Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-28
f0om ne Ma. lnfc'hgeIecr.
Abrupt Close OF the Session of The
Legislature Of New Work,

From he Ma. Ltcageccr.
Abrupt Close Of the Session of the
Legislature Of New Work.
The Session Of the Legislature of New
York was brought toan abrupt termination
on Thursday evening, by the revolutionary
proceeding Of thirteen Senators, who, to
prevent the passage of a bill to which they
were opposed, took upon themselves the
responsibility Of breaking up the Legisla-
ture and arresting the Government. The
Canal Enlargement bill, which had been
under consideration in the Senate for two
days, came to vote on its third reading on
Wednesday night, when thirteen of the
Senators withdrew, leaving the Senate with
out quorum. AT the opening ofthe Sen
ate on Thursday morning twelve of the
Senators who lad Withdrawn the previous
evening sent in their designations The
thirteenth avowed his purpose to withdraw
whenever the canal bin should be brought
to vote, and acted accordingly. The
Senate, beng thus deprived of power TO
leglslatc, was forced to adjourn, ant the
House of Assembly, being powerlcss with
out the cooperation OF the Senate, was o.
bligcd to follow itscxample, and both hous-
es accordingly adjourned sire die about
seven o clock in the evening.
In narrating the above events, the Alba
ny "Register" adds the following appro-
pirate comments:
This extraordinary procedure is Who'll
ly unprecedented inthe history ofour State
Its d long stride inthe direction ofanarchy
1t is not a new step in legislation, but the
end Of all legislation. All constitutions, as
well as universal custom. prescribe the
manner in which members of legislative
bodies shall manifest their opposition to
measures before them. That the oppo-
nents of measure, when beaten on the
vote, may break up the Legislature to de-
feat it, is a monstrous proposition, and ut
terly subversive of all Legislation and g v
crnment. Scarcely a law could be passed
if this were allowable. 1t matters not what
the ground Of objcction is. The idea that
an unconstitutional measure justiies this
step for Its prevention is ridiculous The
question Of constitutionality is the ground
ofopPosition to a large portion of the mea-
sures which come before every legislative
body. No legislature could sit fortnight
without exploding if this rule prevailed
Besides, there is an established tribunal, be-
yond the Legislature, to which the Consti-
tuition assigns appeals from the decision of
the Legislature as to the constitutionalty
OF, measures. The Judiciary has alone the
power, superior to the majority of a Leg
lslature, to determine questions of constitu-
uonalitv. The act under consideration is
therefore unnecessary, and usurpation as
well as revolutionary. The measure which
occasioncd this high handed procedure,
were 1t clearly unconstitutional, is insignifi-
cant by the side oi'an act which disregards
not only the Constitution, but strikes at the
foundation of all Government. The peo-
pie will never mistake this desperate exhi-
bition of obstinacy for devotion to the con-
siitution."
The sudden termination of the session
has had the effect ofwrcckinga great num-
Der ofbills, which had occupied much time
and were nearly through and ofpreventing
the passage of the annual appropriation
bills, without which the affairs Of Govern
ment cannot be long carried on, as well as
many other bills of paramount importance
to the State.
Governor Hunt has already issued his
Proclamation, directing elections To be
held for filling the seats of the recusant
Senators, and calling special session of
the Legislature to be held ON the 10th of
June next. So that an immediate appeal
is thus taken to the People.
A correspondent Of the Intelligenccr
thus refers more particularly to the nature
of the bill and the character Of the opposi-
ton.
A bin has been pending before the Leg
islature called the Erie Canal Enlargement
Bill, authorising loan of nine millions of
dollars, chiefly for the purposes of the en-
largement of the Erie, Genesee Valley,
and Black river Canals, and pledging the
future revenues of these canals for the pay
ment of the loan. Canal politics in this
State are a separate and very complicated
branch of politics, fruitful Of discussions
and party strife, and the canals themselves
the subject OF especial legislation IN the
new Constitution Of the State, adopted in
1916. This nine million project, which
received the support of the Wing MAORI
ty in both branches ofthe Legislature, was
attacked by the Opposition, particularly
IN the Senate, as repugnant to and in direct
violation of the provisions ofthe Constitu-
ton. declaring that, with certain exceptions
IN extreme cases, no debt "shall be con-
traeted by or on behalf of the people Of
the State. unless such debt be fora single
work, Or object, and tax be imposed suf
fclent to pay the principal and interest
within eighteen years from the time of its
contraction, and that every law authoriz-
ing loan shall, before it takes effect, be
submitted to the people at general cleo
tion' and be approved by majority Of all
the votes cast for and against NJ