New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-10
Things I'm AIbnny-French spoAa'iohs.
constitutional K fOrIa-John Spence
&c. &C.
Correspondence OF The New-York Tribune.

In once moro addressing the thousands OF your
readers am sadly at loss to know upon wha'
Fund 10 make draft for all return the same
hollow sound, indicating mental vacuum Ia
other words, it is almost impossible to pick rom
the chaff Of the last three days sufficient Whea'
for single dissertation. Your indugent Feau
ers viii therefore be kind enough to lay the blame
of this dull essay upon shoulders other than NINE
One entire day was spent in debate upon Tue
propr;etv of giving Legislative endorsement 10
the petition Of the sufferers from French sPolia-
tions. The debate, as you have doubtless gam.
cred from the reported sketches, was spirited and
at times deeply interesting. The Admiral as
rou perceive, exerted his utmost to strang!e the
bantlipg in its very embryo. For the first tame
this wear he found himself in a minority lEls
fact speaks volumes in confirmation of my pre-
v;ous assertion that he ruled the House with rod
Of iron. It was so. But he grew too bold, ana
on more than one occasion abused his power
The result is seen IN the vote to which have re-
ferred. HoFFs,AN was voted down, not because a
majority will not ultimately vote against the ap-
plication of the petitioners, (for have scarcely
doubt bat what such will be the result but
mainly to show the Admiral that there was
limit to lorbearance, and that he must not wear
shoes too high heeed! The subject has been re-
ferred to a select Committee consisting OF Messrs.
DAvgzAc, JEREMIAH and HUNTINGTON, all lavora-
BILE to the project. But if private expressions are
any indications of future votes, | can scarcely
believe the Legislature will instruct Congress as
is asked for / believe the petitioners had better
have abstained from soliciting the intervention OF
the Legislature. But time will show. You will
observe the curious fact that the only member,
who have heretofore been in Congress, (Messrs.
HOFFMAN, LINN, and the SPEAKER,) were Tor
crushing the matter at the very outset!
The Constitutional Reform Committee Of the
Assembly have uttered their voice. Their pro-
tainlv are explicit enough to dispense with any
labored comment of mine in explanation
Perhaps there may be some curiosity to know
HoFFMAs's opinion on the subject. The report
received mis- assent. He has not at any time in
the Cor,mittee pressed with any degree of peril
nacity the question Of the Convention. At the
same time, he on all occasions expresses his un-
doubling conviction that no important amend
ment can possibly receive the required Leglsa-
tive sanction of two successive years-once by a
majority and once by a two-third vote. What
the old man means by this blowing hot and blow
ing cold system, is at present an enigma, not only
to your humble servant, but to the Radical
members of the Assembly generally. If he is
willing to be humbugged by the Old Regency
and permit them to stave off the question this
wear. (Which is their avowed obect,) he Is vel
come to be their dupe! But he may have other
plans, too deeply laid for the comprehension of
common minds Time, too, must reveal this
matter In the meantime, petitions for the Con-
vcntion pour in from all quarters OF the State,
and its advocates in this city express their deter
mination to sink Or swim with the project.
The Assembly to-day furnished another IN
stance OF the facility with which principle may
be voted to be no principle at ALL according as the
wind may chance to blow, North or South a
few days since, after some eight days of debate,
a large majority of the Assembly solemniy voted
that it was unsafe to loan the School Fund on
any other security than bond and mortgage
Particularly were loans to Counties and IO,cnS
reopdiated as intolorablo and not 10 be thought
of. So far, SO good. To-day, precisely the
same question was in effect presented, and still
larger majority have voted that such loans are
decidedly the best! ViUe Ia JagatelIe Some
of the ultras are particularly furious at the turn
coats, as the recipients of the New Light are
designated! Tomorrow the same question again
comes up, and perhaps Democracy may then
take new Phase.
send you copy of the Annual report Of the
Managers of the State Lunatic Asylum. 1t will
be found highly interesting document particu-
larly that portion which contains the history Of
the visits of that Female Howard, Miss DIX
Her descriptions Of the scenes witnessed in her
phanthropic travels, are vivid, and if true, even
in part, show a rotcnncss in the present County
system which calls loudly for reform. perceive
that our own county of Albany comes IN Tor
a double share of anlmadverslon. The dlscio
sures made by her Will excite astonlstment
among many, if not most Of our citizens. [
could scarcely divest myself Of the impression
that was reading the revelation of the secrets Of
the Black Hole of Calcutta, or the tabled Dun
gcons of the ancient Tyrants of Venice. hope
you will publish copious extracts from this re-
port. If such abuses do in fact exist, and Miss
DIX speaks only of what she SAP and heard, in
the name of humanity, let the public know the
fact, and let the finger Of unmltigated scom be
pointed at him who will not Join heart and hand
in their reformation. The reader, too, will sec
that MilIerism has furnished its quote to swell
the unhappy throng, confinedin the State Asylum:
Thank God the malign influence Of this baleful
star OF 1anauclsm ana lolly draws near It's eilu'
May we never look upon its like again.
The news of the rejection Of JOHN c. SPENCER
was received here with feelings and emotions Of
unmingled JOY. l hope that when the reign of
the two JOINS has come to a perpetual end by
the statute Of limitation, the New ork JOHN will
return to this city and take up his abode. And
if he is really impressed with the belief that he is
a great favorite OF the good people here, let him
Dras &C to for hon
1t is immaterial what the Office may be. He may
take his choice from Governor down to School
Commissioner. The result will be equally de-
nd all,- &c ord