I'm
purpose Of discussing what principles ought TO b
embodied in the new Constitution of this State,
held in Franklin Hall, Chatham square, Friday
evening, February 6,h-Mr. SHEPPARD in the Chair
Mr.. EVANS, from the Business Committee, sub
ni,.ed the following
REPORT
The Busners CommitIee. appointed to report TO the
meetings for the discussion OF constitutional questions
ntncples TO be embodied in the new Constitution. in
he order OF their relative importance, respectfully
report 10000. g.
c foundation of perfect Constitution are found In our
Declaration OF Independence, IN the asserted ihalehaoe
p,tt OF Man TO eltGoverument 10 Life, Liberty. and
he Pursuit Of Happiness. These rights, they think
we're well considered and enumerated III their proper
der by the authors of that great national document
md all tina, is necessary carry them into practice
would not they believe be OF much utility To discuss
ACCIDENTAL questions before settling upon fundamental
,inriples For example the details OF judicial Sys.
n DE- pend much upon the Constitutional security OF
The right to life and the means and materials necessary
support life therefore the latter should be considered
irst And With this view your Committee offer the fol
lowing resolutions as in their opinion embracing the
Subjects hrst in ORDER
R,,olred That In the new Constitution the powers of
the State Government should be strictly defined and
limited
R,olr,d That the frat RICH, being the Right Life,
,kaH 4.
esptin selfdefeuce. in defence against foreign ag
PRESTON.
Rsolp.d That, the second right being the Right to the
mean, Of supporting Life and the means OF supporting
Life mainly depending on the Soil the right To inc use oil
the Soil ought TO be restored to tee People.
R,solred That The Right the Soil may best be re-
stored by limiting the quantity Of land that any lndivd
ua may acquire after the adoption oil the Constitution
leaving those holding under present legal titles III pos
session for their life time.
The above Report was accepted and the resolu
tons accompanying i, were made the subject OF the
evenings discussion; when Mr.. MoREY moved to
amend the first resolution so that it should read
Rsolced That in the Constitution the powers OF
e State Government and OF the majority Of the peo
PIE ought To be strictly defined and limited.
Mr. EVANS opposed the amendment He was In
favor OF defining and limiting the powers of govern
nen,, bat the majority OF the people under the gov
eminent, and they might alter or abolish whenever
bey pleased The powers of the majority of the
people could be defined and limited in no other way
han they agreed to- and they would not be boun.
any such definitions and limitations after they
I'D become convinced that they were no longe
needed Mr. MoREY $ amendment was rejected, anC
the question recurring on the resolution as reported
twas adopted.
Mr. WEST then moved that the second resolution
be considered and his motion being seconded, wa
put and carried in the affirmative.
Mr. EVANS had not come prepared To discuss IN,
question of Capital Punishment although he was o
The opinion that government had no right 10 take TIT
life Of any of its citizens rs punishment Tor CRIME
Ii could defend itself ag9ins. the crimes OF individuals
simply by combining them for long or short periods o
tine according TO the magnitude Of their offences anc
he liability Of their frequent occurrence. But he tod
prepared discuss the rightfulress OF defensive war
he had gron that question considerable attention anc
bad to the conclusion that government had RICH
defend Itself against foreign aggression Not by mean
Sumies and navies at present organized lie wonle
90 for their abolition ororroc They were an unne
eessAr tax apon the industry OF the nation But by
luehless expensive military system founded upon ma
Coal hight II government secured 10 It's citlzens the
Natural rsh naicncble homestead all the defence
swould require would be "a ride over every mantel
pce. Labor could then protect itself on the land and
Venmerce-all the commerce there would be under
taea ecumsancescould just as well protect itself on
he ocean
Mr.. WEST not cnly doubted the right OF Government,
otke the lives of criminals but he denied It's right
fct Punishment at all To imprison. Gin the bad sense
maj iegml 10 hang, or shoe, criminals. was not the
oes way 10 protect Society. Society could be better
projected BY their reformation than by their cnsavemeni
mc obstruction. The bes, thing government could do,
would be TO open the prisondoors and let the capves
sree-o iberate the convics under sentence OF death
-ao ssyluns prepared for their reception. where they
'ed be securely kept under the of skifu aud
piienced physicians and kind and patient until
nsy could safely be restored the companionshp OF
". friends redeemed and regehcrsted" Experience
-. atN1s t.,tl III
sai Of diminished the number Of criminals For every
Asi imprisoned least three additional thieves had
zen created thereby Fer every murderer executed
st five additional! murderers had been created there
D. Thieves and .nurderers had wives and children
aese Were dsgraced degraded and prosecuted for The
sses Of their husbands and parents, and absolutely
ssl'er TO the commission Of similar or worse crimes-
sS.WEsT also denied the right OF Government to tsk'
-A defence agains, instructions. Government niSh
seze cha,,el slsyery-permi. the sale and purchase
snsn beings. Chstiel slaves niSk revo!'--sinceres!
svhg their bodies 10 be their own and very NATURAL,
Sefoas OF recovering their lost ownership. Govern
Ntgh; legaize that other system OF slavery known
sue rdses system-pernit thar traffic and speculation
a@d and the consequent Monopoly OF the Land whci
reduced the sndees poor 10 The condition OF seri'
S.Pelng them TO werk al whatever occupation aud u
-;.SMam prices their employers choose. Wsges slaves
fero-sincerely believing that they have certain
uIs rgh,s, among which are. the right TO labor &
II'er occupation they please themselves being th'
ses Of the kind anu degree OF labor, and the righ I,
noasets 81 their labor and very naturally DESTROYS
GNso"sefng and enjoying their natural rights. Would
n ' have right 20 take The life OF single
4asF OF these classes OF rebel slaves dc though
ssa goyernnentw was nj worth deiending-it woulC
VA 40 awful cxiseuce-it ought 10 be put out Of Ii.
Nv inere never had been. there never would be
nent " S-' P''p'e against Js'' s''e'--
ana the resolution after having been farther debatet
asssts WILSON and DAVIS and the time for ad ouru
s ossng arrived, made the subject for discus
~ me next meeting which viii be held 81 The sa
s's'' or Monday evening. February 9Th
WILLIAM WEST, Secretary.