New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-16
New York Constitutional Convention,
TWELFTH DAY.

Une,. self-The Frccmnn's Acre-lndiar
Voters-Den't tell Why Betting-Surro-
gute-Caancellors-Townsh Courts or Err
rors-Libel Law-Anti-Rent Reiief-For-
feited Bail Bonds-Abolition of Shersffs,
&c.
ALBANY, Saturday, June I3. 1886.
To tie Editor Of I'll. Tribune:
The sitting to-day lasted from eleven till one
and scores OF Resolutions were by request Of mem.
bers, referred TO the several Standing Committees
\ debate arose SIS TO the responsibility of the Con.
venton for propositions ordered be sent to these
Committees tcith instructions to inquire into the
eNpediency of doing this or that. | see no differ
ence between these and others where nothing is said
about Instructions What is the ase of referring
Resolution il the subject matter of Il is not 10 be
! inquired into !?
Mr.. O'Conor moved to refer to the Committee
on the Rights and Privileges of the Citizens the
following proposition, which was ordered, after
! brief discussion as 10 whether the llth was the
proper Committee.
Resolved Thrt 1t be referred to the eleventh Standing
Committee consider the propriey securing TO eli,
OF this Stste By Constitutional provision, the follow
! ing rights aud privileges to wit
lst. right to the accused in all criminal cases and In
all actions or proceedings for penalties forfeitures TO
waive trial By jury and submit himself to trial by the
Court.
3D. right to the accused In all impeachments cini-
nal cases. and actions proceedings for penalties or
fcrfstures. or for misconduct in ONCE. make nn
reply to the prosecutor upon questions of law fact
3D. The right Of peremptory challenge persons drawn
rs jurors to the extent now allowed by law; and Ike
right 10 the accused In all criminal and In all actions
and proceedings for penalties fortures to the extent
Of Eve challenges and like right to each party In all
other civil cases to the extent OF one challenge.
4h The exemption OF every person from being compel
led 10 be witness against himself in any for the pur
pose Of subecng himself to penalty forfeiture,
loss deprivation in the nature Of penalty or of
| forfeiture.
Mr.. Stow proposed TO confer on every elector the
prtrege of holding, free of liability for debts TO be-
contracted hereafter, small quantity of land. Mr.
Strong said that at rst he not quite sure that
this was not plan to divide up the estates of the
farmers and give part to the lawyers; but as that
was not it, he would not oppose the Resolution,
which was referred, and is as follows;
Rnseired That the Committee on the Elective Fran
che be instructed to Inquire into the expedency of
Jog to every eector the privilege Of holding certain
amount Of real estate owned by him, In which he has
a permanent interest, II not less than s., and nos
more than s In valae that such property be de-
scrbed and regsered and that the same shall not DO
by or for any debt contracted created by
such eecor, amer such registry and reasonable pubea
ton aud notice thereof
! Mr.. Richmond asked that the same Committee
nigh! be instructed to inquire whether the right ofsuf
rage ought not TO be extended TO Indiana Ordered.
| Mr.. Baker introduced a Resolution that Il would
be incrpedieat for the Standing Committees Of this
Convention TO accompany their Reports with writ.
| ten explanations giving their reasons-on which O
brief but spirited debate took place in which Messrs.
Brown, Worden Chatfeld Talmadgs and others
took part; wishing to leave it to the discretion
of the several Committees to say in what cases IL
would be expedient to report the grounds on which
their propositions might be based-others being op-
posed to all reporting Of reasons one way or the
other, TO be placed on the journal twas urged that
some gentlemen could far better write down and
present their reasons than state them In o speech
that statistical details might govern some Commit.
tees, and also the Convention In their decisions
and again. one sided arguments and er parte yiewa
would be Injurious &c.
The Convention adopted Mr.. Bakers Resolution,
| after negativing, IS 10 29, scarcely quorum,l
motion to get rid oft.
1.-THE proceeding has important bearings and mer
very grave and deliberate consideration. courts of.w
had the faculty of deciding matters Of with the
Railroad speed Of the Convention, they would clear
their calendars, whether they gave justice or not The
laws delay would be known no more
Mr.. Angel referred Resolution requiring provi-
sions against betting at elections TO be Incorporated
In the next Constitution. The two last Legislatures
Gov. Wright's friends) declined to listen to his cd.
vice to place betting among penal offences.
RI presume each of the le Committees has book
which several matters referred TO Its members
entered. Some of the Resolutions In lieu of abort
speeches on popular TOPICS but there others well
thy grave consideration, enbodyny principles condu
| Give to the public welfare.
| Among the propositions referred noted one for
extending to Colored People the Right of Voting,
one, whether the Canals ought not to be finished
including the Erie Enlargement; one, to keep
down the rate Of Legal Interest at per cent, 10y
Dana) one, that the rights of Widows and Orphan
Children may be considered; one, TO prevent the
duty on home made Salt from being raised; one,
| (by Allen,t for doing away the Two Third Vote
| granting Interpretations, one, to make the Stock
holders Of Banks liable for all their Debts one, 20
incorporate the principle Of Non-ImprisoDmept for
Debt into the Constitution one, for prohibiting the
Legislature to pass Usury Laws; one, for making
Surrogates salaried officers, and transferring local
Chsncery business 10 them; one, to give the Clergy
equal rights; one to appoint Commission to COM
plete the business now pending in our Law Courts
one for all Contracts with the State TO be in writing
and unal,erabIe except by Judge after full hear
ing; one by Richmond) to inquire as 10 the pro-
| priety of making final decision in all cases where
appeals may now be- carried from Justices Court,
under $50, by the Town Court composed Of all the
| Justices Ia II.
Although the debates have not yet assumed that
Interesting and important character which all anti
cpate when the great questions which agiate soc!ey
come to DO discussed, the galleries and space DO.
low the bar are daily filed with attentive observers.
MI. O'Conor's excellent proposition, TO give TO
the accused citizens the last appeal to the jury is
believe the law of Scotland and several parts OF
continental Europe bat not of England Ills found
ed on justice, and will surely be adopted.
The Law of Libel, some 40 years since, was
amended in this State TO give the psrty prose-
cuted the right to give the truth in Evidence. In
1921 this principle was incorporated into the Con-
sItution section 8 Of article T. Editors have CON-
planned that the Of justice, even under this
| Improvement, is oppressive. Mr.. O'Conor had re-
ferred to Committee No. II tGen. Tamadge chair
man., proposition that the section shall hencefortb
read as follows:
ais all prosecutions or indictments for libel the rulh
bao fv I'M IN tbS iury-
peak the jury that the matter charged a. nbeious
true and published With good motives and Tor )asn
able ends the perty shall be acquitted, and ~ Iasos
such acgual the jury shall have the right TO determine
the law well as the fact
The only alteration would be, that The I'VE words
which have placed in italics are not In me present
Constitution.
Mr.. Baker moved an inquiry into the population
and boundaries of each election district in the city
Of New.York, with the view OF carrying out the
Mr. Jordan sent 10 Committee No. ls a resolution
to inquire into the expediency ofprohibiting the ia.