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

w I,eSisie.t.rc OF New 4 orIt 20 their Com
sty.u@atS.
Fellow IIrizEAs-We, the Democratic wing
Members Of the Legislature, according 10 usage
respectfully submit an account of our steward
ship.
Our number in the Senate is Siz, in the As
scmbly tkirtp.s:z, while the Chief Magistrate,
tho Lieutenant Governor, all the Administrative
Officers, and one handred and eighteen members
arc Representatives Of the Opposition. We need
not say how impracticabc it has been for us,
borne down and over.ndden by such ovcrwhelm-
ing maoriues to restore the policy or adopt the
measures TO which you and we arc alike attached.
Although on few occasions we have succeeded
in awakening the sense OF justice Of our oppo.
nents, and in calling to our aid a sutiiciency Of
their numbers to defeat tllwart the destructive
ends of the leaders of the majority, yet for the
most part our services have necessarily been ad-
yisory and preventive, rather than direct and cf-
fectve. The majority have been SO divided that
the session has been consumed. rather in efforts
of the respective factions to battle and defeat each
other than in maturing measures for the general
welfare.
1t is not easy to describe these factions with
perfect accuracy though if the account each gives
OF the other were received, It would appear that
neither seeks the public good nor deserves the
public confidence One of them seems SO dis
uustful OF the ability Of the Governor as to ustl
fy the very general conviction of the Wing party,
that the Executive Department has never before
fallen into SO incompetent hands. 1t IS CON-
planned, moreover, that public trusts are conferred
BY him upon unworthy considerations, such as
consequently to himself, mere devotion to his
own capricious fortunes, or the pleasure Of the
e. nd for bo Tod
imbecility of his administration. Identified with
the errors, rather than with the merits, of those
great enterprises OF Internal Improvement COM
menced by the same party, while in power before,
and which by reason of those errors, as well as
the msfortunes Of the times, tasked the utmost
ability of the late Wing Administration, it was
hoped aad very generally expected that the pre-
sent Executive would devise and carry into effect
some comprehensive scheme to secure the CON-
pletion of the Public Works, without unnecessary
brrlhens, g.ithoct delay, and without public sac
rifices. But he who as a Canal Commissioner
was so efficient in inducing the commencement
and vigorous prosecution of the present suspended
Canals from 1886 to 1889, upon the existing and
prospective revenues OF such works alone, now IN
season Of returning prosperity and confidence,
with the addition OF direct taxes amounting to
$500, 900 annually, limits his advocacy of those
great improvements 10 suggestions that an unfln-
shed bridge might perhaps be completed, under
the head OF repairs OF dapidated structures, while
he would eifectually prevent their resumption, by
recommending such amendment OF the Con-
stitution as would require the votes of two-thrds
Of the Legislature for every appropriation OF Pub
lie Money except for the public defence.
A policy retrograde, timorous and imbeclle
as this might have been expected to concIiate
the most factious assaants of public credit and
public enterprise. But such has not been the
case The officers of the Fiscal Administration
and their leaders in the House of Assembly dis
carded the Governor from their confidence, as Il
chimerical protector of schemes OF debt ana
speculation, and denounced his suggested amend
ments as device to deceive the people and mis-
lead them into measures of rulnous expenditure.
Jcaons of what they call the Conservatism Of
the Executive administration, and distrustful Of
the purity and wisdom OF the Legislature, the
faction opposed 10 the Governor insist on an ar-
peal 10 the people 10 re organize the .Government
in Convention, abridge Executive power, and fix
new and narrower limits to Legislative action
Thus session Of 1871 days has passed, distin-
guished BY no act calculated ii any considerable
degree to establish returning prosperity, or to
forti(y the foundations or improve the super
structure Of our Republican Institutions.
Nianife,iy this inauspicious result of the ses
sion has been constantly oreseen by both divisions
OF the majority. While they have differed IN
every thing else, they have agreed and have wed
with each other in arraignlng the preceding
Wing Administration and Legislature, under d
belief that the public attention might be directed
from those now charged with the conduct OF pub
lie affairs. If an intelligent people could thus
be misled, every administration might easily
avoid jus, responsibility by substituting their
predecessors FOR trial instead of themselves. All
experience shows that the people rigidly exact an
account from their public servants, and hold
them to complete responsibility. Whatever
may be their merits compared with their prede
cessors, nevertheless we have hailed with plea
sure the frequent occasions afforded US to ylndl-
cate the late Wing Administration and legisla-
ture. Convinced that the Wing party, and the
Wing party only, can be relied upon 10 dlsem-
barrass the public Finances, to save the People
from the ruinous sacrifices which have marked
the brief ascendency OF the party in power, and
restore the hcalthful tone of public credit and
confidence, complete what ought to be completed
Of the Public Works, and save the State from the
anarchy into which it would be plunged by the
mad contentious of our opponents. VIC are salts
fed that our time has not been misspent nor our
labors unfruitful, if, as we hope, we have been
successful in indicating the principles and policy
wach prevailed while the Wing party was in
pewer. We have, as occasion offered, in reports
anu speeches shown by incontroveTt'ole proofs,
that during that period economy was introduced
into public affairs; executive. judicai! and sd-
ministrstve patronage were wisely abridged de-
lays and expenses in the administration OF justice
corrected; agriculture fostered (; univeral educa,
ton cherished and promoted as is necessary
aa,re universal suffrage is destined to prevail
the public faith maintained; the dignity ana moe
pepdence Of the State preserved, and The highesi
principles of equality, Of civil liberty ana Oh hu-
n nifty defended and indicated. :,
We have shown that with the exception oil
81 O75,OOO, the whole public debt, amounting TO
90 81 o. $50, 100000, more or less, rs the domi-
nant party variously and capriciously state 1t,
originated with the party now IN power; and
That anv departure that has been made from a