New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-15


the people, and to secure the most competent and
faithful agents, the reduction of the number of
Canal Commissioners and their election 81 The
people was proposed at an early day IN the ses-
sion. The proposition met with so little favor at
the hands OF the maJority, and was SO strenuous
ly resisted by many of them, that for a long time
little hope existed of its adoption. AT the close
of the session, however, the responsibility OF re-
lectng so Just and salutsry 4 measure suddenly
appeared TO many OF the majority; they came IN
large numbers to our aid, and we have now 10
congratulate you upon the passage OF law re-
ducing the number o;tiiese iunctionarles TO Jour,
and clothing you with the power of selecting
them. We hal this measure As bearing mos;
important relation 10 the interests OF our public
works II is with the People now 10 see 10 1t
that practical, honest and competent Comlnls-
sloners are chosen. who Will Danish The abuses
which exist, introduce SQUAD and economical
system of finance, and above all dspel the gross
and exaggerated statements winch Tor years nave
been lndus!riously contnved and propagated IN
regard 10 the cost and revenues OF the Canals. n
Committee in the Assembly amused the Legisia-
iure with report magni6cently proposing 10 re-
duce the emouments OF all public officers twenty
per cent. and then the majority thrust It aside as
# benefits so serious were to be proposed 10 the
people in mere mockery. The inspection laws,
TOO often designed and always mainly used to re-
ward politicians for partisan services by exac-
tons on Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, re-
main without material modification, except that
a new officer has been created in the city OF New
York, with the formidable title OF Inspector
General" whose sole powers consist in distribut-
ing the spnis among the Subaltcms, who may
not have character enough to discharge that I'M
portant duty themselves. There have been spe-
culations about encouragement to Agriculture,
and the Improvements OF the system OF Public
Education, but no bcncicent measure has been
adopted.
Such, fellow. citizens, is the result of the second
years asccndcncy of the restored party IN the
State government. We deeply regret that it must
be so unsatisfactory. When we reflect what the
Legislature OF New York has done under the aus.
pices of illustrious statesmen, and survey the
monuments of her greatness and intelligence that
are seen every where throughout her borders, and
when we reflect upon the resources and capacity
of the State and the wisdom and virtue of the
people, it seemed great misfortune that even
two years should be spent without adding some
thing to civic achievements 30 bencfcent and
glorious.
Subjects OF more general interest have nccessa-
rily though incidentally engaged our consldera-
ton.
The perfidy of the successor of the lamented
Harrison deprived the American People of all the
great measures which would otherwise have re-
suited from the triumph Of the Wing party in
l840 except the Tariff, and the leaders Of the OPP
position in Congress sgnGlzed their return TO
power by a vigorous effort to repeal the Tariff
law ere 1t should have time to disclose fully its
beneficent effects. We cannot account for this per-
tinacious opposition unless it proceeded from con-
viction that political power could not be rcgalned
until the country so fast revlviDg wasagan plunged
into the calamitics of 1897. Indeed, it cannot
be disputed that if Our opponents arc To be Judged
by their declarations, the repeal Of the Tanil
would only be the incipent measure, TO be fol
lowed by Specie Circulars, war OF Government
upen the caierprise OF tse icopte, SUD- reasury
schemes, and all the other measures which will
forever mark the administration of Martin Van
Buren, as the most rlnnous IN the history OF the
Republic. That eminent citizen, again can
dldate for reelection, gave the atch-word, de-
nouncing the Tariff OF 1912 as Objectionable in
detail and radically wrong in principles and for a
time it seemed doubtful whether the assault would
not, by combining political interests with Sec
tonal pre- udices, prove successful. In this emcr-
gency we earnestly mpored the Legislature OF
New. York to make known TO Congress your per-
feet and unanimous contenment with the Tariff,
your deep apprehension and sollcltude for It's pre-
servation at least antil It's fruits were matured
and your fixed and unalterable determination that
it should nit be disturbed. But our appeal was
unsuccessful, and Newly by the silence Of
the Legislature and by the vote OF one Of heI
Senators representing the dominant party in Con.
gress is arrayed with South-Carollna in opposi-
ton to the policy Of Protection Of free American
Industry.
Nothing has been done or even said by the
Executive or by the Legislature to induce the
States of Virginia and Georgia 10 rescind their
unconstitutional laws by which New York YES
sells are subjected to ysitatons and pitiiul cxac-
rions as a retaliation for the law OF this State
tending the trial by jury to persons claimed as
slaves, ana for the ability and frmness wlth which
the late Chief Magistrate maintained that the
Constitution Of the United States did not Justly
surrender of fugitlves criminals charged with
no crime known TO the common law, the laws OF
God and the COMMON sentiments OF civilized
men.
The session OF Congress seemed TO open pro.
pitiously to the advancing cause Of Human Lbcr-
;y. The stern and iDfexlble Adams seemed al
one time about to obtain recognition of the
right of States and citizens to petition the Ma
tional Legislature on the subject of Human Sav,
ery. We appealed to our brethren in the Legis-
ature 10 Join lls in protesting against the fragrant
violation of the Constitution by which that invio-
liable and inalienabc right had so long been de-
med. We urged your unanimous and well known
sentiments and sympathics on that deeply inter
esting subject. The party bonds were found re-
Taxed, and the majority generally and nohly sus-
tanned our appeal. But with the night that fol
lowed came consideration of personal objects and
political advantages, and the next morning the
action of the previous day was resclnded, and
New York was made to speak in language so
eyasve as to cover her free citizens with hnmllia-
ton and shame. A subsequent attempt TO secure
the voice of New York in favor of the Tariff and
the Right of Petition, made after opportunity had
been had for reflection, and when strong indlca-