The New York herald., 1850-02-19
The Proceedings or the LeRisiature-The
Railroad Statements.

The Procet dings or the LeRisiature-The
Railroad Statements.
AS the Legislature of this State have at length
concluded the highly important business in which
they have been engaged since the commencement
of the session, by expressing the will of the peo-
ple," as they facetiously term it, on the slavery
question, it is to be hoped that they will direct
their attention to the real business which the men,
bers were sent to Albany 10 transact, and for
which they receive their per diem.
They were a long time debating as to what
was The will of the people on that question:; and
having expressed It, and the Greeleys of both
parties having talked 10 Buucombe enough for
their own satisfaction, and having made much
capital as they could for themselves by the out
pourngs of their sympathy for the colored race in
the whole universe in general, and in California
ard New Mexico In particular, we would suggest
to them that it is full time they should bestow
thoughts on the business that Is legIumatey before
them. We will excuse their officlous meddllng
with what did not concern them, If they will only
devote the remainder of the session to the dis
charge of their duty. We knew that it will be
hard for some Of the members to do so; that they
would ike TO talk over other subj ects than those
which leglumately belong to them, for the purpose
of making a httle more captal but assure
them that they have made all they could, and per-
haps some Of them will find, after the present
excitement and agitation the Wilmot proviso is
over, that they have secured capital of such de-
scnpton that they will be ready to dispose OF it,
as the shopkeepers say, below cost" This,
however, is a matter with which we have nothing
to do. When a Horace Greeley makes his plans
for acquiring popularity, and adopts certain
course, il is nobody's business but his own, if he
fails convincing the public that society has been
wrongly constructed, and that in lieu of its pre-
sent organization it should be reduced to a state
of Fourierism, under which might should over
come right, and the strongest man have the best
clam to the goods Of this world. He runs the
risk, and if he fails in obtaining popularity, and de-
grades himself, il is his own business.
There great many important measures that
ought TO be passed upon by the present Legislature
First and foremost, is the repeal of the odious
usury laws, which have, from the time when they
were ,nsc;ed until the present, acted as AN OBJ
s'ructon in the channel Of trdde-an elevated rock
In the Hurlgste of commerce The repeal, or at
least modification, of those laws, imperatively
called for by all who are engaged in business, so
that money, like every other commodity, might
nse and fall according TO its value, in accordance
with the rule of supply and demand The menu
bers OF the Legislature fully acquainted with the
opinion Of the public On this matter, and we would
suggest that il would be much more 10 their credit
cary out that opinion in practical way, than
20 discuss, day after day, and week after week. the
question of slavery, on which they have not the
power to legislate TO any purpose, and about which
they care just as much, except so far their own
interests are concerned, as they do about the man
IN the moon.
There is another subject to which the attention
of the Legislature ought to be directed. There is
invested in this State in the business of banking,
some forty five millions of dollars. Tue presidents
and cashiers of these institutions are bou nd by law
10 make regular quarterly reports Of the condition
In which they are. under oath. This system was
adopted for the purpose OF acrding security bill
holders, and 1t has operated exceedingly WELL albeit
those reports are taken with great many grains Of
allowance by those who know something of the
manner in which, as general thing, they are
made out. However, IL effects some good. Now,
there is an equal amount of money invested ia rail-
roads in this State, the stockholders OF which are
20 much at the mercy of the directors as the bill
holders at the mercy Of the banks, before the
passage Of the law requiring them to give quarterly
reports. As railroads now managed, we defy
stockholders TO know accurately anything about
them. They are completely at the mercy OF the
presidents and directors, who are in office for a
short time only, and who. in that shsr time. con-
uive, in great many instances, to feather their
owu nests pretty satisfactorily to themselves. Why
would u not be well for the Legislature to pass an
act compelling railroad companies to make regular
reports. periodically. as the banks do, so that the
aockholdsrs might know how their property is
safu Ne 4
rec'ed the attention of the Legislature to this
subject; but they have been so much occu-
ped with the slavery question, and other matters
90 h.oh they should be silent. that we sup
rose they have forgotten all about II. or would
u aoi he wei TO sdoP; the plan which Is now be-
fore the BRUSH Parliament, and let the State az
point auditors Of railroads. whose duty il would
BE- to revise sl accounts. and not audit them until
they have doae so We have no doubt that
system hike ci,pr Of those which we have men
iicnsd, would be attended with much benefit to
the public, and would enable riirosds to clam
more confidence than can be placed in them AZ
present
We hope 10 see movement made 10 the Isegis-
latnfe aoor, on both of these suhi-cfs-the usury
laws ard roilrosds The member who succeeds
in rcpsa alng OF modfyiug the onr, and In securing
ihe stockholders Of the other, would acquire more
cr,d't end political capital of permsnen, ead
valuable character. than he could BY taking til he
hosrse shout the slaves u the southern States.
who, as a general thing. are better FED and clothed
ihaa The white slaves Of the North.
Mass MtErNs IN scrpoRr OF rms UNoN.-
We believe that petitions are being circulated
Throughout ths city, inviting the public generally,
without respect o. pasty 10 aeeptis In nsss meet
ing and express their views On the slavery Qaes-
non' and on 'he subject OF maintaining and sup
porting this great and glorious Union.
We Ike this movement, aud w. hope ths,it will
result in something good. When the Ua,on il enc /
dsngeied by fanatics. We should know no p,r,v- I
all should assemble man. and say. ia a voice
Of thunder, that It must aud shall Be preserved
The two great parties. the wings aud the demo-