New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-23
ADDRE SS
TO the People Of the State of Scw-YOrk'

resentatives have been brought to close " P'o-
eeedines unparalleled in the history OF rePuo'oau
sts,es We. whose names are hereanto suo
.cribed desire TO present for your calm, intelligent
,ndemept. q condensed statement OF the acts oy
xbicb the government OF this State has been sus'
nended and review OF the aub.erfOges which
are urged in excuse therefor.
The Government of the State Of New-York is
REPUBLICAN in lis character and form. At the
very basis Of Republicanism, lies the principle
that the WILL OF THE MAJORITY, expressed
and embodied according to established forms, Is
10 be Law FOR THE WHOLE. Whenever that
principle is denied either in theory or In practice,
the essential element of political freedom is de.
stroyed, and the only escape from anarchy Is 70
be found in the despotism OF minority, upheld
by force.
The People Of the State Of New York, "grate-
fsl to Almighty God for their Freedom in order 70
secure its blessings, have established the existing
Constitution They have therein proclaimed their
own sovereignty, and have prescribed the agencies
and forms through which II shall be exercised
They have committed the enactment OF all laws 20
o Legislature, consisting OF a Senate ana Assem-
bly, composed Of members elected by themselves
and responsible 10 them for their acts. They have
decreed that the assent of all the me mbers elected
10 each branch of the Legislature, shall be neces
sary for the enactment Of any law and that,
anon the n oil Ps.a~se ~ OiseoI House, ol any IA"
which appropristes the public money TO any puo.
lie USE three EtthS Of all the members elected
thereto shall be necessary to constitute quorum
therein. The object Of this provision is very evil
dent. 1t was designed TO secure as foil repre-
sentation Of the People as possible, whenever
their money was to be used under legislative au
thority. Ii was intended to secure for such acts
more complete repre- sentation than was required
fpr ordinary legislation.
The Legislature on the 18th OF April, was pro-
seeding in its ordinary course OF public business
when Bill came up for it's final passage in the
Senate, being one Of large number oil oills Tor
the passage OF which quorum oil three JythS was
necessary. Twelve Senators Immediately tenoer
cd their designations and thirteenth vacated MS
seat and placed himself beyond the reach oil the
Senate. Upon taking the vote, secenteeH Senators,
being majority Of all elected, voted In favor OF
the bill. and tto0 against it. Less than three Jhs
Of the members elected tot Senate, were thus
found TO have been left therein. The Senate was
thus disorganzed. The quorum made necessary
by the Constitution for the transaction OF lmpor'
tant business, was destroyed minority OF the
Senators had rendered 1t imposslb for the Legs
lature 10 discharge duties imposed upon 1t by the
Constitution. No money could be appropriated
for the support OF the Government. No bill requlr
ing the assent of two thirds OF all the members
could be passed. The Constitutional power OF the
majority bad been completely nullihed, not by the
veto oftbe Governor by the dissent OF coordinate
branch of the Legislature nor by any other mode
for which the Constitution makes provision but
in way unknown to Constitutions and to laws,
and in its very nature and tendency destructive
10 both The Constitution provides for the repre-
sentation, in all Legislative acts, OF all the people
Of the State. Ii assumes that, In all such acts,
all the people will be represented. And every
proceeding by which this assumption, which per
vades every section and every clause OF the Con-
stitution, and without which, indeed, all its pro-
visions would be useless, shall be nUlliiied,-any
act by which large portions OF the people OF the
State shall be disrsnchised and deprived OF rep
Yesentat0D,-is as clearly and as truly violation
of the spirit of that instrument, as would be the
most bare faced disregard Of some specific in
junction which it contains
We have, therefore, no hesitation in denounclng
the act Of these thirteen Senators, who, having
entered into conspiracy for that purpose, dlsor'
ganized the Senate by vacating their seats, as
Wilful violation OF that Consultation which they
had sworn 10 support
The act, moreover, was an outrage upon the
fundamental principle Of q Republican Govern
ment Ii was an open denial OF the right OF the
majority of the People, through the represents
tives they had chosen, TO make laws for tie gov
eminent Of the State The right OF the majority
TO rule, is the first principle OF every Republic
and If it be not observed 10 good faith by the mi
Eority, in every case, responsible popular govern
ment 10 impossible. Ii has hitherto always been
deemed the browning glory OF our people, that
they were true, under all circumstances and~in
every emergency, to this great doctrine OF Demo
cratic faith Submission 10 the tctN Of The mayor
ay, until it should be reversedupon appeals made
in the manner for which constitutional provision
il made, the principle which lies at the basis OF
all our institutions, and which has carried our
country through every crisis aud every conflict
1t gave us strength and success IN the Revolution
Il has given union and stability from that time
to this. Every State in tho Union, at dliler-
ent periods Of its existence, has passed
through sharp political and civil contests.
The Union itself has been repeatedly CON
vulsed by the struggle of contending parties Tor
power aud supremacy. But in every case, hlth
erto, whenever the issue has been decided, the
verdict of the majority has been accepted as Law.
But one instance has ever been known, until now,
in American history, in which the minority have
claimed the right to rebel against constitutional
msiorities, and by violent extra constitutional
methods render their will of no effect. The Leg
islature of South Carolns, in 1892, asserted, but
did not carry out the right OF resisting the will OF
the Constitutional majority OF Congress. IL was
reserved for tho great and enlightened State OF
New.IOrk frat 10 put In practice this arlstocratc
and dangerous practice. Ii was LETT for thirteen
members Of the Senate Of this State, claiming ex.
elusive democracy, thus by force and violence to
psostrate in the dust this fundamental principle OF
every democratic government
Ii must be borne in mind that, if the action OF
these disorganizing Senators be sanctioned in
this instance, it may be practioed in every other
The right asserted, if it exists in this case, CO.
yers every case that can arise Ii will Justify
too Gftks Of the members Of either House in null.
hSing the will of the majority Of both in every
case which can arise Snder this section Of the
Constitution. No appropriation can ever be
made for the support OF Government, for purposes
of education, for repairing the State canals, for
the pay ment of debts or claims, for defending the
State against invasion, or for any public purpose
whatever. if this minority zee fit to defeat It. If
one political party may pursue this course to day,
another may tomorrow. The precedent which
has now been ses would put the whole legisla.
ton OF the State upon every subject involving
the expenditure or appropriation OF money, into
the hands OF minOrIty, and that. too, under s