The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-11
Albany.
Correspondence Of the Hersld.l


| ALBANY, March ., 1912.
In the Assembly, to-day, there was quite " full
house." rather more than has been the case for
any day during the last three or four weeks. All
that is required Is little less talk, and little more
action and business might soon be despatched, and
the session still be made short one. But the
prospect fear, is hopeless; indeed, It'll the pre-.
v.ilng opinion that the first of May will still see
our Legislature in session. ~ N lN
The House, in Committee Of the Whole, took up
printing. i-v3
ton, and substitute one providing for the term OF
Office TO be fixed at three instead Of one year; that
the reduction price should be Eve instesd Of ten
peri cent and that the State shoald contract with
the Safe printer alone to de this work. He argued
that the expense necessary to procure the nscessa-
ry materials would not be warranted for less Pc
riod than three years, more especially Gdemocrat-
ic pr;nci pies should prevail. He did not believe
that d reduction could be made Of ten per CEN
without infringing upon the rights Of the journey
men mechanics, and reducing their wages; and no
did not believe that the great State Of New York
would push its measures OF retrenchment so far as
to take few pence from the pockets OF the jour.
neyman He thought that If the last provision was
not adopted great Inconvenience and delay might
arise. The State officers might feel themselves
obliged, if it could be done little cheaper, 10 con.
tract with persons out Of the city, which would
certainly be productive ofgreat con venience and
delay. Besides, the present incumbent. having
more material, and every thing at hand, might Be
able successfully TO compete with the chosen print
He thought that it was ne cess ry that the work
sheuld be obliged TO be performed in this city.
M; WMcAI, from washington, made long.
rambling speech, on matters and things ia gS neral
and nothing in particular but wholly intended for
home consumption, and the special use of the in.
hablants of that well known place yled Bun
should be rem owed, because there was already a
Committee on Public Printing in the House, and
that was reform enough. He was very severe upon
MT. o Sullivan for changing his views upon this
of the gentleman from Essrx. He wandered Oh
into discussion of Mr. O'S . bill for the abolish.
ment ofcaptal punishment, and said he should vote
against 1t; he could never vote against hanging as
long ~ q mans cons cence could be easily warp
ed As that Of the gentleman from New York. He
insinuAted that man who could deliberately vio-
late q contract-which he argued would be the ef-
feet Of this billLwculd not scruPle to commit
Mr. O'SuLLIvAN replied, taking but little notice
Of Mr.. Wright's insinuation, but procee ded to re-
ply to the charges that had been throwA out, that
he was actuate in his action on this BILL solely by
political siderations. He denied most implioii-
Iy. this charge. It was always a leading principle
with him, never to be Influenced by the considera.
ton that to the victors belong the spells He had
witnessed, with feelings OF the deepest regret-he
cared not whether it offended friend or Ioe-the
application of this obnoxious principle to so great
an ent by his democ friends. In many cases
removals had been made of the most subordinate
clerks, meIe ministerial officers, the dut (which
could be as equally well psrfermt by whig or de-
mocrat. He proceeded 10 administer a severe re-
buke to some of the State officers, for their course
ia relation to removals and appointments. Mr..
o s. said that he placed this question Of printing
solely on the gronnd Of economy; If political
friead should offer to do this at ten per cent
lower than the present rates. and waig at fifteen
per cent, and the contract should be awarded to
the democrat, because he CHANGED 10 be political
opponent, he should be the first to rise in his place
and denounce the transaction assl4 sf.
Mr.. SrErsoN rose TO argue the question Of repeal
rather than the amendment at issue. or any parti-
cular section of the bill. He denied Il it mpled
any violation of contract, and denounced the at
tempt made to put gentlemen on their consciences
in regard to this matter. 1t was mere appoint
ment, rather than specific contract. And Is il
claimed that the Leg sature have no right change
it, He was aware Of the decisions Of the Federal
Courts, that q contract between State and an in
dividuaI eeuld no more be repudated than one be-
tween individuals But, was there any provision
in the Constitution by which an individual co IL
State Of which he wasa citizen? He would
60 for the repeal, damages OF no damages, he
cause he wished to have the business done at a
fair profit. IL was on this principle Of economy
that he should base his vote, even supposing the
most liberal and extensive damages should be
claimed In relation 10 the insinuaton Of gentle
men from Essex, and others, that this repeal bill
would not become law, but that il would bs We.
tocd, he did not believe that power would be exer.
cised. The veto power had been so strenuously
repudated by the governor and his friends, and by
none more strenuously than the gentleman from
Essex. IL was 4 right Of the legislature that they
should possess the power to resulitc the printing
oftheir documents, and the executive could not in
tsrfere. Gentlemen undervalued the efforts to re-
peal this law Of 1910. They styled it merely the
efforts OF an accidental majority produced BY the
natural death of Prnsident, and the moral death
Of another He regretted the melancholy event
first alluded to, a. muck as any ones III not for BIN
to defend the present chief to say that
he yet lives in that state. 1t was family quarrel
with which the democracy had nothing to do
But accident, or not accident, II was productive
of great results. Look at the capital Of the Fed.-
raj Union, see the labors of the Clay wings other
factions OF that discordant party, keeping them
selves from destructive and explicit admissions Of
the correctness ofdemoc ratio principles, and indeed
they were almost driven to take up the lndepen-
reason than the great saving to be effected BY it,
and not for mere party Patronage had thrown
more parties out, than ever il had maintained in
power. The wings had found it so. Besides, he
looked upon the State printer as sort Of index CT
the doctrines ofthe State, Thermometer ofthe POI
ltica feeling, and to continue the present officer
would be looked upon a. endorsing his poll:
teal principles. The present incumbent had
an account to settle with the people longer
than his printing account-his political one.
He had been the power behind the throne-ihe
chief adviser Of the crown that then was, and of
which there was yet little left and for this he htd
him responsible. Let him retire, especially il the
crown wss to continue. Look at the tone Of his
paper in regard to the doctrines set forth IN the re-
port ri the present Comptroller, and other officers
1t was dramatically opposite, and in direct contra.
vention 10 sound financial system for the State
He did mt mean To charge dishonesty in ths-bY
no means. Honesty, backed by fervor and ardor
would faaen pernicious system on the country too
late to retrench. He would turn him out the
quicker for he was honest. Before concluding he
would say few words in reply to the gentleman
from New York, 10 regard to political patronage.
There was, he contended, an inherent proprieiy in
alIowipa heads of bureaus to select their clerks He
would not censure,them for doing what he himself
should consider his duty They had right to de-
signae their clerks, who TO be their confidents
and In remove nersQpa who uiaht iuie allx be