t
election, the amendments were to be acted upon separately. This was
the plan of Governor Clinton in 1821. On the other hand, the Whigs,
the Anti-Renters, and the Native Americans insisted that the
Legislature call a convention, and that its work be submitted, as a
whole, to the people, as in 1821. This the Hunkers resisted to the
bitter end. An obstacle suddenly appeared, also, in the conduct of
William C. Grain, who thought an early and unlimited convention
necessary. Michael Hoffman held the same view, believing it the only
method of getting the act of 1842 incorporated into the organic law of
the State. Upon the latter's advice, therefore, Crain introduced a
bill in the Assembly similar to the convention act of 1821. It was
charged, at the time, that Crain's action was due to resentment
because of his defeat for speaker, and that the Governor, in filling
the vacancy occasioned by the transfer of Samuel Nelson to the Supreme
Court of the United States, had added to his indignation by
overlooking the claims of Michael Hoffman. It is not improbable that
Crain, irritated by his defeat, did resent the action of the Governor,
although it was well known that Hoffman had not sought a place on the
Supreme bench. But, in preferring an unlimited constitutional
convention, Crain and Hoffman expressed the belief of the most
eminent lawyers of the Commonwealth, that the time had come for
radical changes in the Constitution, and that these could not be
obtained unless the work of a convention was submitted in its entirety
to the people and approved by a majority vote.

Crain's bill was quickly pigeon-holed by the select committee to which
it was referred, and John Young's work began when he determined to
have it reported. There had been little difficulty in marshalling a
third of the Assembly to defeat the constitutional amendments proposed
by the preceding Legislature, since Whigs, Anti-Renters, and Native
Americans numbered fifty-four of the one hundred and twenty-eight
members; but, to overcome a majority of seventeen, required Young's
patient attendance, day after day, watchful for an opportunity to make
a motion whenever the Hunkers, ignorant of his design, were reduced by
temporary absences to an equality with the minority. Finally, the
sought-for moment came, and, with Crain's help, Young carried a motion
instructing the committee to report the Crain bill without amendment,
and making it the special order for each day unt