The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-21

consequence Of the recent disruption Of the Legs-
aturc caused by the resignation Of twelve members
Of the Senate, "who would rather be right than be
President" the Governor has Issued proclamation
ordering special election to fill the vacancies thus
occssionea, and convening the Legislature in spe-
cial extra session, the tenth Of June next, in
order that the government of the State may not
be stopped.
The Albany papers make q great hub-bub about
this proceeding and its aAtecedcnts. They endeavor
to make great noise about the resignation of the
twelve seeding Senators; but they give much more
importance to the proceeding than it deserves
Those gentlemen resigned, because in their belief
the majority intended, per fas aut nefas to pass
bill which they thought u violation Of the or
ganic law Of the State. Believing So they did well
TO to their parliamentary rights to defeat it.
In resigning, they threw the question back TO the
people-to their constituents-who, according to
the constitution, have the sole right to determine
whether the State debt shall, shall not, be in
creased for any purpose This proceeding may APP
parently be revolutionary in its aspectit certainly
would be of revolutionary character in any coun-
try but this-but it was, nevertheless, legitimate
and proper under the circumstances.
The question will now be submitted to the people
Of twelve Of the thirtytwo senatorial districts of
the State. If the twelve seeding Senators be
elected, the voice of their constituents will be mani
tested in disapproval of the Canal BILL But should
they, or persons entertaining similar views in re-
gard to the Canal bill, be elected at the special
election about 10 be held the Legislature will stand
in precisely the same position it did before.
What then At all events, the canvass in those
twelve districts win be very active and a very i'm
portant one. During its continuance, the great
topic Of the day-thc abolition question-will be
lost sight Of and parties will once again fight about
Of the issues which divided them before Niger
ism showed its hydra head and aarighted the ma
tion. Almost all Of the issues which few years
ago separated the two great parties into which the
country is divided, have been disposed Of and con-
signed to everlasting rest. One of them, however,
that Of the degree Of getting into debt for internal
improvements, never has been settled and on
every occasion it will before the people, direct
ly or indirectly. Ii the same Senators sho uld be
reelected, the peculiar friends Of the Canal bill
will be obliged to abandon that favorite measure Of
theirs, temporarily at least for if they insist upon
its passage under the circumstances, the twelve
elected Senators will be justified in again resign
ing their seats The majority, however, in such
case, would not, we think, dare to put it to such
result but if they did, Of course the question would
be submitted to the people at large at the regular
election in November.
The advocates Of this bill for increasing the debt
ofthe State, never had better time for appealing
to the people, for in this day Of imitation and ex-
trayagance, the mass Of the people, who are ntoxi-
Gated, it we're, with their present prosperity,
would, we have doubt, sanction, by their votes,
increase Of our indebtedness, not only to nine,
but to twenty, thirty, fifty millions of dollars,
for any purpose. The mercantile, the landed, the
banking, the railroad and every other interest,
running riot, not only in this, but in every other
State II the Union and will continue to do So until
explosion, similar to that of 1878 1897, takes
place In fact, such manas are periodical with
the American people 1t appears to be natural
to enlghte ned human nature, individually, as
States, and nation, to live beyond means, to
indulge in all luxuries credit, and when pay day
comes, to resort to bankrupt act to wipe of
all scores. Notwithstanding that, according to the
constitution, no law shall be passed mpairing the
validity Of contracts, when the explosion, which is
inevitable from the present state Of things takes
place, the general bankrupt law will be passed,
and obligations and indebtedness, to the tune Of
hundreds of millions will be wiped off, as with
sponge. The people, with fate staring them in the
face, will 60 ON and incur debts, individually and
collectively, as States, trusting to be able, at
some future but indefinite time, to pay them.
This disposition has been manifested for some years
past. We have an instance Of il in the construc-
ton Of the Erie Railroad. The original estimates
FIR that great work were six millions of dollars;
but the expenditures, before n locomotive will run
from Dunkirk to Piermont, will reach over twenty
millions
Although the question of the eonstitutionaliiy
Of this canal bill will come before a portion of
the people, ut the special election which has been
just ordered by the Governor, it will come before
the State at large in the fall, il did on former
occasion. The result, however, will be, for the
reasons We have mentioned, in all probability, m
vorable to the loan. As the people are now led by
the clique Of politicians and demagogses in Albany,
II is sufficient to say that Thurlow Weed Il in favor
Of the measure. lie and his associates Of the
"higher law school have the State ia leading
strings; and constitution or no constitution their
behests must be complied with. 1t will take year
or two to bring this bubble Of the day which is
growing up around Us, to its natural prcking point
The WESTERLY BANK RoBnERY.-It will be re.
collected that Collins, who was concerned in the
robbery Of the Westerly Bank, Of Rhode Island
with Levi Cole and Tom Kanousc. was recently
convicted Of that crime, and that a man named
Dorsey, who was in league with them, was at the
same time convicted ofreEjury. These two hope
ful youths viii be sentenced to-day. Efforts are,
we unde.t stand, being made to defer the sentence.
and to interfere with the due course of tie law All
ofjustoe in there cases. by bin II exceptions, a
remedy which is quito common Il late; but a. the
parties are in custody they win probably be zen.
tened notwithstanding, Or At leas, remain IN
prison.
We arc Informed that some one wen acquainted
with all the circumstances Of tho robbery ~ that
bank. IL preparing q curious pamphlet, developing
the character Of the burglars Who figured IN it-
Cole, Dorsey, Collins, and Accommodating also
that ofther associates aidcrs. AMI ab5ttors "a this
city. According to all account, Cole aud kanoaae