The New York Herald Newspaper, January 3, 1872, Page 5

and that no person shail hoYa more jeg ation at the same tume, tu QF unuer .he | welfare and micipal government. ‘These suggestions, although mad with especial geterence to New York city, wit apply generally ¥o all large cities, City charters must, of necessity, according to population and cireumstance: @ifler more or less in detail, Wiat is needed in @ city Of @ million Of people, would not be required in one of Mity or a buadred Thousand; and a general law aiming at eaure wailormity ia such charters Is, in my Judgment, Ot desirable. ‘The people of avy city, With a char: ter embracing the general provisions to which I bave referred, can, if they choose, keep up a simple, honest and eiticieat local government; and under | such a charter, if they will frowa dowu corruption | among the scekers as weil a8 the holders of oiilce;: | Wf they will coudema the Javish expendirure of | money before election bo secure office as earnestiy | Qs the stealing of it afterward; if they will make | ‘hose WhO ask iMeir suilrages understand that the | candidate who by money demoralizes we elector is 8 much a criminal a3 the representauve who takes @ bribe; if they Will bear in mind that spasmodic re- | form movements Work no permancut good, but that @ Dersistent attention to puoiic aduirs on their part is necessary te imsure a fattuful administration by thew representauves—they can secure all that 13 possible under any law or system of laws, Simplicity 1s one great requisite in the charter of & city, Withovt it responsibility can never be clearly and uninistakably defined and fixed. All Complicated schemes Which aim to secure to the mitnority an equal or Unequal portion of tne execu. Uve aud admiuisirative oflices of & municipality, and so to nake it share With the majority the re- Spousibilty of government, wall prove lailures, PURLTY OF ELECTIONS. At its last session the Legistature adopved concur. | rent resdlutions proposiug an amendment of the | constitution relative to privery, ‘ihey have been q@uly published, and wiil, L trast, be favorauly acied in bY You, 80 that tey may be submitted to the people for tieir approval at the next general eilec- .: on, ‘The proposed amendment reiates Lo tue cor rapt expenditure of money to iInfiaecace electors in voting, and if it shall be adopted laws may be en- acted which wil, if rigidiy enforced, tend to check Qn evil which has assumed proportions of great Maguitude. if 1 may believe carrent rumors, men Of Otherwise good repute are in the practice of stauding at the polls iu inany portions o! the State— | even im this city, the seat of- government—with | money carried openly in their hands, and of paying At on the spot to electors for their votes, No such Open and shametess u-e of corrupt means has been charged tn the city of New York, much as is sat of elgplicn Apnape there. he iact that large sums of money are expended throughout the state at every election is weil known, Much of 1 must be spent for corrupling tue electors, In city and im couniry men are Dominated to oflice because taney Have been adie to purchase a majority in nominsling conventions in the Orst instance, aud because I is known they caa expend large sums atterwards to pro mote tocir own election and tuat of associates On Lhe sume ticket, Men, nob candi- dates, but who take aa interest in public aifirs, are called upon to contrivule, and do contribute tb. erally, toWard securing party success, ladividuals f@nd parties are aldei by moneyed corporations, Who hope tu this way to secure favoravie logislaion for their own interests, or to buy une countenonce @nd suppore of Lhe government from which they re ceive tuelr privileges. In this way the moneyed power of the country 15 brought in to control ei fous and secure to liseli What it deems strength; but it does so at the risk of ils own salety, tor Ww thos debauctes the moral sentiment of the commu- ulty. The love of money, we are told, 1s te root of @llevil., It 18, assuredly, the root of all evil in iree governmeity, anu tae Javish expenditure of money their | “NEW "YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANOARY 3 1872—TRIPLE SHBET. a Tt mast ateo be remembered that the comfor! happmess of the people are affected in a very much greater degree by the laws of the State aad the manner of their enforcement than by the operations of the general government, Tae title to property and the rights of anu the restraints upon the owners of property are regulated by Stale laws, The enforcement of ousiness contracts of , every nature are, in the main, in the hands of ths Siate courts. ‘The detection and repression of crime are dependent, except in a few rare instances, upon | the enactment of ated criminal laws by the State | Legislature and their due enforcement. The order | of the community is under the gaardianstip of State laws and dependent upon State authorisies for its preservation. The powers of our muyicipal gov- eraments, whose action Laduenees still. more sensl- bly the peace and comfort of every maw’s home, are conferred und defined by*the State government. It is obvious, therefore, that it is a matter of tran- soendent {mportance to every citizen of this great Commouweailth that it shoul possess @ Wisely con- siructed framework of government, adapted to ses cure the most Wholesome legislation, the most ef. ficient enforcement of law, the most laithfal admin- istration of it3 aifairs and an uninterrupted mata tenance of order, Ido not recommend the calling of another Con- vention to revise the constitution at this time, ‘The attention of the people will be mach second this ar by the Presiderttal election; but I trust that minediately after that event the eforta of our best citizens, of all partes, will be united %o elfect a thorough revision, Nor am I sure thata Convention is a necessary or the best means by which to attain the end. A commission of thirty-two eminent citizens, to be made up by selection of an equal number from each of vhe two great political parties, would, it seems to me, be as likely to Work out a good result as a larger body, Such a commission could have all the benefit of the debate incideut to a larger body through intelli- gent discussions in the preds and the voluutary a | gestions of thoughtlul citizens, and would be al- Moet certain to agree upon amendments which would secure the popular approval. fe lf you should be of the opinton that it 1s wise to appoint a commission there can be no objection to your creating it at this seasion, Its report would not be made until after the Presidential election, When the public mind would be in a condition to examine calmly and to decide wisely. ‘True, it ia not the mode prdvided in the present constitution | for arevision of saat instrument, but it cannot tion, bo doubied that a constitution prepared by sach @ commission and submitted by | hem tothe Legislature and by the Legislatare sub- Juitted to tnd people in due form would, if approved ,; by a vole of the people, be regularly established and pecome substituted for the present constitution, You have, moreover, the constitutional power to | originate any amendments to the existing constitue | tion, and if the same shall be concurred in by the | Legisialature tobe chosen in 1873 they may be sub- mitled to a direct vote of the people, and if ap. | proved by thea will become a part of the constitu. 10. My convictions are #0 strong that the present organic law of this State is full of serious defects that 1 feel justified in calling your atteation to the Bubject, aud Pointing out the particulars ia whic’, i ia my Judgment, tt falls as @ means of securing td { En the best possible administration of our public | affairs, The Constiution of the United States was con. stracied by a Convention made a of the wisest and abiest men to be found in the thirteen States which then composed the Union, Each of tnese States had been obliged some yeurs cariier to frame a constitu. | tion for Its own government. The delegates from | the several States did not, therefore, come together ; a8 men inexperienced and new to the work the: were called upon to perform. ‘They brought wit In elections is the Chief Cause 0: the corruption i our pouucs. A man who expends large sums of money w secure an oilice is apt to seek to make it up to himself whom in dilice. Ido not doubt that the muitiplication of oilicers to be elected by the people has haa much to do with tn- | them from thetr several constituencies varying, and ' Indeed conflicting, Ideas of the powers which ought | to be conferred upon the new government about to | be establisued, and the manner ia which those pow- ers ought to be distributed among its several de- | partments. troducing or increasing this corruptioa of our poil- | There is, of course, this difference bevween that ties. The struggle between candidates for local | instrument and the constitution of a State: that tne Oilices is apt to be more intense than tie compett- | former originated a special government and confer- tion for higher place before larger constituencies, Iv 4s easier, too, to cuiculate the lifuence of corrupt means, and It 18 easier by them to effect the eiec- Won of candidates when the constituency taking part in tne elecuon ts Muted im number. The @imendment submitted to you will enable the Legis- Jature to deprive of the right of sulfrage every one Who shall be convicted of receiving a bribe for his vote or of bribing un elector, and Co pass laws pro- viding that avy candidate guiity o: bribing the electors shall be deprived of tne office to which, st any election where he was zulliy of this ofence, he May have been chosca. The inconvenience occasioned to the electors by Fegistry laws 18 not to be counted against trem, if? ‘hear Means, we can insure pure elections. 1 have tle faith in them to prevent fraud at the polis. Tney have been tried and failed to prevent it. More frequent charges of fraud, and Of frauds of a grosser , 1 character, have been maue since registry laws Were put iu operation than before, Many who have Waiched ter working insist that tuey can be easily made, apd have beea Made, a convenient cover for iraids, which, witnout them, could not have been committed, ly, that the has to be exteuded over several days, in- stead ol the one day of election, requiring more time for (his purpose than men will spare irom their pri- = business; and so the watchiuluess over the poll ds, orcinarily, leas general, and probably fee compicte than under tue system of chalieaging on the day of eiection. Upon principle, a registry law, if any be passed, should apply io all parts of tue State alike. Yetl am sutisiied that intelligent public opision in the sural disiricts, among men of all parties, does not favor one there. to the electors in such districts, rom such a law, are very great, with no adequate good result i compensation, ihe conviction, however, prevails extensively among itelligent men that, in large clues, registry laws can be made useful in securiug: she puriiy of tue ballot, and this couviction is so fsses, vhat the conuuuance of the sy: er cities may be advisadie. All laws requiring @registry of the electors previous to an eiection should be made ag little vexatious and oppressive | to honest voters as 1s possible, cousistently with | ‘they have tis effect, cer- | priv. Vigilance necessary to detect illegal ‘he mconvenience and expense ; ui in the | } red on it certain powers and none other, while in the State government ail the powers of government | inhere, except Such as, by the constitution of tne | United States or by its own constitution, 16 may be | forbidden to exercise, This ditfereuce does not al- { fect the pected et how the powers of government may wisely he distriouted among the diferent de- partments—execulive, legislative and judictal—nor that of now to provile the instramentalities through: which the government 1s to be administered, In most of these particulars the constitution of the : United States may wisely be followed. Under the existing constitution the Executive | Department of the State 13 not so organized as to insure the most eftictent administration of afairs and the most complete and direct responsibility. | The duty of the chief executive oficer, the Gove | ernor, 18 to se that the laws are faithfully executed, y 48 obvious that in the selection of the sub- | ordinate officers upon whom, wiinin thelr separate departments, the duty is aevolved of executing the laws of the State and administering Its affairs, | the chief Executive ought to have a controlling | voice, ‘Ihe experience alike of public affairs ana of 1 exevutive. The laws and the rules under whicn ; public or private business is to be managed are to | carefully laid down and precautions taken ; but when, subject to these i Gireciton of r | against their violation: rules aud within their | affai-s is given 1 one { faithful a ; esponsibility. mits, the cl person, the pest safe; | stitution all the important departments are separ- ated {rom is control. In the management of the finances of the State, of the canals, of the State | Prisons, in the prosecution of crime, the chief Execu- | tive of the State has- not, as he should have, the directing power. In order that responsioility | may be full, direct and unmistakably fixed, and that | the people may always Kuow who 4s to blame for any maiadmiaistration, all the heads of administra- live departments shouid be subject to the supervi- sion and the correcting power of the Governor, The | duties of the Secretary of State are so directly con- nected with the details of executive action, espe- cially in the matters of appointment to offce and te business proves the expediency of single | ministration 1s provided by concentrating The Governor ought to be held res sponsible for every branch of the sctual administras uon of the State’s affairs, Under our present con- the issuing Of pardons, that he ougtut to occupy the postiton of chief assistant and adviser of the Gover. nor, and ought to be selected by him. ‘The Attor- gecuring proper identification of the person clu: | ing the right to vote and due examination of Nis mgut, It must be borne in mind thatitis not the Province oi a registry law to deline the qualitca- | Rey General Is the legal adviser of the Governor. tons of yoters, or to’ confer or restrict the right of | ‘The chief executive oMcer of the State should be voung. That right is conferred by the constitution , allowed the privilege which all meu exercise—of and cannot be taken away by act of the Legisiature, , selecting for a legal adviser such person as 1s, 10 his except in the few cases specified in the constitu: | judgment, the most competent. The Attorney tion. Any law which you may pass, therefore, | General ought to have supervision over and ought not to be framed so as to Work the actual dis- | be responsible for the conduct of all that franchiscment on the day of election of any elector | class of oificers throughout the State which who, for good reasons, such as sickness or absence | 18 charged with the duty of prosecuting from home, or his not having rrrived at full age | for crime and other vioiations ol State laws. Prose- Qnuii after the last day of registry, was unable io | cating officers for offenses Cael the laws of the have tis name registered. State, now erroneously called District Attorneys, The complaints witi regard to the late election in | Should not be county officers, but be the deputies of New York and Brooklyn, made through the press, | Lhe Attorney-General, appointed by him or by the are chiefy of false counting of ballots and faise re- | Governor on his recommendation, In this way ‘urns by inspectors of election. The general sus- | responsibility for the due enforcement of the laws ion Of the existence of such an evil is almost as | Could be brought home, as tt sould be, directly to urious as the practice tiself; our people, tiled to | the Governor, upon whom the duty 1s devolved 10 eve that it 18 carried 02 extensively, will neg- | see that the laws are fauhfully executed, Ject to vote, and will lose their nabit of submitting It appears to me proper that the Secretary of quietly to the result of xan election, ‘The | State and the Attorney General should be appointed rime 1s, under onr form of government, one of the | b¥ the Governor without the intervention of the ‘worst in lis nature and in its effects, and should be | Senate, avd hold office during his pleasure; and punished accordingly. li is a practice which, per- | that toe Comptroller, a Superintendent of Canals, sisted in, 1s more likely to overiura our government | aud & Superintendent of Prisons suouid, with or than any open war that can be levied against it, | Without the consent of the Senate, be appointed by We have wisely, in our statutes, restricted tne defl- | the Governor to hold office during his own term, nition of the crime of treason to acta of open war | but removable by him at any time for cause. ‘These agaist the State government and to combinations | oficers would form @ valuable council to the ‘one Or more persons to overturn it by force. Tne | Governor, qime of making false returns of votes cast at an On the Superintendent of Canals should be oi election is, nevertheless, of the natare of treason, { volved wil the duties now petformed by the three es seeks to take away the lawful power and | Canal Commissioners and the State Engineer, troy the rights of the true sovereizn in our gov- | ‘The management of the prisons of the Pras needs ernment, the pecple. great reform, which cannot be secured by a mere You have the | eke taloe attach what penalty you | change of officers. Tne system ts at fault, A cotl- ik necessary to any species of offence against the | stitutional ameadment has been suggested puttin: jaws, and those tmposed should be suniciently severe to deter men from inmiting crimes, wel Dot go extreme as to be iikel ly to protest them | these institutions uuder the coarge of a Buard 0! | Citizens Wo are not to be paid for their services, While that would be an improvement upon the from cdnviction. A Me | creat system, reflection upon the subject has con- ~ Effectual laws agatost bubery of the eiectors and | vinced me thata better amendment would be vo to take away an office obtained by bribery, thor. | supersede the preseut commission of three Inspec: i) proweerton of the right of challenge on election aay, vere péfalties against miscounting of vores And against illegal voting, Ought to suflice for the | tors (elected one every year by the people) by one ' Inspector of State Prisons to be appointed by the | Governor and to be removabie by tim. Ap advisory or examining board of citizens might be valuable in addition; but for the actual administration of prison rotection of the ballot, aud will suffice if citizens, Jaries and pub 1g gitlcers will do them duty. aac Tomit OF LEGISLATION, | wa. , The people cannot be too fully awakened to ihe | Gangers inseparable from the growth of moneved, | r in this country, whetner wielded by inidty: uals or corporations. Jt inaKes itself feit every. | where in our poiltics and Alms to control, aud too | often does control, legislation in federal and State ; capitals, We cannot directly strike at it in other States or at Washiegton, but we can. begin at | the capital cf our own State and set an | @xzample to others. ‘There 1s a popular belief | that mi Important legislation in past years here | has been indueaved by the direct use of money, This belief is so general and wittespread that it 13 | due to the people that there should ve a prompt and thorough legislative inquiry to ascertain | whether it is well founded. If 1. be so, guilly men should be brought to justice under extsttng laws, if that is possible, If not, then proper laws should be to meet cases which may hereaiter arise. | people will be slow to obey laws which, they delieve, are enacted by @ corrupt Legislature. ‘Their demand to-day 1s vot for municipal reform only, but for reform in every Se of govern- ment, State and federal, in which abuses may ve @hown to exist, Authority, whether executive or legislative, to be cheerfully oveyed, must be re. epected and honored, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. Atew Te ago the people of this State voted in favor of holding a Conyention to frame a new cou- @itution, thus expressing their dissatisiaction with the existing constitution. The Convention was held; but, on the result of its deliberations bemg submitted to a vote, the people rejected the new instrument, with the exception of one article—to wit, that relating to the judiciary. It is not @ fair inierence irom this action of the people that they desired a Convention for the single end of amending the judicial system of the State, That could have been done by the simple process of submitting, after due consideration by the Legisiae tare, & single amendment, covering the one sub- The vote of the people calling a Conventton o@siva and the appointment o! all subordinate om. fers Tf Wodld ye velter 19 Raye jue respousibility toncentrated upon one man, that one man being accountable to the Governor, than to have this responsibility divided among the members of a board or a commission, It migit be well thatthe State Treasurer, being the actual custodian of the public moneys, aud per- haps the superintendent of public instruction, should be appointed by Joint ballot of the two houses of the Legislature: but all other aaministra- live o:ficers of the State, in addition to those hereto+ fore named, should, in wy judgment, be appointed by the Governor, with or without the consent of the Senate, so as to make his responsibility for the ood management o1 the public affairs complete. n connection with this part of the subject I would recommend that the term of office of the Governor be exiended to three rears, which was its duration under the frst conwitation of the State. If these changes could be Mave ‘n (he constitution the peo- ple wonld have an spporvuntly once in three years of U pg? out of yawor the entire administration and bringing :2 ® new sei of inch, whereas now they can e only partial chauge every year. It has occurred more than once, In consequence of a part of them goinz out of office each year, that some of the administrative oiicers of tne state have been of one purty and others of the opposing Party—a condition of things that bewilders the pular judgment when seeking to fx responsibil- ity for maladininistration, In the legislative department there is great need ol providing addivional safeguards against tauity aud special legislation. laws passed exceed an average of five hundred a year; lor the last six years they uverage over eight hundred a year, and it requires now two very buiky printed volumes of above two thouvand pages to Tecord the acts of each session. xhere can be no necessity for this mass of legisiatton. More than one thousand bills are now passed in a session; a8 the session lasts only about one hundred days, it will be seen that at least ten billsa day have to be cated that they Fecognixed many defects in our | passed througn both houses, and as tnree readings existing constitutior ie vote rejecuing the sub- Prould be had of each bill in each house, it 14 plain stitute proposed Convention indicated that, | that deliberation by tne members of the two houses in the lar judgment, the remedies suggesied | over proposed laws ts impossible. for these defects were not suMicient or sausiactory. Notwithstanding the deference which it is natural In my opinion the present constitution of the | that the Executive should pay to the Legisiature in State js very deiective ay a framework of efficicnt | matters pertaining to then jal auty, that of law- fepublican government. In considering this sub- | making, { have found myself obliged, {n the conrse Jeet It must be borne in mind that the population of | of three sessions, to withhold my official approval this State is now larger than that of the whole Union when the constitution of the United States | pills, In ‘was pat into operation, and that our fact, in the namber of its people and the m- serena mBoWOled by lip laws, ihe propyrtions of g pa from an saeregere of three hundred and ninety-one icion, more than one hundred vilis have, State Nas, in | after bemg deilvered at the Executive chamber, m recatled by the Legislature for reconsideration, ordes fo rarrest °°" nrostnm oF sirike Out Objec- For twenty years past the. tlonable provisions, discovered in my examination Of them, 1t 18 not right to rely solely epee tne Gove eruor to review proposed legisiation, It mast hap- pen, under the present habit of passing laws, that ig whl, at every nh, Tecelve tue Executive approval containing provisions which eseape his scrutiny, ana to which, his attention had been | salled to them, he would have objected, The people | Must do their part, in guard against improper | legislation, when selecting their representatives In | te Legisiatore; and the organic law should be 80 | framed as to promote a wise selection, Provision ought to be made in the constitution securing the actual reading of every proposed law | ou three separate days la cach House, and forbid- ding any subst.tate or the full and free discussion which pertains to considerauon of a bill in Commit- Lee of the Whole House. The provision 1a the existing constitution limiting the session of the Legislature to 100 days.nas had no good practical-effect. It has not lessened the amount of legisiavion; it has simply cansed tue members to act with tue more haste, The restriction should be removed and a fair annual salary be paid to Senators aud Assemblymen. ‘There is no true economy in withholding (rom public servants a just compensation for their labor, AS a better restraint upon undue prolongation of @ session | suggest that power should be given to the Governor to prorogue the Legislature at avy time after it shall have n in session for 100 days The chief ofice of @ Senate should be to review the action of the other house, to check and restrain improvident, hasty or unwise legislation; and for the best discharge of this duty it should be com- poses of men well versed in pubite affairs, Its name Imports tat it 18 to be @ council of men of long ex- perience, Every toducement should be held out to atiract the right men to service in tnis pody. The public cannot expect, any more than a private per- son, to command valuable services unless it offers this law it fe mace the duty of the Clerk of the Board of Su- pervisors of the several counties to transit the Oomptrotler, ‘on or before the secon Monday of December, annually, in a form to be prescribed by him, @ return of the aggregate valued amount of real ont poeanel estate, in each town or ward, as corrected by the Board of Supervisors, under a penalty of $50 for neglect or refusal. The incormation to be derived under the law, as tt now stands, is of the frat Importance; but to render it complete it should’be supplemented by watatement of the county, town, sity and villace indebtedness, There is mueh irregularity and delay in furninhing the facts required by the present statute, The Comptroller recommenda ite amendment tf including in the information to be publisbed a statement of the county, town, city and village indeptedness, and by providing, by proper penalties, for @ prompi performance of te daies im- ite posed by REVENUES, ‘The following condensed statement gives the expenditures and revenues for the last fiscal year, showing a0 apparent delicleney of a,874 405 :— Deiiciency of the General Fund Revenue on the BUtD September, 167 + $5,970,481 Amount of warranis count of the General Fund, rend: ing 30th September, 1871, (See schedule LT.)..,, 10,505,799 Amount transterred to the Bounty Debt Sinking Fund, being the proceeds of the 2%) mil tax levied in 1870, to pursuance of chapter 325, Lawa iat 4,096,279 Amount transferred t fands tor in- terest on money in the Treasury during the year belony ns 40 said funds, viz, :— ‘und. i Sinicin ad Debt Be jounty Fund General Fu: Sinking Fund Amount of warrants drawo ‘on ‘the ‘Tre maining unpaid on the 30th September, 187: Amount of receipts into the Treasury during ear ending Bith September, 1871, (See ichedulo 1.) : au adequate reward, rhis reward need not be wholiy pecuniary; the dignity of an _ oftice is oiten a more poweriul inducement to the class of men we need in the public ser- vice. A long term ant a 1 constitnency would greatly enhance the digiity of the offic of Senator, aud make it attractive to our most dis- tinguished citizens, If the Senatorial term wero made four or five years and the State were divided into a smail number of Senatorial districts, so as to throw the choice of Senator upon a large constitu. ency, and the compensation made a fair one, I do not doubt that the ablest and most experienced of our puoitc men would be found ready to apply themselves in the Senate to the important duty of, securing good laws for the people, In the constitution of the House of Assembly no Improvement suggests Itself to me except to abol- Ish the single Asscinbly districts, as now established, and restore county representation—that is to say, that every county shall clect the whoie number of Assembiymen tO Which It js entitled upon a geueral ucket. In respect to the Judicial Department the action of the peopie 1s 84 receat In adopting the new sixth article of the constituuon (still further action on thelr part next year upon the mode of selectin, judges in the future being also already provide for), that it would not be wise to have any changes made, Among the general provisions of the constitution there ought to be one limiting the amount of Indept- edness which municipalities may incur, and detin- ing the purposes for which it may be incurred, Unt- formity of the several classes of local governments, connties, towns, villages, ought to be secured by constituuonal guarantee, 80 as to prevent special legisla*ion with regard to them. It is inpracticable, a3 1 have already said, to fraine & uniform charter for all our cities, But there are certain funda- | mental characteristics which ought to be found in all city charters aud ought to be secured by consil- tutional provision, ‘There should be more specific constitutional re- straints upon legislative power to grant speciat charters for private corporations; upon special le- gisiation generally; upon legislative awaris @f ex- tra compensation to claimants under contracts aud | otherwise; ailof which tend greatly to encumber {| the statute book, demuralize the Legislature and | pe the Treasury, ‘The veto power needs to be made more effectual. Two-thirds of ail the members elected to either | House should be required to overrule & veto, and where a oill contains several iteins of appropriation of money the Governor snould be authorized to re- fuse lls assent to one or more of tue iteras while approving Oi others. have dweit at this length upon the defects, as they appear to me, of our present constitution, as the best method of Jnviting attention on the part of the Legislature and the people to the subject. The excitement of a long war and the events suc- ceeding it have operated to divert our attention from our immeaiate home affairs, It is time we be+ gau to look at them. The framers of the constitution of 1846, eager for decentralization of power, made the mistake of sup- posing that this was to be effected by breaking apart and Pattee 3 the machinery whereby the State government is to be carried on ‘and by multt- lying the number of elective officers, Decentral- zation consists in giving to the people of every county or other political subdivision complete cou- | trol of their own proper local affairs, not in giving tothe peopie of & county the selection of ‘state officers, of officers whose duties are exclusively cou- nected With the gencral aifairs of the State and the enforcement of the laws of the State, Itis singu- lar that true decentralization, whicn is to be found in enlarging the powers of the Boards of Supervisors ol the several counties, was not provided for in the constitution except by leaving the matter to be regulated by the Legislature, Of the var.ous methods by which 4 revision of the constitution may He undertaxen my preference 1s for the appointment of a commis-ion consist- ing of thirty-two members; and I recommend the passage of an act for the appoinunent of sucha commission, Mindful of the fact that the majority of the Legis- lature and the Executive are of opposed political parties, I refrain from discussing questions con- nected with the administration of the federal gov- ernment, upon which our opinions and views would widely differ, hoping that in dealing with the home afairs of the State we may be able to work together earnestly and heartily for the premotion of the gen- eral wellare of our people. JOHN T. HOFFMAN. THE STATE FINANCES. Annual Report of Comp- troller Nichols. StTaTE or New York, COMPTROLLER's OFrte ALBANY, Dec. 30, 187). To Leois.atons pent, Qn the Boh September, 187, ihe total funded debt was ‘On the 30th September, 1871, the total funded debt was | 838,121,606, classitied as follow: General fun ++ $4,040,028 Contingent x 11,968,540 22,047,000 + $38,121,606 the amount of the State fer deducting the unap- it that date :— hows debt on the Bith September, 1811 plied balances of the sinking fun Balances of Sinking Punds Belance of debt aster applying onthe Wh Canales 1,854,238 Bounty . 15,159,793 Total. 838,121,005 638,908 The State debt on the Zith September, 1870, the ‘upapplied balances of the sinking finde Ou the Showing a reduction of. Pipcludes $981,588 66 recei year. fDeducting jnterest accrued to Octover 1, 18 Y Pi ober J, 1871, payable , GENERAL FOND DENT SINKING FUND, ‘The following slatement gives the recel;ts and payment on account of the general fund debt sinking fund for tie | Bacal year ending September 30, 1971 viz, Balance in the Treasury Octover 1, 1870. Received from surplus canal revebues, Trans(erred from the general fund, for 1n- ter it on money in the Tré ear. aco pee 1 Pei ynv nts vis | Interest on general fand debi Premium on coin, to pay inte Indian anpuits, . Premium on éoin de Fy, daring Jance in the Treasury Sept. 30, 187 he contribution ty the general fund deb) the fiscal year ending Sepi ie 7 Of the constitution, amounting to # id in, makes the actual balance as of tha $1,805, ‘This contribution, it will be seen, was $4 more than in the previous year, but stil 51¥4i1 | conteraplated by section 2, article 7, contribution will come up to the full i st day 16) ‘constitutional mei ANAL DEBT AND CANAL REVENUES. ageregate of the canal debt on the J0th day of Septem: Sie ean $11,985, with angarenate anappued rt a : f leaving the real eee pode nce ‘of sinking fun balance nnproviued for 0! Qn the Wth day of Septemoer, 17), the account stood as follows :— z Ageregate debt... +e . $11,986,580 | Aggregate of sinking fun 1)654,226 Rea) balance unprovided for.,.... co cee 10818 358 Increase in 1871... pect in gr ing September 3), 1s now they are $961, fend 9715, n increase of $411,614. ot, tarniog from a comparison of the fiscal year endin September 30, 1871, with the previous fircal it to one ol the season of navigation of 1871 with that of 1870, the result it} more favorable to U2 tit ne Ls barked of tolls in the present season of navigation (and practical pome tifteeh days sorter) over that of 1310 of @48),u97, OANAL DENT, Of the principal ot the canal debt, under section 3, arth 7, ot the constitution, the 62,900 is redeemat 2, and $847,500 January 1, 1873. ‘Tne sinking being ‘insuficient to meet these demands other prov must be made, fund ision BOUNTY DRET. On the 80th of September, I-71, the outstanding stocks and t thia indebtedness §=amounts to $20,675,009 1,872,000 Total.see sees sas $22,047,008 THF CONTINGENT DEBT. ‘The only onuingest debt of the State is that Incurred for the Long Island Kafiroad Company, the interest of whieh is cipal of which will be provided for by that No change has been made tn this debt during the year, ‘amount September 30, 1871, was 863,009. The sinking eaine di ounted to $19, 13% LOUAL VALUATIONS AND INDRBTRDNESS. The Comptroller desires azain tocall tha attention of the Legislature to the importance of extending the operation and Inorenging Ibe ellicvevey Of vhanter 11%, Laws ot 1:06, By | ‘the fund for ite payment en th | year. Amount trans‘ od Fund, for bonds for lands Amount of warrania drawa ‘on the Trea. sury remaining unpaid on the 30th Sep- tember, 1871... Déeoleney of the revenue on ry I This dete levied for the aid on that das ry lal jominai, year ending September 8), 187), and un- together with advances on appropriations ased upon taxes (or the current year, amounting in the ag- Tezate to. $6,55).481, whould be deducted from above de- ener uasklt 08 which-would leave an aciual deficiency of $2,327,034, Deny $213,178 in excess of the estimated de- ficency. "this tneres ecounted for by appropriations not inclided in the estimates of this departmen| The following table gives the items of unpaid taxes, &c., re- ferred ta: Unpaid tember Paid prior State (ax, vim, :-— Tospital tor the Tasan d Asylum for the Insane. . jew Capitol... Total. see. seese Add enitmated a per luat report... iclency to September 80, 1811, as a seve 24114, 746 88,605,628 | h ixes the Com hapter &, part Lot the Revised Stat wie, temporary loan ‘of 0,000 payacie, 10 il 15, 1872; %100,000 May 15, 187d, and 100,09 000" Ay une 18, 18/2. Tie payment of each load appears in tho lia- bilities ‘of the current year and the proceeds thereof find portion ne last, ander cl lace among the receipta of tho last tiscal year, ‘The Comptroiler devices again to call the attention of the Legislature to tie importance of amending section 5, chapter 843; Laws of 1853, ao that it will be his duty to charge inter- est, ata given rate, on all unpafd balances due from county reasurers after the time fixe! by law for the payment by rt them of the State tax toto the treasury, In thta connection he recommends that the annual Stato tax from the city and county of New York be made payable thin the tiseal year for whicu itis imposed by the Legisla- ture, ‘The frcal year ends on the 30th of September, but the sum received from this county ia not payable til the Ist of December. It constitutes nearly fifty per cent of tne entire | State tax, and must of necessity enter very largely into the transactions of the given fi two months after its expiration. PUBLIO EXPENDITURES, ‘The following statement will enable the Legislature to compare the expenditures in certain departments for the year, yet Cis uot payable till years 1870 and 18/1 bie Clerks in public offices... i774 Expenses of public ollie m Wh Legislature, pay of members and ofl: PPA 1 Legistature, conti Printing for the State. tereee . Hall tor the Cabinet of Natural tiistory, Militix and National Guai Governor, incidental expe: 206,461 100,202 Quarantine nee I EXPENDITULES FOR EDUOATIONA! POLPOSES, ‘The expenditures from the publ 0, bri 8,985, AND OMARITAULE treasury during the Jast 3, of which fiscal year for these purpos milis for $2,453,761 were the proceeds o common schoo! ‘The purpose tons and payments are as toliows Academies, tor dividends . Academies, for instruct) teachers... «. Charity week-da} Common. schoo! Cornell Universit; Indian school Normal school School Commi were 33,007, f a direct tax of 14 #48144 ion Of" Common’ ‘schoo ¥ wchod wivider rivd by the State for j4 for the deaf, blind, insane The expendi e sane pho expenditirr portot asyluma and. bospit \d idiotic was $34,631, ‘The whole amount paid from the treasury during the fiscal year for all purposes, on account of “hospitals, orphan Gaylums and other charitable institutions was $1,778,370. BALT DUTIFS. ‘The report of the superintendent of the Onondaga ralt springs shows the following receipts aud expenuitures tor i ‘ ¢ fiscal your, Vite — From ‘utes ‘on sait manufactured,,., $85,791 Expenditures......+++ Sere + 68155 Net revenue....-++ «++ «x6, 606 AvotioN iF ‘The receipts from auction duties for the past fiseal year, compared with thote of the previous year, wire as foliow Year ending September 80, 1870 #121, 603 Year ending September %, 1871 100,196 821,405 Decrea The following statement shows the expenditures and earn- ings of each of the prisons for the year ending September 30, 18 Advances Recvived Exess of fromthe —_ fram Bxprn die Trew eh Barnings. ture Auburn. 149,159 29,220 Clinton 319, 169 84 Sing Sing eoeeees 864,178 1,047 Miscellaneous | expenditures nut diatribated, inciudtg 22,459 for transportation 0 convicts .... TOlalecoeeroess NEW CAPITOL. Paid from the Treasury during the fiscal year ending Sep tember 30, 1871, $482,042. TRUST FUNDS. ‘The following statement exhibits the capital of the several trust fands at the close of the last fiscal year, with the re- ceipts and payments on account of the same up to its close. Tne schedules annexed to this report, from I. to VIII. in- ve, exiibit more in detail the dealings with the funds for ear and their present condition :— Balance during | Sert. 30, the yours) AST, Literat re Del 36 bat) $3,433 > te voneit Read, 4,014,620) 983,102) 284,809) 81,789 OFM ese] “grg.4on) — glveB) atta) 4673 Cornell Endow- . . ment Fund. 128,596 v0.9] 6,530 4,331 Elmira Female Co!l- 4 ~ ieye Educational Fung. ic} 000) aaa] at land R. mtd ging Fund) 19,130) 5,207) 4,080) t, 147 Trast Fund for pay- ‘mentor b an 20,905 — - | - bal rd 89,121 2,895] 08s) 48 | —~—~—“apeficieney, tTransferred to capital. TAX SALE, It was stated in the last annual report that preoarations were being made for a Stato tux sale, Such preparations were completed, and « sale of lands returned for n mentof taxes to this office from 1861 to 1865, both y clusive, ook place at the Capitol, commencing Se} September 23 last. The number of of purchases. b; ptem| Of the amou.tof purchay $106,081 and upwards bas | pury, 1871 was ‘The State tax FAXES The gross valuation of faiable property in 2,000,001 898 Increase over 117, 85,536,713, ‘or the current fiscal year ts 5 79.120 milla, A Exclusive of extraordi work on the canals and work on tne new Capitol, the Comptroller f of opinion that the deticrency in the General Fund can be made good and tue calls upon the treagury met, if provriations, are kept ein 0 limits, by a tax o! mills for the — Y ASHER P. NICHOLS, Comptrotier. A DRUNKEN SHOOTING AFFRAY. John Norr, John Hartmann and Frank Kettleber- ger were arrestea and arraigned yesterday before Justice Eames, Willlamsburg, On & charge of shooting and wounding Henry Busch at his residence, No. 253 Scholes street, during @ drunken altercation on New Year's morning. Busch was slightly wounded im the heal and left hand, He believes that Norr was the mau who shot him, and that ilartmann and Kettleberger urged him'to fire. The prisoners were placed under bonds vo await examination, BURGLARY IN A LIQUOR SALOON, John Conners, @ irackman, who was sentenced a short time since to twenty years’ imprisonment for highway ropbery, and pardoned out by Governor Fenton, was up before Justice Cox, at Jefferson Market, yesterday, upon complaint of James Rey- noids, of 244 Weat Eighteenth street, who charges that at an early hour yesterday morning he forced open the rear door of Mis saioon and stole @ quantity of pennies and cigars valued at $8 The property was found In bis possession, denied ine cliarge, but Was fully committed for trial THE LEGISLATURE. ORGANIZATION OF THE TWO HOUSES, Speeches of the Presiding OMcers—The First Blow at Erle—O’Brien the “Man in the Gap.” SENATE. ALBANY, N, Y., Jan, 2, 18 ‘The Sepate was called to order at eleven o'clock A. M, by Lieutenant Governor Beach ana Senators were sworn in, The Lieutenant Governor then ad- dressed the Senators as foliows:— : ADDRESS OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. SENATORS—The constitution makes it my duty to preside tthe Senate. I shall endeavor to perform that duty faithfully and impartially, trusting that the same courtesy and forbearance of which Lt have been the recipient in the past will be ex- tended to me in the future, Since thy adjournment of the Legislature the standard of reform nas been uplifted, and good men, irrespective of their politi- cal relations, have railed around it, This did not occur @ moment too soon. Demoralzation was pervading almost every departinent of public life. Constitutional obligations were beimg subordinated to the supposed exigencies of the hour. Pecula- | tions, defalcations and reckless extravagance we @ so common a8 scarcely to attract attention, Pa- | triouc men were beginning to despair of the repub- | lic, In @& reaction, which seems to have commenced, rests the only hope for the perpetuity of self-government, Let no portion of te newspaper press, that eloquent volce which daily addresses au audience numoered by millions, and which forms and controls public opinion, relapse into silence because @ temporary partisan advan tage may have been gained. Let no good eltizen falter in-this fight through apprenension chat men, high or low in his party, may be wounded if the battle progresses, Let your action, Senators of the great State of New York, be, as it doubtiess will be, on the side of the right in thls contest, and you will deserve and recetve the commendation of your con- aciences, of your constituents and of your country, ‘The Senate then, by resolutions, ‘proceeded to elect officers, with the tollowimg resuit:— Clerk—James Terwiiliger, of sy: Sergeant-at-Arms—Cotonel Loom! Assistant Sergeant-al-Arms Gid Posimasier— Herman Aulisson, of Jeiferson, e Assisiant Posimaster—Joun | i | i , of Chenango, Laidlaw, 5 Joram him temporarfly ‘aniess there is actnal orhimtg do. itis better Wr every one who nueds employe mout in this broad, fertile and glorious country to go some= where where ‘can always be sure of constant and remunerating employment than to depend upon the caprice of pnblic _ plac Gentiemen, TI enter the of the of 7 tat this feeling may remain whew I have an appreheusion, how~ ily T me tines pi an here, and [ tru: | tle have finished our duties. lace I and empha: i sary, perfect «nd complete order in this House (applause), and if PShould fad, no matter who it nay be, on the floor ‘of this House transgressiug thongutlessly—as'is often done rules that. are required to maintain porfect order he shall pot hesitale, because I Lelieve itmy duty, to call Attention to the matter, and Ispeak now to the end that if such a thing should at growing out of the thoug! who for a moment inay allow bimsel ther subject than that before the House, he strall ap- I do st in the spirit nkindntas, but wit io desire té remind him of what 1 know he will realize a Feet eeetker enter upon the dscharud | ort and that we shall ailogether en Epo! cl suPPiruuties with incegrity, with zeal. and with ddelity, andl that we shall conclude with emineut success. Mr, Hustep moved that last year’s rules be adopted nal, & select committee be appointed tol report corrections. r. ROSE moyed to except the fMfleenth ruley whitch provides for the appointment of additional members on committees, and moved the adoptiom of the rules of 1869, Lost. Mr. Husted’s resolution was adopted. Committees were appointed to wait upon the Gov- ernor and Senate and anuounce the organization of the House, Mr. FoLeY presented (he petition of William McManon claiming the ciection from the Fourth Assembly district of New York, instead of John Jy Blair, Referred to the Election Committoe, , Mr. Jacobs moved that the Postmaster of the lasé! House take charge of documents uutil the appoint~ ment of @ postmaster. The Chair ruled the motion ont of Orta i ad gs SeaON by law, w to discharge that duty. ‘Mr, HAWKINS presented the petition of H. @. Lease claiming the seat occupied by James Dunphy,{ from the Second Assembly district of New Yor! Referred to the Election Committee. pat of Frederick Kilian claiming the seat oocupte 7 | 0) a public dut Alexander Frear from the Fiteentn district, New’ Roferred to the Election Committee, y I moved that the ustet contract be mad by the rk with the Postmaster at Albany for th t ansmisston of documents. Adopted, ) Mr, HAWKINS presented the memorial of the Nine« teenth Assembly district pf New York, contesting the seat of Thomas C, Fields. Referred to the Come mittee on Elections. Colouel VAN BUREN, Private Secretary to the Gov= ernor, presented the Anvual Message of the Gover+ bor, Which, at oue o'clock P, M., the Clerk pro+ ceeded to read. After the conclusion of the reading Colonel Vai Buren again appearea and presented @ special Message trom the Governor, transmitting the repo! of Hon. David A, Wells on the financial condition o! York. M of Cat- taraugas. Dvorkeepers—Mr. Schraw, of Oneida; Colonel Young, of Orange; R. Stout, of Oswego; Lemuel Hulburt, L. L. Chae, Thomas J. Bridges and Jona D, Sonneigan. Janitor of Capitol—William 1, Johnson, of Al- bany. Keeper of Senate Chamber—Jeremiah Pierce, Mr. Wooorn offered a resolution providing for the adoption of the fifteenth amendment to the federal consutution, which was laid on the table. Mr, O'BRIEN introduced a bill to repeal the Erie Rallroad Directors’ act. Mr. Lewis introduced a bill amending the charter of Buffalo, Mr. PaLMeR introduced a bill empowering tho Poughkeepsie and Kastern Railroad Company to cancel a portion of its first mortgage, bonds and tie city and county of New York, which was laid 01 the tabio. ‘Tue annual reports of the Auditor and Comptroly ler were received and laid on the table. M., td The House then Look a recess unul Ove P, Meet and draw for seats, On reassembling the House transacted no other busmmess, POLITICAL MOVEMENTS AND. VIEWS. xt Presidency—The Viag of Hancocly Floats in the Breeze. ‘The editor of the Raleigh (N. C.) Carolintan of tha Ist Instant promulgates nis edict for the campaiga Tho substitute bonds of a large denomination, The annual report of the Capitol Commissioners was received aud laid on the wble, —* ‘The Senate took a recess fora half an hour, and on reassembling the Governor's Message was re- celved and read by the Clerk. At the conclusion of the reading of the Message the Governor sent in a special message on the New York city and couuty Muances (referred to in Assem- bly proceedings) Mr. BeNnevicr presented & memorial trom A, H. Green, Comptroiler the efty of New York, asking for an immediate provision by the Legisiature for the relief of the city Jnance: On motion Mr. Benedict's subject was referred to a select com- mittee, composed of the members from New York city. ' PALMER introduced a bill to amend the charter of the Pougukeepsie Bridge Company. The Senave adjourned wll eleven ock morrow, to- ASoEMBLY. “4 ALBANY, Jan. 2, 1872, The House was called to order at eleven o'clock A. M. by Mr. W. armstrong, Clerk of tho last House, when prayer was offered vy Rev. Dr. Selkirk. The roll was called and members appeared at the desk and were sworn in by the Secretary of State, Mr. Husrep offered a resolution that the House proceed to the election of a Speaker, Clerk and other officers of the House by viva voce, which was adopted, The following ofMicers were then elected: — Spraker—Henry Smith, of Alt Clerk —C. 5. Underwood, of Cay Sergeant-at-Arms—Philip J. Rheimnart, Doorkeepei's—" e@ 1 Demers, of Rennselaer; James H. Lee, of Cayuga, and James Hogan. Stenographer—Hudson ©, Sauner, of Oswego. ‘rhe democrats voted for Hou. John C, Jacobs for Speaker, and for the of_icers of the Last House. When Mr, Tiluen’s name was cailed there was no reg 0) ‘he vole on Speaker was 95 for Mr. Smith, and 26 for Mr. Jacobs, Messrs. Husted and Jacobs were appointed to conduct Speaker Smith to the chair, ADDRESS OF SPEAKER SMITH. On taking the cbair Speaker SmMirH said:— GENTLEMEN OF THE ASSEMBLY—Appreciating that yor conferred upon me a distinguished houor in seleciin me tw discharge the duties of this place, Lretarn my thanks, I realize that 1am entering upon a work of grave and sol- emn responsibility. I shail bring to the discharge of the duties of this place my best ability. I shall endeavor to perform its funciloas with a — single Tegard to the puolic good, and the sole desire of acting with juatice and impartiality’ toward al), ‘That I shall fail in some particulars I have no doubt, and I must crave your in- dulgence and support as we enter together upon the dut ‘aud the discharge of the oblizations to which we have #0 lately taken our sloemn oaths, estions as are deemea proper in reterence to | il at the appro priate time be communicated to you from the proper depart. ‘of the government. But I trust you wil indulge me T am entering upon the discharge of my duties to SOME BUGOFATIONS in reference to my views of the duties of this place and of members of this House. To make laws {s the hizhest and most responsibie duty that ever was undertaken by man in his. political capacity, The peace, the harmony, the pros- rity, the liberty, the personal protection which we all en- Joy, depend upon the wisdoin and. propriety of legisix. tion. Tt will call upon us in’ the discharge of this’ duty to exercise the highest degree of ability of which we are capuble. Youand I are representatives of reat State with varied futeresis. Lawe of a ge r fer, laws asto internal Improvements, laws puillies, laws as to corporations, are required, You look, from whatever standpoint 0: view you ¢ this question, every right-minved legislator must be and solemply impressed with the awful reaponaibi Tests npon him; and while itis required that this respousi- Tiny should be-exercieed with purity aad with A SOLE DESIRE TO THE PULLIO GOOD, party considerations, poiitical considerations, private con- Miderations, every consideration, must be made subservient to the common jood of all; and'I feel assured that we as a body reaiize these things, and that no man here will permit, in a direct oF indirect’ man however remote, his to be effected or himself to be swerved | in ightost degree by any {mproper consideration whatever. The wisest man and most acernplisued wil find that there is demanded of bim fn e discharge Of these duties the most constant Industry, for in the tine usually alloted to legislation each year'in this Stale the wisest men on earth could not discharge (ts duties without the most constant and most {niividual deve tion to this public duty, and 1 trust that all of us shail tec! thaty while it 8 manu upon our private jpterests, and may involve sacrili jo our private ai pelrh, we BA) reglize that we are in the d A HIGH PUDLE 5 . bury, and these considerations must yield to that, I may be al- 10 way, 1 trust, with propriety, here, that the sessions of this Legislature, if you will intelligently consider the questions that are'to come before you, must be constant through every business day. ‘There is no time for a recess. There is no time to go bome; and, I trust, from the time when the organization of this House shall be effected until 16 shail finally adjourn, every one will be sieadias: ia fnsiating that we shall keep eontindousiy tn sexston util we discharged tbe galley resting upon ps. /Appianse, More in the Way of induatr, a red} may T suggest, | from the sittle experience Lhave bad—deferring, of course, to oihers who have had more experfence than 1 have had ~ in reference to the discharge of our duties, that itis of the iT f « charge of highest importance that the gentiemen of the Assembly should real that whea we convened here it is for purpose of transacting vusiness in | session, and every member will beat economize his time aud | will best bt bimsel( for the discharge of hia duty uoon (he final votes of questions tbat may be presented for conside: tion, If while he is here and the House is in session he will give nis undivided attention to the pi are pend- ing before the House, If that ia generally done there will be fon, us Rometimes happens, to inquire of the chal ‘question s, and there will be no occasion for suc cals of absentecs on the lists, ‘A BHORT AND REFROTIVE SESSION, The session can be made much shorter and much more effective if members, wuen they come together, will realize that they come to discharge a business duty, tke any other, and that it like | an be only sticcessty accomplishes iness transaction, by att succers(ul mavaement of ti House of Assembly requires the ai overs, 1 think that should express to you views in reference to the question asto the officers, because if they are entertained by a majority of the House it may involve tre eocendty of come preity prompt legislation. The Legis~ lature ihe representative of the people, It hag absolute: wer to,leuislate, exerpt where it i3 reserved by the com at ‘The House of Kerem vie tf teodre beansb of 47 ower or authority, excep’ 2 islature, and it has no power grily, except where conterred by tne ° constitution, | 0 or incur one collar of expenditure of plause.) ‘The law provides for some of ‘he details of the or- ganization of this House. It authorizes the election of @ \ Clerk, a journal clerk, an engrossing clerics, two clerks for | miscelfaneous duty, a sergeant-at-arin keeper, and assistant librarian and sengers.. Deferring, of course, to adjourn. 4 lect to act a this wabject, #o far as I a ty 1 a be compelled to respect it. bound by tule tall prove that more atsista nee fe required Tt experience shall v nding to law, apd let & suitable Dill be than fet toe demsingine rane of ofices to sich wn extent ding the ran sat teutial Lo the discharge of the duties of the respective BAD FOR SEEKERS OF BINEOURFA. We shall need no one about us here to hold offictal connec. tion with this House who is not absolutely required. We snail need ao one but who can offer honest and legitt. sal Memploymeny and 1 am under the impression, if constant work 1 shall tht i Bat. ~ng ti LS ¥ beet the employ of this. House, uve ot: be, 60 pet Fs Peatriots willing to’enter Into ite service, e ublic money. | (Ap- thusiastic patti Pay er tyor toa mun to appoint him toa place unless tt is required In. the discharge of some pubsie duty, We shonid feta poor example to the people of the Btate if we should fade Wieneas, abd we confer nO fever GOR BIMAN bY aOe equally balanced, in i872 in the followlug striking manner: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN, 1872 THE SUPREMACY OF CIVIL LAW, FOR PRESIDENT, W. 8, HANCOCK, of Pennsylvania. YOR VIOK PRESIDENT, GRATZ BROWN, of Missourt, PLATFORM. DrMooracy.—A strict constru on of the Constitution the Sovereignty of the People; the Rights of the States un impalre he Preservation of the Generat Government fi its whole Constitutional vigor; ® Faithtul and Economical Administration of National and State Affairs, that Labor! may be li, burdened, and Agriculture, Commerce and Me- the Supremacy of the Civil Law over, ii and Exact Justice tu ail Men the Sacred Kights of Minori- I Acquieacehce In te decisions of Majortd A of knowledge, and arraignment of alt abusea at he Bar of Public Reason; Freedom of Religion j Speech; Freedom of the Press; Freedom of Person, under the protection of the Habeas Corpus, and speedy trial by Juries impartially selected. Here follows a stirring editorial in behalf of thi nominees and platform of the bold Carolnian, fromm which we have only room for the annexed ex tracts:— We enter upon the campaign of 1872 early in the year. In accord with the sentiment of the South and the democracy of the whoie country we place at our mast-head the naimes of two representative Men—representuttye of the healthy — poltt- ical sentiment of both the great parties of the country—and to this standara we calli the true men of all politics, We have no denun- clations to Indnige. Ours is the position of sound argument, intelligent discussion and courteou speech. ‘the life of the nation, the glory of th untry and the well-being of the people are at ue, and there 1s no time for quarrel or dissen- sions among the patrioue suns of America, { who, of all” brethren, should have learned id | dwell together in unity, We advance a step be- yond strict party lines, and offer the hand of polttical fellowship to every man, let his past pari« afiiliations or political antecedents be what thew may. We base onr action upon the true principles of free democratic government, and we march the rescue of the republican institutions of a grea country, The war 18 over, and the new policica of goveruament in the height of peaceful ex- pertuent. ‘keconstraction bas prevailed and passed into history a8 an accomplished policy. Those of uq who entered @ manly protest against measures tha’ neither toclination mvited nor judgment approve: have now no cause or ground for quarrel with such as honestly differed in opinion witn the best of usy hor can any past circumstance now exempt us from our duty as citizens of @ common couairy whicty Jooks to the action of her children for continued life,) uninterrupted prosperity and an onward march in national civilization. Shall Foreign-iorn Citizens Be Made Eligib! to the Presidency ¢ 4 (From the Barriabare ie) Patriot (democratic); The reason for the existence of this constitutions restriction has wholly ceased and should no lon; remain as @ Pee, for the display of Know Nothin; prejudices, if the prejudice against the foreign. born citizen be strong enough to exclude him frony the Presidency by reason of his birth or Cile there is room enough for its display at the lo! box, but there should be no Norte’ plgee for sited @prejadice in the constitution of this republi * * * ‘The constitution should never affors for the display of such bigotry, and the sooner tha amendment 1s adopted the better. There ts tim enough lor its passage at the present session of Congress, and its adoption by the Pennsylvani: Legislature before adjournment. The — radical; made much shorter work of the fifteenth amend- ment. Miscellaneous, George 0. Brastow has just been installed as th first Mayor of Somerville, Mass. In his inangurall he states that in 1842 the town contatnea 1,013; now it contains fully 16,000~people, with a grand tax lis { of $15,775,000, Nevraska State Temperance Convention at Line coln January 16, Connecticut Republican State Convention, Hartfora, January 24, ; Missourl Republican State Convention, at Lexing~ ton, February 22. ‘The Maryland Legislature meets to-day, and wilt be the first that nas met for four years In which thé democrats have had any opposition, A United States Senator Is to be elected in place of Senator McVic! The State Senates of Ohio and Pennsylvania ar In Ohio @ United States Senator aw 1g to be chose. REPUBLIOAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE, rhe Republican Central Committee met last evens ing at 1,193 Broadway for organization, Hugh) Gardner being temporary chairman, The delega< tions from the First, Third and Fourth districts wer coniested and the claims of the rivat dele. gates referred to @ committee, consistin: of Messrs. Farr, Vance, Murphy, Russel and Leimberer. <A_ resolution, proposed by exe! dIndge White, rejoicing over the escape from the thraidom of Tammany, and promising for the con-! test this year for the Presidency to roll up large majorities for General Grant, was unan' moualy) adopted. Owing to the absence of a large numbe) of members who had not been summoned to attend, | 1t was deemed more advisable not to do any further, business last evening, and (he committee then ad- Jourued for two weeks, OHEAP OPERA TICKETS. w YORK, Jan. 2, 1872. To THe Eviror or THE ApRaLp:— 1 beg you to insert in the columns of the New York BERALD the following lUnes:—The subject. that caused the detention of Messrs, Tomas Sa- vedira and Bernardo Soto, on Saturday, Decem~ ver 30, 1871, Was honorably settled’ for aif concerned in it, after some explanations were mare by ino to Mr, Strakosch, a8 none of the per « sons mentioned in the accusation of “Seeing Nilssory Cheap” on forged admissions were found blamable. 1 declare tuat 4 never have been arrested On any charge whatever, ¥ L VALDIS MATEUZ, ¥4 pgs East Fourteenth street, —— Ww yoCKs,—The late cold weather having frozen ovectne. creeks ‘and marshes, the wild ducks usually frequenting them have been compelled to seek subs sistonce in other quarters, and large Mocks are now daily seen in the open places in the Potomas River, Reporis (rom below say that while backs are mont numerous this season than they have beem [08 several years pask—alevandria (Vd) Gaaeley