New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-13
THE PROxY BILL.

The JournGlof Commerce, one of whose stan 10
now personally soliciting patronage in the Southern
States with the approval graciously accorded Of tn
worthy James p. HambletOn, Editor OF The South
ern Conttder0ey, st Atlanta, Georgia, published
the other day leading article, which, if duly ap-
pieciated in that sunny latitude, will materially
assist the travelling Editor in multiplying snbscrip-
tions. This article, IN an elaborate invectiye at
tacks as scheme of special legislation" by
which the officers of the Tract Society are to be
punished" the following Act, which in the
Senate at Albany, has passed to third reading:
to the members and stockholders benevo
let charitable scientific and missionary corporations and socie
The People Of the State of NewYok represented in Senate
s and socfhodsTs Of any benevolent charitable scientific
missionary corporation association Organized nnde and oy
operation benevolent charitable scientific, and missionary
"ecieties passed April tweye eighteen hundred and tSy
Of undeI and by virtue Of any special &c. q c1 o. ,hs
ANIMAL of such associations for the election Of officers
and also quecns OF subject matter Of Inch notice shan
given and entered the minutes at the preceding
anniversary meeting of the association.
SIC The night by proxy given by the preceding sec
shall belong members residing within ten miles OF the
such meeting unless their attendance is prevented by
Illness members who are infants nor 20 mere or
have become members OF sncn corpora
t f% and hereof and no proxy given under this act
hall continue valid for than year from the time when
SEc g. The proxies be given under this shall be in writ
Ing signed by the giving The same aud also oy an ses
1.-THE ssociaon subject to the inspection Of the members
printed list thereof for convenient reference shall be kept
the clerk or secretary.
The reader who has Understandings perused the
foregoing bill, must see how utterly grOundess is
the charge of especial Legislation" even without
being advised that it was most carefully scrutinized
and revised in the Senate BY tue Committee on
Charitable and Religious Associations, with the
view of guarding it from any possible abuse, and
that it was unanimously reported by that Commit
tee without distinction of party, as based upon
eound principle of general legislation.
The intent and object of the act is simply to
secure to the members at large of the various asso
Citations included in the first section their equal
right as members to share in the gOyernance of the
institution. This right contrary to the COnstitu-
tons of these Societies. has fallen into the hands of
q small minority of the members who chance to re-
side in the place where the headquarters of the AS
ISOLATION happen to be- aud at present this minority
are by this accident, enabled to control the funds,
mOnopolze the Offices, and direct the operations of
the Society for their own purposes, with an utter
disregard, and, sometimes in direct defiance of the
known wishes of the great body of the members
The fundamental principal on which the act is
based il the Democratic principle that the msjority
shall rule; and in fnrtherance of this principle is
gives 10 the members residing in the rural district
III equal voice in the governaCce of the Society
AZ "A. ell. Of NJ.
Not one word one syllable, OF one letter of the
bill renders it wait more applicable to the Tract
Society than to any other OF the benevolent, charl-
table, scientific and literary associations chartered
by the State, and the convenient charge of special
legislation finds in the act shadow of foundation.
The question involved in the act is as broad as the
country itself, and one that men of all parties can
understand. II is, Shall the members from the
rural districts be- allowed to speak and act for
themselves, or must they sabmt, as heretofore, to
be represented only by tSe sentiments and interests
of a comparative handial Of members residing in
the ciiyl
One argument warmly urged last year by the
organs of the Tract Society against the law, was
that members from the rural districts We're quite
incompetent to understand the questions that would
be determined at the Anniversary meetings. 10
this The Journal Of Commerce now ADDS another, IN
intmatng that forged proxies will BE- presented in
the names of members DO longer living. This latter
argument we are afraid may Little startle tho
country members, of our religious associations who
are not familiar with the facile morals of "Com-
"mercia Christianity" but willing as we are that
The Journal us the champion of Slavery and the
Tract Society, should have fair hearing, we COM
mend both these objections to the candid consdera-
ton Of the Legislature and the country.
The isncied inconsistency dwelt upon by TA'
Journal. between this act and the Assembly bill Il
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