New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-08


connection | must invite your attention 10 the
nroyision Of the Constitution making IL the duty
of the Legislature 10 restrict the powers OF cities
In respect 20 taxation, assessment, borrowing
money contracting debts and lOaning their credit.
The performance of this duty ought not 10 be
longer deferred.
TSbs Growing importance of the Bank Depart
r,ert the vast extent of its operations and the
Deculiar responsibility attending them, render il
Important in my judgment that this Department
should be detached from the Office OF the Control.
Ier already overburdencd with duties and erected
mo distpct Office 10 be placed under the charge
ard direction of a competent Commissioner.
The oupressive and unequal operation Of the
lsvsreeuating the asse ssment OF property IS sub
iect OF general and just complaint. large share
of the personal property escapes assessment alto.
eether, while in many portions oil the state real
estate is estimated by the assessors at less than
balrits actual value. To the extent that a por-
tion of the taxable property OF the State escapes
ossessment the burden OF taxation Is unjustly In
creased on the remainder. These evils demand
an effective remedy. A careful revision OF the
existing laws has become indispensable, and
trust the subject Will engage YOUR curry anu car
nest attention.
In compliance with section FIVE Of article four
Of the Constitution, | communicate herewith a
abatement of reprieyes, communications and par
dons, granted during the past year. by my pre-
decessor. =, IN, LII;
attention
which have recently arisen between our citizens
residing in Richmond county, and the inhabitants
~ New.J ersey, in reference 10 the Oyster + lsh-
cries in New.York and Newark bays
Since the adjournment of our last Legislature.
the grave questions respecting the organization
Of the newly acquired territories OF tue onlon,
which had for some years involved the country IN
agitation and strife have been detintlvey acted
on bv Congress. California has been welcomed
as the thirty-iirst of the States composing tho
Federal Union the disputed boundary oil ieNas
has been settled; while New Mexico anu san
ba1, bsen organized by acts which in effect leave
the Mexican law prohibiting slavery IN force ana
refer the question of its admission or exclusion 70
the Ultimate decision of the people concerned. ~
ia general, believed that the puohc sehtimeh. IN
these newly organized communities, cooperating
w,tb other causes, will prevent the Introduction
of slavery, from which the country Was exempt
when it was conquered by our arms -,
Notwithstanding the violent discussions "nicn
have seitated the country, and the wide diversity
of opinion which existed in respect TO the ques-
tions involved in the recent action OF congress-
ceneral disposition is evnced to acqulesce In The
Saosnres referred to- and to regard them as
final settlement of these territorial controversies.
Tie neonle of this State continue to indulge
.,rcpg desire that harmony and mutual good WIZ
may prevail between all portions OF our widely
extended Republic They are law abiding peo-
ple they cherish the most friendly sentiment To-
WAYS conceded to the slave States the entire
right TO maintain and regulate Slavery within
their own limits and to exercise all those rights
without abrdgment or hindrance which the Con-
stitution confers. More than this ought not TO Do
claimed or expected. -.
that any portion OF the people OF the Southern
States should find, in the terms OF settlement IL
nally agreed upon by Congress, an occasion Tor
the continuance of sectional Jealousy, or a sup
posed necessity for nurturng the spirit OF dsunlon
In the admission of California and the organiza-
ton of governments for the territories Congress
adopted the principle, originally contended tor by
many leading statesmen of the South, OF leaving
the matter to the uncontrolled action of the people
themselves l cannot but persuade myself that
the feelings of alienation exhibited by some OF
our fellow citizens in the Southern States, must
proceed from an unhappy misconception OF tho
views and sentiments entertained by the Northern
people.
Great injustice is done in assuming that we
have intended or now ni5ditate encroachments
upon the just rights of any portion of the Confed
eracy. During the entire period OF our national
history, the people OF New York have manifested
a spirit of kindly Difference 10 the feelings and
preiudices of our sister States and q readiness TO
sacrifice everything but principle and honor for
the sake OF union and concord. Their course has
been distinguished by abroad spirit OF nationality,
elevated far above the indulgence of local views
or sectional partialities. The limits OF this COM
municaton Will not permit me Ito recall all the
evidences in which our history abounds of the
generous spirit of concession which New-York
has uniformly manifested as a prominent member
of the Federal Union
For more than three tourths of the period which
has elapsed since the adoption of the Constitu-
ton, Southern ststesmsn, elevated by the aid Of
her voice, have filled the Presidential Office
Every peaceful extension of our Southern terri
tOrial limits was made with her concurrence
until by successive steps all the Slave territory
on the North American Continent was brought
within the boundaries OF the United States. AL
though every new acquisition diminished the
relative weight Of New York in the National
Councils, she waived all views of State power or
aggrandlzement and yielded to the consdera.
tons urged by other sections in favor OF amer king
the contiguous countries
Nor is this all. Far from invading any of the
Constitutional rights of the Southern States, our
people and their representatives have always re-
spected those rights and abided cheerfuy by all
the conditions OF the federal compact. IL should
not have been regarded as an encroachment upon
the rights OF any State that we objected 10 the
extension OF Slavery over a country acquired by
our common efforts, and which had been made free
by the action OF its own legitimate authorities.
No wrong was inflicted upon any State bv the
effort to give to the people of the conquered terri.
tories government best adapted to their senti.
ments and their future happiness.
by the Ordinance OF 1887 large portion of tho
American people had declared their conviction
that Slavery ought not to be extended over free
territory; but the exclusion of that institution
from the States OF the North Vest was not then
deemed sufficient to prevent the formation of the
Federal Union. The same sentiment still exists
in the Northern mind, to be manifested whenever
ana only when its exercise is provoked by new
aggressions and | cannot concede that it affords
any ground for complaint on the part of any of the
States-stll less that It can justify secession rev.
TO rtb fha fraa
tuition established by our fathers.
have thus adyerted 10 the course of this
State in its national relations from no desire TO
revive past discussions but from a conviction
that 1t Is due 10 our people to vindicate them
iTum lmputstions Of sectional prejudice, indif.
\. reILc.. Cor atitntin..nl nhlIras.o...