The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1871, Page 4

4 “THE STATE CAPITAL, Opening of the Nineiy-Fourth Session of the Legislature. THE GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE. A Short Session and Very Little Legislation Recommended. Reduction of Taxes Necessary and Possible. The Governor Favors Rapid <rangit in the Metropolis. An Elevated Bailrond Through the Blocks the Best Plan. A Look Into the Future of the Nation. FEDERAL AFFAIRS CLOSELY CRITICISED The State AN Right—The Condition of the Union the Important Question, of the Legislature—William Hitch. man Elected Spenker and Cornelius W. Arnjstrong Clerk—The Democrat Narrow Escape from Veleat—A Little Breeze on the Twombly Caso-Tho Westchester Scheme and Auother Elevated Railway. ALBANY, Jan, 3, 1871, Both houses of the Legislature met promptly at eleven o'clock this forenoon, The greater 1uterest Appeared to centre in the proceedings of the Lower House, and long betore the organization was effected an Mmamense crowd of spectators gathered in the galleries and lobbies. There were a number of ladies present, who had rather a rongh experience 1o endeavoring to get comfortable seats, The republicans were all on hand © quarter of an hour before the appointed time, bat tie democrats were not. “Where is Decker?'? “Have you seen Ransom or Randally were qu°s- lions which were passed from mouth to mouth upon all sides as Rhodes, the Sergeant-at-Arms, fitted aout in an excited sort of way endeavoring to make sure thal every man of the majority at least was in the chamber. But in his hurry he ceigned to give no other answer than an ominous negative shake of the head, whe he*continued his search, for he as well every other officer of the House whose place, posi- ton and financial comlort depended upon. the slippery majority, had strong personal interest in seeing ali Dis friends present in full force. “What! exclaimed Nelson, all the way from icy Rockland, as Tom Fields peered anxtousiy about from a Seat ri bt inJront of Westchester Husted, who looked rather olly over the siiuation. “What! three good democrats wanted! Goodness gracious, what can be the matter? We don't lag behind in Rockland when we're wanted.” Then THE NEW YORK CITY MEMBERS, hethinking, themselves of the Speakership that might not after all be theirs, and upon which ail their future hopes for a clear field during the ses- sion depended; of the committees with their nice privileges and goodly profits, the free oficial journey- ings from town to town, the investigating dinners to New York, where living at hotels at public ex- pense is a legislative spice not to be sneezed at— bethinking themselves of all these things they be- came uveasy, got badly flurried and at last, losing all patience, put on their hats and went ont into the street In search of the Jost children of the fold. ft was now three minutes of eleven. True, the missing trio might come ip during the sweartog in of meinbers, but it would be arisky thing to count on, for if the republicans, who were all present, should carry the day, the joke would be too disastrous even for a jocose New Yorker hke Hitchman to laugh at with any degree of comfort. But fate dectded against the occurrence of the joke in the long run, for, Just as the Clerk had begun to call the roll in walked Ransom, out fresh from the new capitol foundations, where he baa been looking at tne “catacombs,” followed by Randall, who bad been aimost prevented from com- ing at all by sickness, Lastly Decker, he from Rich. mond, Who bad not been seen anywhere before and for whom telegraphic despatches had been flashing over the wires during the night, strode inte the chamber smiling as good humoredly as though he had never given a fellow legislator @ quaim of anxtety in the whole course of his natural life. His cou.siy and district had been all sworn in when he did come, bui “better late than never" tsa good motto in most places, and as Decker took his seat the greeting he got from his political conyrires showed quite plainly that the motto is duly appre- ciated sometimes even in the Assembly. THE ORGANIZATION. The members were sworn in by counties ana dis- tricis, the Secretary of State administering the oath. This proceeding Was divested of the usual solemnity taining to the ceremony by the noise and con- on im the chamber, created by the mem- In their seats, who, instead of pay- ing attention to What Was going on, busied them- selves in cracking jokes, telling Storiesgand discuss- amg the chances asto the duration of the sessien. ‘the clergyman who sat m the chair usually eccu- nant, but as his ofMfictai prayer had been said nobody thought it werth his while to leok in his direction, so his councenance finally relaxed from tts rigidity, and be gazed upon the scene avout him as though he were determined te make a stady of it for future sermonic servi @ should he ever be sent into the wil- derness as a wissionury to teach civilization ag well a8 religion to the ben.ghted heatuen. THE TWOMELY CASE. ‘The only incident of note thut occurred during the swearing in of the members took p.ace when the name of Mr. Carey, of New York, was called. Mr. Gleason, Of St. Lawrence, rose and said before Mr. Carey Was sworn in he desired a protest from Mr. ‘Twombly, wh.ch he had in his possession, be read and action taken upon it. The crowds in the galleries and lobbies pricked up their ears at this, and @ grand rish to the forward benches Was made, the expectation evidently being general tat the republicans bad got ther dender up about the Seventh New York district and were going to show fight. But the expectation was doomed to dis- appointinent for a time, as Tom Fields was on the aiert. Mr. Gleason, aud as svon es the latter hed sunk into Mis chair, apparently scared mad® to raike the demo- at the effort he had eratic Lions about him. i jected tu the consid » sprang to his feet and ob- jon of the protest, as the House Was not organized. The Gierk decided tat Mr. Gleason's mouon was out of order, and thus | the matter stood tll ofver the lection of the officers of the House. Of course us was a mere formality, and Mr. Hitchman was chosen 4s Speaker, Mr. Arinstvong as Cierk aud Mr, Rauodes as Sergeant-at-Arms. ‘Then it was that the iun began im true earnest. To MI. Gleason again Zeit the lot of opening the ball, and he did so by oferm, @ resulutlon that & special commit be appointed 10 take Mr. consideration, and to in hole Sub. Ject at dispute. This prov ampbei te icet, and he moved to Jay the resolution on the tabie, Amendments and counter aineudwments theu bean to pour in from all sides until the Speaker bimseit, who ought to oe by this time usea to the network- ings to bathe one anower which Assembiymen wake such free use of, a le hall bewildered, Finally, aiter groping lus way carefully out of lus @iMeulties and vetting rid of all the amendments, he deciled that the motion besore the Liouse was to jay the resolu ion op tile table, Gov. crnor Alvord called tur the ayes and noes, and then ensued more excitement and more confusion. Tow Fields rose aod asked to be excused trom voting, because he believed in the right of petition and eit that Carey had been rightiully elected, and thea changed bis ria and voted “No."? Tim Campbell got on his feet again aud began to tik about peo- ple being “ANNOYED” ABOUT SOMETHING or other, when he was declared out of order, as Mr. Gleason had the floor, Mr. Li in then took @ hand in, end argued to show tl he committee were appointed it would not be nece-sary to make Mr. Gleason, the mover of the resolution, chairman of it, as the whole subect lay in the hands of the majority. The question § on the resolution to lay on ie table was then put and post by # Vote ofelto4s The oriinal resojawon He happeoes to sit immediately in front of | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1871—TRIPLE SHEET. | was then lost by a vote of 62 to 68, Thus the whole | Question will go before the Committee on Privilewes | and Elections when appointed, The galleries ev denuy enjoyed the squabble over the protest, judg- | Ing from the steuce tley observed and the mntens9 eagerness they manifested to hear every word spoken upon the subject, THAT WESTCHESTER SCHEME, | Mr. Genet introduced in the Senate his long talked | OL bul in refeveace to the annexat on of ceriain | Lowns tn Westchester county to the county of New York, Those parts of ths county of Wesichester to be are bouuded by the northerly boundaries | the towns oO: Yonkers, East Chester and New Rocneile, easterly by the eastern boundaries of New Rochelle and Pelham, southeriy by the southerly poundaries of the towns of ; Westchester, West Farms and — Morrisania, and westerly by the western boundary of the town of | Yonkers, including the town of Yonkers, Morrisania, West Farms, West Chester, Rast Chester, Feiham. This portion of Westchester is to be deciared, If the bill passes, a portion of New York county, ‘for all purposes except political and ' for the holding and jurisdiction of Supreme and | Clreuit Courts and Courts of Oyer and Terminer until the State shall be redistricted ~un- der the next State census or renumeration, and | thereafter for all purposes whatever.” The territory empraced within the towns mentioned 1s aiso de- clared annexed to the territorial limits of the city of New York, and divided into four Is, to be kKuown as the Twenty-third, fwenty-fourth, Twenty- | ith ana Twenty-sixih. At the election of 1871 seven- teen Aldermen, instead of fifteen, are to be elected forthe new city, also two additional Assistant Al- dermen, The bill then provides for the Proper asseasment of taxes and the division of the new portion of the city tito schovl and Judicial districts. Senator Cauldwell, who, evi- | dently, doesn’t see the future of the Westchester folks in the same light as “Prince Hal," of Harlem, 4s soon Qs the bill had reached the Clerk's desk, got up and very solemuly gave notice that he would, in a Week or so, bring in a bill to annex New York to the town of Morrisania. This raised rather a good Jaugh at Genet s expense, but he jomed in it quite heartily himself ANOTHER RLEVATED RAILROAD. It would seem that the meiancholy fate of the Greenwich Street Slevated Kailway, which gave your Grand Jury such a fit of legal phraseology tne oiber day, When it fulminated its curse against it as @ nuisance, has not deterred _every- body from stl trying his luck at the “up in a balloon” style of riding on the rail, for Senator Norton to-day gave notice that he would, neXt week, present a bill authorizing the construc- on 01 an elevated raliroad in New Lork, the road to rua through the lower tocalities of the city. The bill provides that the road should have two ers to meet the purposes of an up and down Toute, and that it shoud ve erected east of Broad- Way and extend the full leagth of the island “with branches,” The real estate to be occupied by tne road must be bougut outright by ihe corporators. ‘the two houses will adjourn to-morrow till Mon- day next, to give the Speaker time to make up the committees, N:W YORK LEIS! ATURE. , Senate. ALBANY, Jan, 3, 1871. OPENING OF THE SENATE—THE LIEUTENANT GOY- ERNOB’S ADDRKSS, Ateleven o’ciock the Senate was called to order by the Lieutenant Governor, who addressed the Senate as follows:. SrsaTors—Re-electea by the people to the office of Licuteuant Governor, the consutution makes it ny duty again to actas President of the Seuate, | Having experienced your courtesy in the past { coa- lidently Invoke 1s continuance in the future. shail endeavor Lo discharge my duty impartially and rey upon each Senator to assist in enforcing the rates by a careful observance o1 them on his | part. Congratulavions upon itis reun on ace sad- uened by the paintul reflection that oue seat ts va- cant. One of our number has gone from Farth, and | “the Places that knew tum nere wtli Know om no more jorever.”’ £8 family, by whom he was so | devo ediy loved; his frieads aud fellow Sena- tors, Who 80 fully appreciated his virtues, and bis coustituents, Whom he has 80 taithtully represented, mourn their bereavement, By this solemn dispensa- | ton we are forcibly remtaded that we, too, are mortal, A few deeung years and our bopes of tame, our | dread of adverse forvane and our dreams of ambition Wiil ali be shrouued in the tomb. May we so lve tuat when that supreme and inevitable hour shad come We may each 100k back upon duty bravely done, upon temptations to achieve success by ques- Uouacle means trmly resisted, and, “sustaiued and soothea by au unfalter.ng trust, approach Une grave like one that wraps the drapery or his couch avout him and ties down to pleasant dreams." ‘Tae roll having been called a majority of the Senators answered to their names, The usual cominittees to notify the Governor and As-embiy of the meeting of the Senate were appointed, RECESS OF THE BENATR, Mr. TWEED moved that, if the Assembly concur, When the Sevate adjourn on Thursday it adjoarn to met on Wednesday next at seven ¥. M. Adopted. The Senate then iook a recess for half an hour. BILLS INTRODUCED. On reassembling bills were introduced as fol- lows:— By Mr. NortoN—For the better protection of mi- hors, By Mr. PIERCE—Amending the charter of the Wil- Mamsburg aud Fiatbush Railroad Company. by Mr. GENEr—To annex the towns of Yonkers, East Chesier, New Rocheile, Peinam, West Chester, West Farms and Morrisania to New York, NOTICES OF BILLS. ‘ oF Mr. CREAMER—Zo repeai the New York Regis- ry law. By Mr. GENeT—Amending the cnarter of the New York and Long Isiand Bridge Company, By Mr. CAULDWELL—Anuexing the city of New York to Morrisania. x ae Nokron—For an Elevated Ratlway in New orl By Mr. TwreD—Authorizing New York to acquire title aad property in Putnam and Westchester coun- lessor the better supply of water to New York. Mr. KENNEDY introduced a bill coufirmmg the tiue of certain portions o/ real estate questioned by alleaage o: former owuers. ‘ THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. The Governor's message was then presented by the Governor's private secreiary and read. Gn couciuding the read.ng of tue Message the Senate adjourned. Assembly. ALBANY, Jan. 3, 1871, MEMBERS QUALIFIED, At eleven o’clock A.M. the Clerk of the last House, CORNELIUS W. ARMSTRONG, Called the House to order, and the Secre ary of State proceeded to administer the oath of office to each member, The New York delegation was called, and, on reading the name of Mr. Carey, Mr. GLEASoN, on behalf of Mr. Twombly, who contests Mr. Carey's seat, presented a protest against his being sworn in. Mr, FikLps objected to tue protest being presented at this time, Tne CLERK decided the presentation of the pro- test out of order, aad Mr. Carey was sworn in, ELECTION OF OFFICERS, The House then proceeded to the electon of omicers. Mir, sitchman, of New York, was hamed for Speaker by sixty-four members; James W. Husted, oi Westchester, was named for Speaker by sixty- two members. Mr. Hitchman was declared elected as S| and he was conducted to the chair by Husted and Flagg. On taking the chair Mr. HircHMaN made the fol- lowing remar! GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSEMBLY—One year ago I stood 1 this place to express my anpreciation of the honor then be. i ' | } i ' stowed upon me by electing me Speaker of the Assembly. I had occupied the same station at @ previ aker, essrs, ous session Last year { was personally known to few of 1 fided to me this important trust. I accepted it then, as I do now, with the intention of discharging its dutles with im- partiajity, and while recognizing the authority of the ma- Jority to reapect and uphold the rights of the minority. ‘We passed through a severe oreal mt that session, It wai a period in which some of the moat important. tory of the State were incorporated tute boo! snd in which exeiting events occurred, of an unusual char: aoter. Tam aware that 1 did not perform my part in the trials which we all underwent, without committing errors. Those error know, aud { thiuk my colleagues beite tentional; and they were generously overlooked, When the excitement of our contests was over and the time came for the Assembly to separate, we ail to our homes, with feelings of mutual respect and ‘frien ich will long survive. A. Janer population than usual of the members of the last House have been returned to this, ' returned am ‘sure, whi ‘& renewed assurance of coondence on the part of their constituents. This strength- ens them for their new labors, and stimulates them to fresh efforve to deserve that confidence; andto me it aifords un- nenal pleasure that I have been re-elected to this chair by the votes of so many wuo were my associates last year. Io the remarks which I made on assuming the Speakership Inst year, when pasate, a8 is customary, to current political topies, f took occasion to refer tothe then pendin; fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United | States I asserted doctrine that any State could recousider ite action in the matter of slterations of ‘that instrument at any time before they had been coneurred | im by the requisite number of States; and that tf, before that | time, ay State should decide to withdraw ite aseent previ- | ously given, it could not be counted as oue of those consent thereto. I cistinctly stated that my ebjection to the proposed amendment was not that it “conferred the rigit of suffrage on men, but that, under the pretence of enfranchising that class, sought to «ive to Congress control of elections in the Biates, and to concentrate at the seat of the central government at Washington @ despotic and trresponsible Bower of self-perpetnation, destrnctive of the rights of the | citvzen and dangerous to the inberties of the county. | Itwill be reinembered bow generally this view of the in- | tent and prodabse operation of the proposed ment \ | denied to be correct; yet no sooner was the amendment jopted than Congress veritied by ite action this apprehen- on. So far as this State was concerned | jored men all the rights ei 7 | them under the Fifteenth amendment, and having on con. sultation between the majority and tmlaority represented 10 the Legislature adopted a law providing regulations for reg- istering, receiving and eounting voles in ihe eliy of New York satisfactory to boih partiens ‘The act ot Congress itself showed, by sts provisions, that is real purpose was but the. protection of calored men, but to exert control over the elections. ‘This law. authorized th President to do what the monarch of Great Britain dare pi oto wit, to put bis soidiera at the election polls, Im It into practice! operation “it was | proved ul real design of the law was te dis: franenise the ‘ctyy (0 New York and to” transfer meant of military Inerference, the power, from the rightful majority of this to the minority. ‘The law, show of tairness, provided that s be representea ejually among the new. power 10" supervise - elect! ier h political party should men clothed with the But the J empowered utterly igné Provision so far as r York was concerned, Me did ship wiltuly apd deliberately. His oppetatmonts were made wholly from those of one po- litical party or those confederate i together for the same | partaaa purposes, 4 and the Deputy Marshais were reokle: 5 of toem trom the lawiers classes of | the community, couvicted felons aad ovher notorious ortmi- Ey a 8 |, Tuey were, forthe moat part, men who had no respect | for tho rigits of others, and were weil chosen for the despe- rate purposes for whica they we omnted, This un Just Juve may be said, im the great cause of the peo- Pie ag uust party, to have heard but o: ‘and to have fraudulently given judgmont, in adv: povvle tor tho corrupt price of nly part ‘he marabals were armed with ciubs and pisto.s and the cit was filled with armed ro,uiar so.diers drawn irom, their Proper dusy at distant posta, even from the Indian Terri- or over-awing did not stop here, The armed ‘of the navy were anchored in the adjotning rivers, These men thus chosen for partizan pu poacs met to,erer and agreed to break up the election fa the city, by arresting voters on their own suspicion, and by oar- Tying off and imprisoning the inspectors appointed un- der the Inwa of the Sate to receive the. voles, That this course would result in violeace aud a. coneral disturbance of the pubiic peace was anticipated; but even the prospects of suoa consequences did not 1essen the porsint- ence with witch these men sougnt to accomplish their des- perate purposes. Isis g too much to assert that no people deserving the right of sniirse and uset to ite exercise, would tamely submit to such wholesale Geprivation of the rizht? Is ft not likely that the breaking up of the election in the city of New York by armed forces would not only have resulted in dis- turbances of a ‘eartul nature there, accompanied by exten- on of life and proj erty, but woud throughout @ placed the two great parties in an. atti to bitter personal hatred, which would have en- dangered the peace oi every neizhborhood ? A condition of thins, ia fact approaching to civil war. For escape irom theve great perils we are indebted chiefly to the prudence, hrmness and wise precautions 01 the Gov- ernment, and perbaps, some degree to the cry which Went up irom Wall sireet--a cry or the saiety of property, which was heeded by the administration, although it was dou! to the claims of popular berty. A ‘cabinet. counc | was held at Washiagton at the last moment, at wuteh it was determined that the people of New York should be allowed to vote. Thave dwelt long on this topic because I look on the evens of the lust ewection as bringing up, for the consider tion of the people of this State, a great emergency. ‘ih: Ought nut to be and cannot be treated us a pariy question, mind th It must be apparent to every thinsing the right of suilrage cannot be taken xcept at the cost of # struggie any ever known in the history of any county; an all, of every party, interested fu siving our Stat Our country unt ourse.ves irom the disasters, which woul accompany tue straggle. Old pary tsues have become settled or fost their timpurtance; new ones are takin: their place, which will eventually change tue line of party division, dhe a. miasion of the colored man to cittzeuship iw settled orever. ‘the payment of the pubiic debt {s no party question; all agree tut it isto be discharged to the last doilar, upon the moat ‘tberal construction tu favor -f our creditors.” The new issues or revenue reform an home anit abroad, and re:rench went In public expenaitures, AS A uecessity arising from heavy taxation, are tast growlag jato pubic ib portance. Some of us wh ve her. tofo.e veen Opposed poviticauy may find ourselves acting togevher tn tue future; and it may ve our common interest now, as it ciearly our outy, to see to it that the power of the people in this g verawent of ours be preserved in full ellicleucy, 80 4s to eifees w right cecision of great questions. ‘ihe presery: tion of our iiberties ts tite first day of tan who loves ti country; a duty (rom whieh no spirit of temporary partisan- ship shoud swerve bin, 1a closin; these remarks T respectfully urge upon you the consiveration of :mportant measures of legisiaion earner in the session than bas been usual; and I beg leave to augy Kt also that (requent recesses, by which actual business is Postwoued to tne later days of tue session, 48 woul’ be wise Oavoll, baravsty soliciting your zea ous co-operation in the per.ormance 0: my dilficuit’duties fad your generous La- dulgence, 1 uwa't your furtuer pieasure. ‘Tae House thea proceeded to elect a clerk, Cornelius W. Armsiong was named by sixty-five members; Wiliam G, Weed Was uamed by sixty- thee members, Mr, Armsirong was then declared elected as Clerk. avhodes, of Unconta, Was bamed by siaty-ve members ior sergeant-at-Arms, and Wiliam Atkin- nom ot New Yora, Was hamed by sixiy-three mem- ers. Tue other oMcers as selected in the democratic caucus Were thi oxen. THE GOVERNOR'S MESSA The overnor’s Message Was then received at the hands of Culonel Van Buren, private sec.etary to the Governor, and was read. ‘Ibe annual reports of tue Comptroller and Auditor were received aud, with the Message, ordered tv be printed. : The Senate’s resolution to adjourn over was re- ceived und Laid over. a Mr. FLacG introduced a vill amending the Militia aw. THE NEW YORK CONTESTED ELECTION CASE. Mr. Gibason presented the petiuon of Mr. yomb.., the coniestant for the seat occupied vy rey, Lrom tie seventh New York disteiet, and iwoved tu appouit a committ-e of five on the peu- tion. Air. CAMPBELI. moved to lay the motion for a select committes on the table, Mr. FIELDS stated Liat as this motion carried the petuiton with tt, and as he believed in the right of petliion, though he was suti-tiea the seat belonged lo Mr. Carey, he would vote ugainst it. Mr. Javous said he would vole no, so as to vote agamst the motion for a select comuittes wuen it cuue Up. ‘The motion to lay on the tab'e was lost by 45 to 81. Mr. Fii.Lps inquired U Lhe petition Would goto the | Committe: on Privileges and Kiecuions m case the motion for @ select committes was negatived. The SPEAKER 80 ruled, aud the motion for a select commitiee was lost by 65 to 62 Mr, HosTeD having paired off with Mr. Mosely Was excused from voting o1 this maiter. Kecess till {our o'clock P, M., Waen the members selected their seats aud the House adjourned, THE GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE. EXeCUTIVE CaAMBER, ALBANY, Jan. 3, 1871, To THE LEGISLATURE? The favorable action of the Legislature, at its last session, upon many importaat recommendations made by me has left very few questions of State policy to which it 18 necessary to call your atten- tion, General laws have been passed, through which much special legislation will be avoided, Tne con- spiracy laws have been amended, A new revision of the statutes bas been ordered. The registry laws (except in the city of New York) have been re- pealed. Important chunges in canal policy have been made, The examination of numerous claims ageimst the State, heretofore requiring @ special act in each case, has been provided for by a single statute. The excise laws have been modi- fied im conformity with the judgment of a majority of the people. A general law jor the incorporation of villages has been enacted. The powers of the boards of supervisors of the several counties have been enlarged. Metropolitan and other dtstrict commissions, whica had absorbed the rightful powers of local governments, have peen abolished. The management of their own affairs has been re- stored to the peuple of the great cities, The inttia- tory steps have been taken to secure a more Just and satisfactury assessment of property for taxa- tion, These subjects engrossed, in a greut degree, the time of the Legislature at the last session. The dis- position then made of them having commanded the popular endorsement, the principles involved may be treated as settled. Iam justified, therefore, in the hope that the present legislative sessi: n will be much shorter than usual. It will be a relief to the people if the volume of annual legislation be dimin- ished; especially if they see that much of the diminution is due to the defeat of the private schemes which are so frequently thrust upon your consideration. bea hi. Although the people ef this State are enjoying a fair degree ot | gern tii they feel sensinly the heavy burden of taxation, federal, State and local, which rests upon them, and which, as heavy taxes always do, lessens their home comforts and inter- feres with their efforts to improve their condition. They watch closely their representatives, legislative and executive, im the ministration of public affairs, They expect retrenchment of expendi- tures Wherever it ia possible, and have a right to demand that legislation be confined to its legitimate purpose, to wit, the equal protection of ali and the promotion of the general good. They know that all the money drawa from the public treasury is taken out of their earnings; that there isin tact no public treasury except in the pockets of the people, Wil- img to be taxed for the legitimate purposes of gov- ernment, they are not disposed to be parsimonious in contributing thereto; but waste, extravagance and taxation for the benefit of private speculative enter- prises will incur their condemnation. The tendency on the of both federal and State Legislatnres for many years past has been to the making of laws for the benefit of @ favored few, protecting and advancing ial at the cost of the eneral interests, Those who seek such legislative ‘favors are always ready to put forward the specious: argument that some public benefit is likely to accrue as a compensation for the private gain assured to themselves; but in too many cases the result 18 simply that new burdens are imposed on the people. This evil is ene ef great m: tude. Our govern- Ment 18 a government hy majorities; but it is a mis- take to suppose that the governing power, even pe Mponiheytene ae as my right to impose ‘axes upon the people at large for pul ‘8 Of pri- vate benefit a * It is time to return, both in federal and State af fairs, to a full appreciation of the principle of jus- tice to all, upon which our government is founded. Our country has passed through the struggies and trials of @ great civil strife, and our Lat) ed are rap- idly tees Tim g the causes which engendered it, and the griefs and sorrows wed ot ging While the na- tions of Europe are ceuvulsed by war, or stand in dread ae fugue tolapabee ena blesses us with peace. Grat le to God, as weil as our interest, de- mands that we shall cultivate, all through the land, the spirit of magnanimity, charity and patriotism; then, tf wisdom shall inspire our counsels, we ma: easily throw off the burden which folly and evil pas- sions have put upon us, and enter upon a new ca- reer of public and private prosperity, _ TAXES. m The rate of State taxation this year is abont seven and one-fourth mills. Nearly one-third of the tax ts for the annual payment on our war bounty debt, re- quired by the act creating ft. Besides this, one mill was nece: to provide for obligations incurred and claims audite. in former years, but for payment of which the Legisiature then omitted to make ap- propriations. It was a \ myers of discretion, but @ matter of State honor, that these claims, heretofore examined and audited by the proper officers, should be paid at once. They ought to have been paid be- fore, This item wil not appear another year. Five- siguens of a mllare levied tosmect payuncyta LOK WOKK £ OMe oR-commiyuionad oflcaga gud bri | may reNdor me Vepict gf gi opposition to land joobing at | on the new Capitol. The two last mentioned items amount to about one-fourth of the who.e State tax, ‘The new Capitol was begun unler & rormer ad- ministration; it 13 for the peopie, through their rep- Tesentatives, to say how rap.dly the work shall go on, Ibis maniiest that the cost of this work will very far exeeed the orminual extimaies and the limit imposed by law; to ths deem it my duty to call your special aitent.on, The act conferring au- thority On the Commissioners to erect a new Cavl- tol (chapter 839 of Laws of 1563) eapiiciily provided “that they shall not proceed tu the construction of the said new Capitol unless they shail be satisted that the expense thereof shuli not exceel, wien completed, $4,000,000." The sum of $1,603,750 63 (independent Of $647,0(5 16 paid for Jan.) has already been expended tn the construction of the bud ting, and the foundation only 1x com- Ege. It 1s due tu the commis-teners to say that before they commenced the work they had eatimates from skilled men which came within the hinut of £4,000,00 foundation will Le, proportivuasely, less expensive. it 1s nevertheless evide .t that the cost ot the butid- inz, when completed, will be very greavly in excess of the first estimate, It 18 for you to provide a remedy for this very un- satisfactory state of things, If ihe work is ty goon perhaps the plans might be so modified that a bund. tug oO: much simpler and less costiy style could be erected on the present foundation, aud yet all the accommodation needed by the State government be uforded. Nordo | see why, with the aoun lant space occupied, part of the proposed Capitol build- ing should not be appropriated to an executive re- sidcnce; this would be @ Saving to the State, If, on the otter hand, the work 18 to be stopped or sus- pended for @ time, this can bo done with less loss and inconvenience now than at any future period tm tne progress of construction, A new Capitol 18 unquestion- ably needed, but uniess the plans can be 8» modified as to insure that the cost will be very much less than It now promises to be, and aot mucu in excess of the original limit, recommend that the work be suspended, at least until our war ovunty dept, which nocuicee about $3,000,040, of annual taxation be patd, STATE DEBT. Tne greater portion of the State debt consists of the war hounty debt, which wil be extinguished within seven years through the annual taxes im- posed by the act which created it. ‘the unpatd por- tioa of this debt amounted, on the 30th Seplemver, 187"), LO $19,611,390 4. The residue of the State debt, amounting to $12,597,753 $4, Was in existence Lefore the war, and was incurred in gold; It 1s to be satisfe}, not from taxation, but out of the revenues pledged for its payments, No part of the principal will come due this year, and you will mereiy have to provide for the payment of the interest in coin, tu uccordance with the poltey which the State adopted last year, The entire State debt waa, on the | 3th of September, 1:70, after deducting the unap- pled portions of the several sisking tunas, $52,400,144 26; & reduction of »6.455,304 43 having been effected auring the pust two years, SALT SPRINGS, ‘The quantity of salt inspected from the Onondaga Salt springs, during the last fiseal year was 8,351,247 bushels, This shows an increase of prodnetion compared with the previous year or 313,515 bushels. Revenue for the year. 38 bxponses .. ; Net revenue to State BANKS. On the 1st of October last, sixty-one hanks were doing business under the laws of tis State; of which number twenty-seven had been national banks, now organized as State banks under tue provisions ol chapter 475, laws of 1367. Under this law, thirty banks in a! bad been convertet trom na 10na! banks ino state banks, Three of these are cio ei; one in consequence of fallure alter un existence of less than one year. During the last Mscal year circulating notes to the amount of 3238.926 have been burned by the bank departivent and eight binks hive teen eredited with loat ¢'reulat on to the amount of $125,227, the Ume fo: redvem.ng it having expired, On ihe 1st of October last the amount of circula- tion o tstanding, charged to banking associations, individual and mcorporated banks, was $2 253,997, Of this the amount of $77..297 consists of notes Of Ine corpora ks in existence prior to the passage of our free banking laws and for which no securities were required, and the suin of $1,474,640 is secured by oe of bonds aad mortgages, stocks anu casi ‘The total amount of securities held by the Super- intendent of the Banking Department at the cl se of the fiscal year Was $2.67 1,258, Of which $525,378 Was held for trast companies, and the balance, $2,145,909, ior banks, most of tuem being banks of circulation, One hundred aud thirty- hree savings ba ks, with total esiimated assets of $220,000.00, are now doing business in the State, The number of persons hay- ing deposits, as represented by the namber of open accounts oa the Ist of January, 187°, was 651,474, Aaganst 5 s8,556 the previous year. ‘The total amount of imterest ¢ edited to depositors during the year ending January 1, 1870, exceeded $10,250,000. In the sume periol of time the assets of thaze banks were increase. vy the sum of $26,000,000 and more. In view of the magnitude of the interests involved in our savings banks Lrenew my recommendation that full au hority be con.erred on the Superinten- dent of the Ranking Bepartment to examine their affairs and to apply proper remedies for mismanage- ment, INSURANCE. The number of insnrence companies anbject to the supervis.on of the Lnsurance Department on the Ist day of December, 170, 13 275, as follows: New York joint stock fire insurance companies, New Vork mutual insurance companies, ... New York marine insurance companies. New Sork Ii ¢ insurance companies. Fire insurance companies of other States. - Marine insurance companies of other States. Life insurance companies of other States Casualty insurance compan es of other States Foreign Insurance companie: Total. oo The total amount of stocks and morigages held by the depart'nent for the protection of policy holders of life and casualty insurance compantes of this State, aud of foreign insurance companies doing business within it, 18 $7,412,567, as follows:— For protection of policy holders cenerally, in life in- surance companies of this Stat 34,462,917 For protection of reptatered poites tioidera, sively..... For protection’ of ‘custia alvely 26,000 For protection of fr - surance companie 1,048,000 For protection of ii 4 surance companies: 316,000 Total deposit... $7,412,567 STATE PRISONS. The Comptrolier’s report will show, in detail, the earnings and expenses of the State prisons during the past year. ‘Ihe discipline in these institutions has b on the whole. better than heretofore. Neverihelesa, there 1s great need of furiher tmprove- ment in their management, Ananciaily and other- wise. As {said in my last messave, greater cou- centration of responsivity 13 required. and this can probably be attained only by an amendment of the constitution. 1 renew my recommendation that greater discretionary power be conferred on the eniet officer of each prigom in the matter of puaish- ment. Under the authority of chapter 427 of the laws of 1870 Lappointed as building commissioners for the erection of the state Prison or Industrial Reforma- tory established at Elmira, m Cnemung county, Anios Pilsbury, of Albany; Oharles C. B. Walker, of Corning; Abram H. Miller, of and Stephen , of Eimira, ‘hese commissioners have visited the most impor- tant of the buildings recently erected for similar pur- poses in the Eastern States; and Mr. Pillsbury, by their authority and on their benalf, has examined all newly constructed regs in Ohio, Illinois and other Western States. They have perfected the title of the State to the lands select by a former com- mission for the site, and will be prepared to begin the construction of the building early in the coming ring, if the necessary appropriations be made by the Legislature, The commission appointed by me, in pursuance of your concurrent resolution, to examine the subject of convict labor, consists of E. C. Wines and Thomas Fencer, of New York, and Michael S. Myers, of Au- burn. A report from them may be expected during the present session. I visited, during the past year, as I did the year before, all the State prisons, and gave a hearing to every convict who desired to apply personally to me fer pardon or commutation of punishmeut. More than a thousand applications for pardon and com- mutation of punisiment have been presented to me by the convict in person or by written petition. Eighty-five pardons, th’rty-four commutations and one reprieve have nm granted, a detailed state- ment whereof dnd of my reasons in each case will be hereafter submitted, CHARITIES AND ASYLUMS. I respectfuily refer you to the report of the Com- missioners of Charities for information upon the condition of the various State charities, all of which are recommended to your favorable and careful consideration. In some of the counties great im- provements have been made in the management of the poorhouses, The pressing claims of the tnsane poor for better care than can possibly be given them elsewhere than at asylums spccialiy provided for their form of human suffering I again urge upen your attention. You will be called upon wo make sp ng sl for Sue the accommodations in the State asylums for suck of the insano a# have no means of support. I trust you will do whatever is needed to hasten the time when all of this class may be re- moved from the county poorhouses, I recommend also to you an inguiry into the condition of pauper chiidren in the several counties, and whether some provision ought not to be made for removing them to proper asylums, EDUCATION. The general operations of the Department of Public Instruction during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1870, are suown by the following etalisucs:— Total receipte from alt sources, including batence Oa bass ke tee beglusing ef tne pees”, ‘310,01 rage 1,980,546 ‘The estimated vaite of schoo! houses and sites... 20,417,829 umber of children atuending the public sckovin.. jumber of persons attending the normal schools, ‘Total number of school houses. . The money which we cheerful: for the pur. poses of general education is vel, ane carefulty ap. plied, and the extent te which the opportunitics ‘afforded are made use of proves how highly the peo- le appreciate our common schools. I ani sure the jature needs no recommendation from me to extend to our school system the most liberal en- couragement, 11,705 BTA’ organized under the name of ‘tne, ‘National Guard of tho. Stale of. New York,” numbers now over twenty thousand they claim also that the work above tne | yates. For detatis 1 respectfully refer you to ‘ the report of the Adjutant Geoeral. ‘ine miliary code adopted at the last session has been received with approval by officers and men alike, te of great nization shou! Legislature, be generously sustained fo wake it thoroughly eMcient it shoula be armed with breeci-loaders of the best | ouality and most approved pactera, and 1 recom- A further settlement of over $600,000 of ihe war claims of this State upon the general government | bas vecn eJected this year, QUARANTINE, ‘The experience of the past year has furnished ad- d tional evideace of the security adorded to the pubilc heaith by the proper administration of quar- ant ne liws, Out of 865 vesseis which arrived in the ort of New York from ports ifected with yellow ever, 107 had had cases of this disease on board either In the port of de .arture or on their passage, or were found on thetr arrival here to have some of thelr crew or passengers sick WItl it. hid total number o! cases on these vessels, as near! which 112 died, Twenty-six cases from vessels under quarantine were admitted to the West Bank Hospital, ouly six of which proved fatal, In addition to these, eighiy-three patients, prostrated with rel- low fever, were admitted to the hospital from among the troops on Goveraor’s Isiand, thirty-one of whom died. Thirty vesseis have been detained at quarantine on account of sinallpox, having an agaregate of over 18,000 persons on board, from among Whom sixty-s1x patients, sick with this dis- ease, Were sent tothe hospital on B ackwell’s Isiand, Ten vessels have arrived, haying ship fever on board, with an aggrezate of nearly 6,000 passen- gers, twenty-two of whom died with the disease on the passage, forty otners, ick with It on their arr.val, were tansierred to the Ward’s Island Hos- ital ? Ihese statistics of disease show the dangers to whioh we are exposed tirough our foreign oom- merce. Happily tiey have been so warded off, that, notwithstanding the intense heat of the past sum- mer, the general health has not been disiurved oy them. It is reasonable to assume that this result ta, 1n a great measure, aue to the vigilance and ‘fidelity of the quarantine authorities, and to the in- creased facilities afforded them by the West Bank Hospital for the care and treatment of pa- tients, This is the first year thatit bas been in iull operation, and the success which has attended tts workings has fully met the expectations of the pub- Me and demonstrated the wisdom of its erection. | It is claimed, however, that unti! a suitable place for the detention of tnose who, while not actually sick, have been exposed to disease by sage in an infected vessel, and unttl Warehouses for the storage of niected goods are provided it will be diiticult to protect the pubilc fully against the dangers of im- orted disease. A -tructure on West Bank for the former purpose has been commenced, out an ada ional appropriation wil be required to complete 1b IMMIGRATION. Tae number of emigrants arriving at the port of New York this year is 212,000, a loss as compared With last year of 47,000, the number of arrivals this year betag about the same as in 1863, We ray reasonably expect that, with the return of peace in Kurope, emigration theuce to tins coun- try will be very largeiy increased. KEVISION OF STATUTES. Tappointed, under chapter 43, of the Laws of 1870, Amasa J. Parser, of Albavy, Nelsoa J. Waterbury and Mont somery U. Throop, of New York, comiuus- sioners to revise, simply, arrange and consolidate ali statutes of the State of New York. The work 13 being prosecuted wita ailigence. TAX REVISION. Under the authority of the joint resolution of the Legislature, pa sed at tis last session, | appointed David A, Wels, George W. rand Edwin Dodge commissioners to rr cc the Laws for the Assessinent and collection of taxes, Their report will be suburitted at an early period of the present session. CANALS. L hold to the same opinions, concerning our canals, as were expressed In my aunual messages of 1569 and 1370, Tne magnitude of our internal commerce ts far beyond that of our foreign trade, Our canals are a necessary means of tac.litating thls great domestle traMec, aod their maintenance 1. good navigable condition 1s essentiarto the general welare of the people of this state, Our constitution, trom obvious considerativas Of pubile policy, has provided that these works shall always remain the property of and be under the management of the State, aud ihe sug- gestion to surreader them tothe control, ia aay de- gree, Of tbe ‘ederal government, deserves no consid- eration, The federal government has already enough of administrative duties. Tins State built these canals without any extrinsic aid; it owns them, and 18 quite competent to take care of tem. Our own peuple are directly interested in their good manage- me d these great works are much more nkely to b ell administered by ourselves than if put un. der so remote @ supervision as that of the govera- ment at Wasnington. ‘The Canal Board, by authority of the Legislature, adopted iast year & reduced scale of tolls. As Was anticipated, there has resulted @ diminution of Tevepue, a8 compared with the previous . sea- son, As compared with @ period of years, however, the failing oif is not serious. The average annual receipts of the canis from the year 1846 down to 1s69 incisive (the period of higi wills) ts very little in ex Of those of 1870; and this includes the exceptional period of the war, when tne receipts Were unusnally large. The falling Of last year is not all due to the low rate of tolls. From purely commercial caases there has been a diminished tramc. Tne bustuess of the canals, more- over, sutfered during the past summer from a great reduction of ratiroud rates of freight temporarily made made by rival conipantes in a struggie for the Wes ern traae, Whether this diminuiton of revenue ts to be tem- porary or permanent, the ‘terest of our people re- guires Lhat, whatever changes in the toll-sneet the experience of the past year bray suggest, we should arlhere, as far as possibie, to low toils. We produce in this State not more than 6,000,009 bushels of wheat mm a year. We consume, every year, 21,000,000 busnels, One-half of tue toial quan- tity of other grains consumed in this State— tw wit, Indian Sor, oats, rye and! bariey— are also supplied from other States, It 18 obvious that cheap transportation from ibe grain producing States is essential to our comfort and prosperity. To say nothing of the importance of having cheap m sof forwarding to the West our own mann- fuctw and the merchandise imported from abroad, our pee gain much more by lowering the rates of transportation on the sapplics they must procare roi other States inan they lose in reduced revenue from low tolls. When we built our great canals the people of this State prodaced all tne food necessary for their consumption and fad a surpius to sei, ff in a spirit of far-secing and liberal enterprise it was wise, then, to constri these works for general benefit to the int commerce of the country, how much more essential is |i now, for our own interest as Weill as theirs, that we keep up the frevst intercourse with our Western breturen. Na- ture has favored us in the great lakes upon our bor- ders and in the unequalled outiet to the sea atforded by the Hodson river; our people have united these by the constuction of great artificial water-ways; the interests of the State and of its people seem to me to be irrevocably bound up now with the preser- vation, in full efficienc of the connect- ing channels so estabiisned. The people of Kurope and of Canada are projecting canais on @ grand scale; our government is expending Jarge sums of money in clearing away obstructions: in the Huvsonand other navigable rivers; an infe- rence that our canals are no longer useful because of the railroads opened to the West 1s a3 unwar- ranted ag it would be to Auppose that the free navi- gation ot the Hudsoo river is no longer important, now that @ railroad is built upon its banks. We ought not to levy a greater toll upon the commerce of the canals than is absolutely necessary to their maintenance and the gradual paymen. of that Po of our debt to wiich their revenues are le Except in the canals our people have no efficient check upon the rates of freignt which the railroads may impose. Tne consequences of natural rivalry among the roads themselves are avowed by comvi- nations and agreements On their part for establish- ing uniform ra es; and in view of the jact that this State does not produce probably one-quarter of the food which its people consume, while it may be said to farnish none of the coal we use, it 1s vitall important to us that tho t con. nections of the lakes with the Hudson should be maintained, with the least possible tax upon the traffic which they were established to promote. It should be borne in mind that the canals were not constructed with a view to create a revenue for our State Treasury. They must be kept ap in their em- ciency out of regard not only to the interests of the People of our own State, but to the great mutaa good which, by means of the treest trade between us, we and the people of other States are capable of conierring on each other, A part of the policy of the past year has been to put the canals in thorough order. They had been neglected for many years, and their obstructed and dilapidated condition rendered very ieavy expendl- tures necessary. Another year the revenue will, probably, be larger; the expenditares, certainty, mucii jess. ‘The round trip from Buffalo to Albany and back has averaged four days less the past season than the previous year. Th canals are in muco better order than heretofore "their capacity for tust- hess increased; the necessity for repairs diminished There is great peed of the application of steam power to propelling or towing of Duats on the canals; apd { recommend that you make a suitable appro- rintion of meney to enable the Canal Board or the state Engineer to test, by actual experiment, the merits of several projected methods. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS, The lamented death of one of your number, the Hion. Isatah Blood, of the Fifteenth district, has teft ‘® vacancy in the Senate, which, owing to imperiec- tion tn the statutes, cannot be dled. It will be your duty to supply this defect. i have twice recommended to the Legislature herons effect) & modification or amendment of the jaws relating to murder. There are many instances of homicide where the criminai intent to take life is, proved, in which, however, the jury are unwilling to find a verdict of gulity of murder in the first de- ro because, in their Judgment, the circumstances 0 Do’ justify the death penalty. Under judicial construction of the existing stutntes toey cannot bring the case within the detiaition of murder in the second degreo or of mansiauguter jn either the first or second di ey have no alternative but to render verdict of abso- lute acquittal or of guilty of manslaughter in the third or fourth’ degree, notwith- standing they feel that the punishment which the Jaw will, in the latter cases, award ts wholly inade- quate, I recommend ther the maximam punishment for manslaughter in the third degree be Made much greater, or that in all cases where the degree of premeditation does not or the circum- atancer attending the homicide do not, in the judg. ment of the jury, Justify punishmont by death, they a Soper | nportance that the State miliary o1 { i. by the mend’ a suitable appropriation for that purpose. | as could be ascertained, was 470, out of | ond degree, to be punished by imprison nent for life or for a term of years, in the discretion of the Court, | | The only objectivn Unat is Likely to be urged against this recommendation 18, that, if it were adopted, the ‘ury wou!d have too great a discretion ip the | matter of cuforcing the deatn penaity. The answer to ihis objection 18, that they exercla: tuat discre- ton now, and will, in any event, continue Lo exer- cise it, when they think it right 80 to do; but in do- ing 80, as the law now stands, they reader a verdict ten does not satisfy themselves or the demands of jusiice, L recommend, also, the passege of an act which Will pat an end to the great mjuat ce of detaining as prisoners persons who are unortanate enough to be ‘Wwiine: to the commission Of ¢ ime and unable to give security for their appearance wt the tral of the accused, ‘The magottuae of wrong and suffering re- suiting froin tais practice, especia ly in cities, 18 not, Lam sure, appreciated or unders.o a, or it would not be peruutied to continue. ‘the law should ‘ovide that no person shall be detained in prisor a wilne-s in criminal cases beyoud a speci tame, and chat if the trial be posiponea beyon! thi time on the motion of the prisoner it sball be only on cond:t on of his consenting that (ne testimony of the witness may be taken de dene esse, as in civil aes, Itmay be urged that the people may not be ready to bring on tne trial, and may thus in some cases lose the benetit of the testimony of the wit- nesses altogether. I answer that 1 1s belier so than: to have innocent persons suffer inprisonment in order that even the gutity may be convicted, 1 recommenda anew that power be conterred upon the Oyer and Terminer, or upon the Supreme Court, tograntnew trials in cases of co nviction by the Oyer and Terminer. The courts of sessions, which are inferior tribunals to the Oyer and Termine”, have this power, under existing laws, in cases ef convic- tion before them, They are authorized to grant new triais upon the merits, or for irregularity, or onthe ground of newly discovered evidence, It is obviously proper that the higher criminal courts should possess the same power, Asthe muatier stands now, a person wrongfully convicted in the Oyer and Lerminer, no matter how ciearly his tano- cence may be shown by evidence discovered a‘ter conviction, has no remedy except in 4 pardon from. the Executive, This 1s not the proper and just Tectitication of the wrong done to lum by an unjust couvicuon. Lrecommend an amendment te the general vil- lage law (chap. 291 of the laws 6f 1870), 80 as to authorize the election of @ pose justice 1p villages havivg sufficient population to justify 1. ‘Tuere 13 a great and constantly tucreasing demand for some means Of rapid transit from the lower to the upper part of New York islaud. Tos demand must be met. ‘ro most of the pans hitherto sug- gested there have been serious ob,ect ons, on a j Count of the nature of the wo proposed or the privueges asked for by those whd offered to under- tukell. ‘To @ bill passed py the (as! Legislature authorizing waat was cated the Arcade Kailroad I was obliged to refuse my stguature, alter the adjournment, for reaons already given to the public. The objections to visions of this bill were insuperable, fore a charter was granted for the coustruction of an underzround railway; but, thus far, sufticieat capital to pro-eeure ihe Work has not been sub- scribed. It ts clatined by percons who have given the question careful consideration that th: true s0- luton of the dificuittes which sur:ound It 1s io be found ti the construction of an e evate.t ranroad, upon & solid structure, raised 80 bizh as to cross the transverse streets by arches that would offer no obstruction to ordimary travel, and avoidiug interference with the leading avenn’s, by passing chiefly trough the middie of olocks. It would seem that, under a properly guarded pill, 1e43 in- convenience to the public in toeir use of the ordi- nary streets and less intererence with private rights of property would ensue from this method taan from uny other, While the conveulence to pas- Seugers would be greater than On roals be.ow the suriace. There are those who have always stood in. Opposition to every plan hereto.ore presented, and Who ougit tobe ready to suggest some method of relief or give their assent and tneir ad to any plan which, while free from the ovjections urged agalnust the rejected methods, holds outa reasonable pros- pect of success. ‘The powers of tne commission for preventing the spread of the disease amung catile, Known a3 the Bnernete, will expire, ei lumitation of law, on the ch of April this y.ar, The necessity for the v gl- 1 exercised by the commissioners still exists, gud very serious consequences would, mm my jadg- ment, result from un intermission of the important daties devolved on them, The commiss on has al- Ways been embarrassed by the omission 0! the Legis- lature to make the necessary and very Limited ap- propriations required by them, | trust that you will provide all the means needed for a service so vaiua- ble and essential to our stock raisers and farmers, aud will continue the a:t miorce. Certain amend- ments wii be suggested by the commissioners, to which J ask your caretul attenit raltention to articie 8 section 1 of the constituuon, providing that ‘corporations shall not be created by special act, except for municipal pur- Aan im cases Where, in the judgment of the Legisiaiure, the objects of the corporation cannot be aliniued under general laws.” Of tate years there has been a disposition to overlook the strics latent of this Itmitation upon legislative power. Tsuggest to you the importance of passing all bills making large appropriations of money, taciud- ing the New York tax levies, at a period ol the ses- sion early enough to enable me vo return them with objec.ions, if I have any to make. The practice of allowing these bilis to be deiayed until the end of the session deprives me, in fact, of my constitu- Uional right to disapprove of objectionable — unless, by withhglding my signature from a bill, perinit desirame and proper appropriations for the yeur to be lost. It is not rigat to leave me no alterna- tive but to sign bilis containiug objectionable tteins orto refuse iy signature, and thus defeat appro prations which are necessary, FEDERAL AFFAIRS. The disposition of the federal administration to Unnecessary, unwise and unconstitutioual interfer- ence with the pursuits and rights of the citizen and with the State governments continues and isa great evil. Ky the prolonged disfranchisement of a por- tion of the people of the South, and by other meal 2 the full and fina! restoration to them of politic: rights, of tne control of their own afairs and of the free choice of tueir representatives ts sull, for partisan ends, delayed ant obstructed, to the pre- judice of guod government and of the general wel- tare. TARIFF. We are made to endure the evils of an oppressive and ill-regulated tariif of duties, and have no imme- diate prospect of substantial relief. The principle of special protection is at war with the general Sentiment of Lie world, and to this it must, sooner or liter, yield, although its advocates, who during the 1ast ten years have secnreit more than ten revi- sions of the Larim, all tending to migher and higher protecion, still manaze to control Congress and its committees, We ave ihe only great Power which commands ex- tended coasts on both ocaans, ad are a mariume people by inherttance from almost every stock that contributes to our mixed blood; yet we have become within a few years, by the suicidal operation of our own laws, destitute of shipping. Not only have we been driven trom the ocean, but on our great lakes Canadian built vessels are gradually drawing away trade from ts, because, costing much less, they can accept lower rates of freight, Ship building, in which, # Sew years ago, we excelled the world, hes become a iost art among us. Our agricuituralists, who, under this system of favoritism, miscalled protection, realize no in- eased price lor whet they raise and want to sell, are, nevertheless, compelied to pay an enhanced price for witat they need and have to buy. Blankets, woollen clothes and many other things of common ‘use a'e dearer in this country than in any other, to the injury of those whose lot it 18 to work very hard for their comtorts, which class constitutes the great bulk of every people. are only some of the evil results from the fed3- ral government legislating for the benefit of a few capitalists, under the faise pretence of protecting our home labor. The enormous profits resulting from this unjust favoritism go all to the manufacturing and mining capitalist, not to the men employed by him, The high duties laid for so-called protection do not enure to the benefit of the public treasur . nor do they make the general condition of the laborer, whether in or out of factories, better. Even the protected capitalists are beginning to share in the effects of the general derangemen’ and languor in business generated by this false system, which uniJertakes to sustain cer- tain favored persons In occupations in which, if left to their own skill and resources,they would, by their own admissions, fail, There ts no sufficient remedy for this except in the absolute rejection trom our federal I jon of the principle of favoritism, All the people are en- titied to equal protection; none have a right te spe- cial favors; and 1t 18 a wrong which, it seems w me, ought to shock the moral sense of every one, for a government, under the pretext of raising revenue, to tax the whole people in order that a fewmen may doa profitable business. It is, Moreover, demon- strated by experience that high duties and a com. ex system of taxes laid on many articles (the facger number of which contrinnte little to the reve- nue), while they make necessary the maintenance, out of the revenues and consequently at the cost of additional pubiic burdens, of many more government omecers than would be required by a simpler methed, render frauds more profitable and caster of accomplishment, and jead to an increased amount of private and official corruption. Pirecemeal amendments te the tariff are of little value. What we need 1s that a rebuke shall come up from the ple, So strong that it cannot be overiooked or forgotten, of the practice of imposing taxes for any purpose save the o2e of procurmg necessary Tevenue for the public treasury, No compromise should be made on this question; nothing accepted by the peopie short of the establishment of a taritl, a8 moderate as the necessities et the government will permit, applied to as few articles as will yield the required amount and adjnsted strictty to its only lawful purpose—that of raising revenue. FEDERAL FINANCES, The administration of the federal flnances exhibita no improvement. Taxes are sul levied to an amount greauy in exceas of the needs of the govern- ment, and the excess is applied to the payment in advance of goverament bonds, which we are not obliged to pay for many years to ceme. Part of these taxes are levied through the custom houses, to the extent of $200,000,000 a year, payable In coin, although the quantity of geld req by the gov: ernment to meet the annual interest on the puo.tc debt 1s leas than $120,000,000. The surplus of ovin, or much of it, is, from time to time, sold in Wall Street, for the purpose (as is claliaed) of keeping down the premium on geld, when, considering the Magnitude oF the federal revenues, there eught not to be, and if the federal finances were wiscly managed there Would not be, any premium. Notwithstauding the reductton of the premium on gold in the past year, it is admitted on uli hands, by the government efficers a8 well as by others, that we have made no real progress toward specie payments, Nor have we any guarantee that the premium oa Bold Sid ug) 180 gscalaA