The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-08
From the Albany Evening Atlas
The Assail.rs OF the Const,sation,

The Assailsrs OF the Constitution.
The wing presses are not content with assailing the
constitution in essential point they sent the
language OF us authors, and mutlae the debates in the
State convention, in order 10 produce false impressions OF
the understanding by the members OF that body OF the
several provisions matured BY them.
The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser has been the most
industrious in this work. II has followed up repeated
msappications Of Mr. Hohman's remarks in regard to
the power OF The Legislature TO compel the attendance of
quorum (Which related only to absence, and not to
sxRation) by mutllated passage between Mr. Worden
and Mr.. LOOMS. and by quotations from Campbell 7.
Whites remarks. made on another proposition than the
adopted II cites the defeat OF proposition of
Mr. LOOMS to leave the surplus to the legisla
dispose Of chose, whether the public works
the State expenses but prohibiting from pledxng
them in advance to The public works for more than
year.
planned. There was contest in the convention. not
whether the debt should be paid but how and in what
time. and what should be done with the surplus. Mr.
Hoffman had one proposition. Mr. Bousk another. Mr.
LOOMS another, Mr. Worden another These were ali
debated and discass.d-a submitted to modica-
ton; and. finally, Mr.. Campbell F. White introduced
60 The sinking funds. and the that should 60
the support Of government, instead OF leaving the latter
open 10 ssaiive d.ceton, and giving all the surplus
TO the public works, but retaining Mr. Loomss Limitation
Of the legislative power of appropriation to each fiscal
year. and prohibiting the creation ofpubic debt, except
on the authority Of vote OF The people. and with pro-
visions tor a tax Tor Its extlnguishment
The former debt system which this provision put end
TO based pledge OF prospective after, OF
course The expenses Of State and repair. Of pub
Mr. Hoffman addressed the convention in these words
"Mrs Hoffman said congratulate the convention in
having after adoons labor. conrluded with these
ports OF the finance conmutee Taken together, they
will preserve your faith and will pay your debt. They
may not be entirely satisfactory 10 any one member here
but they will pr oduce the esus to which have alluded
They III do Thy VIII set example, II this
vsn,ion will adhere to T. Which will cause sl4e In
Unop II shall be in its power do pfo-
vide Tor the sPonaing out Of its debt by paymrp-re-
moving fon representative government the fpfoachss
VIII CHI have been the Other side OF hi
To this extent the convention has come snd II its
labor should be rcpudiated by tho Sta nothing wipe
the jndsnen which you have pronounced this i'm
portsnt subject IL will live II will down time it.
niry prrdic OF your labor has overcome
the greatest fcuy and the greatest distractions
attempted TO DO cast IN The way OF the progress Of our free
nsti,utiJns and If you will go and maintain tho ndi
vidual liability oil bankers OF corporaors compel ioco
poraon, be by general laws, and guard the municipal
bodies against the power to contract debts will have
achieved that which will bring you what had
for quarter OF a cenlury-a 6gtsdtMs these halls
YOU cir that the article be laid aside the table, and
be printed ="
When the convention djourned, the whole body uni
ted in address in which the existing provisions OF the
constitution were thus spoken of:
They have made provision for the psymen nj of the
begun While that debt IN progress OF payment, they
have provided large contribution canal
towards The current expenses OF the State and sufficient
that purpote when debt shall have been paid, ana
HAVE rLAcKD strong sAFsoUARDs AGAINST
and the Improvidsnt expenditure Of the public
moUcJ."
This the language and spirit OF the convention
OF 1876 and clear the purport Of the provisions
that Governor Young described them eecual ''obsa
Giles in the path OF legislation; Governor Fish did no,
'amper with them and Governor Hunt thought
shorter road cut through them (by repeating them)
than gel about them /, was lett for the lobby Of the
legislature OF 1881 and its solicitors to invent the
device to which whiggery has reckessy and fatally
pledged taelf.