The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-08-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FsAo,c- Cti.cns ofthc Se,mts and Asmnilv--


FtHo,c- Cui>ens otthe Se,Ats and Assembly
| transmit a law of Congress mich reduces IN
House OF Representatives TO two hundred and TWEEN
| " three members, and the number OF represe nta
tlves from this State to thirty four. Regret for thu
reduction of the ratio OF representation will be re
| heved by the more perfect expression of the popua
| voice which will be obtained by elections in uni
| form single districts.
tender you congratulations on the general pyeva
lence of health, and the abundant harvests OF tn,
| year
The edfce of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
at Lima, fourlshing institution, which has beer
favored with aid from the Treasury, has been de
stroyed by fire, .but private liberaty encouraged
by forbearance on the part of the State, promises
speedy renewal OF the usefulness of the Institution
The administration OF justice has become more
efficient; but hope the Importance of preventing
abuses of the writ of habeas corpus and of the priv
lege of bail may not be overlooked, as well as the
manifest necessity for more efiecually securing the
attendance OF grand and petit jurors in courts hav
ing jurisdiction In criminal cases.
The discipline in the State prisons now blend.
kindness and religious instruction with regular but
not oppressive labor and its producing results prop
tlous to morality and consoling to virtuous synpa
thy; but deeply regret the failure of all my efforts
TO induce the Legislature to prevent the growth OF
crime by reform IN the construction of houses OF de-
teniion and correction, and in the government Of
| such institutions.
| An agent has been appointed to explore the nine
raj districts and inquire into the expediency of sub
stituting labor In mines tor the present mode OF EN-
ploying convlcts.
| recent election in the city Of New York was
attended by turbulent outbreak, in which officers
engaged in canvassng votes were compelled to leave
| the boxes, and the outrage followed by an at
tack upon a Christian church and the dwelling of
its ministers. The interruption Of the canvass re-
suited IN the suspension OF the functions of the
| mon council during nearly two months. The princi-
pie OF universal suffrage nevertheless indicated
by. the tranquility with whchhe people awaited and
obeyed decisions on the questions in issue bv the
judicial tribunals
A spacious aqueduct has been constructed by
which the Croton rlver having been raised to the
heighth OF one hundred and sixty feet above Ii de-
Is diverted from its natural channel in Westchester
county, conveyed nearly forty mics over formidable
Inequalities OF surface, and across the Harlem river
and discharged into capacious reservoirs, from which
the waters are dispersed throughout the city of New
York. Ehls new and successful achievement in
the march OF internal Improvement, provides the
metropolis with an element indispensable to health
comfort and security, exceeding in volume the sup
ply OF the city of London, and fully anticipates the
wants OF the vast population which must eventually
be concentrated In our commercial capital The
cost OF the work exceeds twelve millions ST dollars
and deem 1t a subject of just PRIDE that the credit
OF mere municipality has proved adequate 10 an
enterprise which in any other have could have been
attemptee only by the strong arm OF an imperial or
despotic government. The structures, not less en-
during than usxful, will remain perpetual monu-
ment, not only OF the forecast and pnblic spirit Of
the municipal council, but also of the advanced
state OF science in our country.
The remainder the journals of the Revolution
airy Legislature and Convention, containing the
correspondence ofhoso bodies with Congress, with
other States, with ctzens,n arms and in the public
councils, and with friends of liberty in America and
Europe, has been printed and will vindcate the me-
merles OF our ancestors from cOntemporaneous sus-
picions OF disoyalty to their country, and enhance
our already high veneration by making us more ful-
ly acquainted with their trials and virtues,
Aided by the liberal nterposition of the President
OF the United States and the efficient assistance of
the American Ministers in London and Paris, our
agent has obtained access to the public achieves in
those capitals; and the documents which he is tran
scrblng, together with those he has procured nIo-
land, will furnish complete transatlantic annals Of
the colony OF New York from its foundation udt
its independence. We were before indebted to the
Government of Great Britain for very munifeent
contributions to our library. ask yoar permis-
sion TO mark our appreciation OF the high national
courtesles we have received from European States,
by transmitting TO them copies of the for;hcom-
ing reports on the natural history of our common
wealth.
have great pleasure in informing you that the
publication OF those reports is in such rapid progress
that portions will be submitted at the present ses-
sion. suite OF the specimens which have been
collected has been partially arranged in the Geologi-
cal Museum, and the seven other collections inten-
ded for the semlnarles Of learning will soon be rca-
dy for their destination. The enterprise thus con-
summated, originated IN merely economical desire
to explore our mountains IN search OF coal. All
that has been gained in that view, is, certain
list within our borders, and that its ami lie supply can
only be Introduced by improving and extending the
channels OF our trade with other communities. But
the absence OF coal is bountifully compensated by
saline springs, and rich accumulations of lime, gyp-
sum, marble and hydraulic cement in the Silurian
formations; by mari and peat in the quaternary re-
gions; by pumbago and also by deposites of iron,
lead, zinc, and copper in the granite districts in the
vicinity Of alruost inexhausble forests furnishing
the fuel indispensable for the reduction Of these mi
nerals Our lycems, moreover, will be enriched
with specimens of all the animals and plants and
every soil, rock, mineral and fossil as vet discover
ed within our territory The field within which
medicinal science, agricultural chemistry, minera-
logy, and economical geology have hitherto pursu-
ed their benehcent Investigations, is thus broadly en-
larged and such the regularity of our rock stra
Ia and their exposure and such the variety and per-
lection OF organic remains that the survey, although
It's results are as yet but partially disclosed is re-
sarded In the European schools os afording con-
trbutIon OF great value TO the cause Of science,
with data for more philosophical classification
OF facts and important guidance in reading the un.
erring and mperishabe records in which nature has
written her own annals on the globe we inhablt
l call your attention 10 some cases i'm which the
law OF Virginia, retallatlng on peaceful citizens of
New ork injuries supposed TO have been commit
ted by hdr Executive and Legislative authorities.
has been put In operation: Although our commerce
s not greatly embarrassed by these unratcrnal pro-
ceedngs, yet unolendng citizens ought not in such
cases TO be lett to incur inconvenience or suffer loss
therefore renew my request far authority TO instruct
them to test the validity Of the law of Virginia in
the legal tribunals
The terms in which the Supreme Court of the
United States assigned reasons tor their Judgment.
in recent case between Maryland and Pennsyl.
wanna, would invaidate every State law concerning
fugltives from justice, which should fail 10 facilitate
the capture even without legal process, of persons
claimed as slaves whether they had ever been sub
ectsd TO servitude or not but the authority of the
decision cannobe extended to cases presenting facts
materially varying from those which marked the
case thus adludicaied. Ii is. therefore. believed
that me privileges OF habeas corpus, and the RICH,
Of trial by jury as yet remain unimmiTcd in ,h,s
State and we are not obliged 10 reirace what ia.
Justly regarded as an'imporiant advance towards
that complete political and legal equality which,
beng coniormable TO divine laws aud essential
to the best interests of mankind. will ultimately
constitute the perieeioc OF republican insin-
tons
Rhode Island has been made theatre of resistance
to public authority, growing on nf nnwse del,rs In