CHAPTER Vni

CONVENTION   ASSEMBLES  AT  ALBANY----JOHN   TRACY,   PRESIDENT----

PERSONNEL   OF   CONVENTION----CHIEF   WORK   OF   CONVENTION

----PROVISIONS   AS   TO   CANALS,   PUBLIC   REVENUE   AND   PUBLIC

DEBTS----EVILS    OF    SPECIAL    LEGISLATION----PROVISIONS   AS   TO

CORPORATIONS----THE LOCO-FOCO  PARTY AND ITS  DECLARATION

OF PRINCIPLES----EFFECT UPON CONVENTION----POLICY OF CON¬
VENTION EXTREME DECENTRALIZATION----INCREASE IN NUM¬
BER OF SENATORIAL DISTRICTS----ABOLITION OF COUNTY REP¬
RESENTATION IN THE ASSEMBLY----PROVISION FOR ARBITRA¬
TION   TRIBUNALS----CREATION   OF   NEW   SUPREME  COURT  WITH

LAW AND EQUITY POWERS—ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL MODE
OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION----ADDRESS OF THE CONVEN¬
TION  TO  THE  PEOPLE----ESTIMATE  OF  ITS   WORK----THE  CANAL

BILL   OF    185I,   DECLARED   UNCONSTITUTIONAL----AMENDMENT

OF CANAL PROVISIONS OF CONSTITUTION IN 1854—ORIGIN
AND PROGRESS OF ANTI-RENT CONTROVERSY AND LIMITATIONS
UPON AGRICULTURAL LEASES  IN   NEW  CONSTITUTION.

The convention assembled at the capitol on June i, 1846,
and John Tracy, of Chenango county, was chosen president.
The representation was of a high order. There was a large pro¬
portion of lavi^ers in the assemblage, whose work called for
supreme legal talent. Seward was not a delegate, his county be¬
ing unfavorable to his selection. Charles H. Ruggles (after¬
wards chief judge of the Court of Appeals), Michael Hoffman,
Charles O'Conor, Samuel J. Tilden, Churchill C. Cambreleng,
Charles P. Daly, Ira Harris, later United States senator, Henry
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