New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-11
our L.egisIas.,re.

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DUDLEY SELDEN.
Our LegisInsure.
Although The fact does not seem to be very gen
.ralIy epprehended, it's facl, nevertheless. that
the Legislature ofs New-York is now IN session at
albany, and has been since early IN January =
How long i. may continue 20, we cannot Judge ];
some tell Us twill adjourn about the middle OF
April; others cay, not till into May. Although we
prefer, ether things being equal, early adjourn
u,ent. we trust our lawmakers will not consider
this Of SO much importance as to justify them IN
leaving their work half done. Let them finish up
their business asearly ashley please, and adjourn;
but if they disperse leaving half the importan,
topics which have demanded their attention undis-
posed Of for want Of time we shall say they have
made miserable fist Of it. But if they meet eve
~ ISSUE fairly and squarely, and act defnitiyely
every important subject brought before them, we
shali not complain Of a long session, though they
do not adjourn till the middle Of May.
First In importance among the subjects before
them is that Of REVISION Of Tie STATE Constit,aiou
We know that there are honest differences OF oPIn7
ion respecting the mode, but there none, so Tar
aswe have learned, as to the end. That our Con
seitution might and should be so amended as to
diminish our Town and County Expenses surrender
10 the People Of the several Counties the power TO-
ehooae many officers now selected for them at Al
bady. diminish the absorbing powers of Chancery
and the expenses and delays of Litigation, seems to
be very generaily conceded. Thatitis greatly de-
sirabIe should be takenfron little cabals
and ina.os and restored to the People, by dividing
,be ssats fa,y into tEity-two Senatorial and one
HUNDRED aDdtwenty. eight Assembly districts, each
chos;;nx 4 single Senator or Assemblyman, we have
NOT seen denied. That an abolition of the last
yestire of Property Qualification for Suffrage still
retained In our Constitution is demanded alike by
the spirit Of our institutionsand of the age, would
seem sefsvident. That the State might save large
sum by choosing and assembling lis Legislature
every other instead Of every year. aa several States
new do, palpabe enough. Finally, that all these
reforms can only with reason be expected from
State Convention. is becoming daily more apparent,
The Legislature has other duties, and is elected
with view to other responsibilities It's rarely or
never composed Of the men whom the People would
select to make or alter their frame Of Government
II has neither the time por the organization which
would be required to remodel wisely and safely the
Chart by which legislatures are To- guided we
do not know ansinstance en- record OF thorough 4
and beneficial Constitutional Reform effected
through Legislative enactments.
For wears this matter of fundamental Reform has
been aeiiated, but with no decisive action. What
we ask of this Legislature is fair concession to or
frank denial Of the demand for a Convention. A
denial viii only postpone the triumph Of thorough
Reform one year 81
The subject Of enactins legal penalties for Sc.
J,scs;on and Adultery il another which demands
explicif action. We win not argue the merits Of
the question, snce all we noz ask is action upon II
in some way Year after year have thousands Pc
ftioned our Legislature to denounce some penalty
against the avorite crimes Of wealthy, fashionable,
powerful scoundrels, as we'll as against the petty
rogueries Of hungry, barefoot rascas, who must
steal or slarye Year after year have they obtained
ATTAINING Report in favor OF the justice OF their de-
nant, and that has been the end Of 1t. Some old
profligate makes f,ppant speech ridicung and IN
suing The petitioners and there the matter IS sui
fefcf to drop. Gentlemen Of the Legislature! we
wan you thar this farce may be played too often!
lfyou have sober reasons to give for refusing to e
gislate on the subject, let us have them; II the re-
ported bill seenis to you Objectionable, amend 1t to
yor taste, but do not again shirk the vote Lei us
see who ara for and who against placing the lloer-
tine under the ban of the law. Give US decisive
action, and the Yeas and Nays!
The License Question also demands manly
treatment. The People ask to be allowed to de-
eide by a direct vote unemharassed by party poll
tics. whether they will or will not have Intoxiea
ting LIQUORS sold in their several Towns and Coun
ties. They have right to demand this-at any
rate. 10 demand your decisive action upon 1t. Our
Mar, is 10 abandon the License system altogether,
nterpose TO legal impeachment to- run,-selling, but
simply obliee every man who does sell to give good
bonds to the County that he will pay ms share OIL
the expenses incurred in supporting panpers who
have become such through the sale OF Intoxicating
Liouors Il seems to us that no fair llquor-dealeI
could object to this He ought not to ask those
WIN derive no profit from his business TO bear l'
burthens Let each County simply ascertain the
amount Of its annual disbursement to support pau
pcrs who have become such through intemperance,
and nsses it equally upon all dealersm Intoxicating
Drinks, end we shall soon have the Rum business
reduced within a very narrow compass,
Wedo not suppose the Legislature will consider
this suggestion; very likely il viii do nothing,
What we ask Of it is to do something or refuse to
do any thing plumpy and fairly, SO that the People
will know what 10 depend upon. Is this asking toe
much -
NJ. The Wing fires are rekinded in the Or
Nrru! That Ward, long famous for hard struggles
and close votes will be the theatre of a most sp,ut
ed triangular contest this spring. The Wings have
nominated WILLIAM ADAMS for Alderman anc
JEFFERSON BERRIAN for Assistant, both wei
known 20 the Ward as ardent and efficient Wings
in our Counuy's darkest hours, unwayerins IN adj
versity and moderate in prosperity. Their other
candidates, with scarcely an exception. have al,
ready been honored with the confidence OF the
Ward. End have proved themselves worthy OF it,
Ie al the Fifth Ward Wings will work as we know
some will. the Ward viii yindicate its Wing char
acten Veterans Of the Fifth resolve that il shall