The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1851-05-17

A8&tyoWD0v
A very extraordinary proceeding In tho
New York Legislature has produced an in.
tense excitement throughout the State.
whicA will probably override all other ques.
tons 10 the next elections. Twelve SeHa.
tors resigned in body in order to defeat
tho action OF the Senate on \ measure
which they believed to be unconstitutionAl,
Nd knew no other mode Of defeating.
Their motive WAS to deprive the body Of
tho constitutional quorum, which would au.
thorixe them to act. aud thus to compel
them to lay the bill over TO another session.
The bill WAS one for the enlargement OF
the Erie Canal. and proposed TO enter into
engagements for that work TO the amount
Of abou, nine millions Of dollars, rei,nburs.
able out Of the annual surplus revenues Of
the canal itself The objections urged are
tina, il is in conflict with the State constitu.
ton. which prohibits the creation Of \ debt,
except under certain enumerated circum.
stances, withoat the direct sanction Of a
pepslar voss; I'D dat il implicitly bound
= Rehs appropriations
" Of the debt is, ttav ~ to
expend future SURPRISES i ~
and does no. borrow anything L.
ton Of the enlargement became mel 49,
party question. all the Wings supporting Il
and all the Democrats opposing it--except
one or two on the line Of the canal Il
got through the house by large majority
although vchemently opposed and went to
the Senate. There were seventeen votes in
its favor md fifteen against il, which would
make its success cci tain il It were permit
ted to come to vote But the cons'itu-
,ioaal quorum of the Senate for action upon
money bills Of any kind in three iifths OF
the whole number of Senators, viz; :.-fcc.
fiihs Of thirty two. twenty Senators must
therefore be present to vote or tho bill
could not pass.
The opponents Of the bill determined to
defeat it, by rcsigning in sufficient numbers
20 leave the Senate without power to act
| But this difficulty presented itself: The
appropriation bills and other bills for the
support of Government had not passed, aud
the friends OF the Erie bill had put their
hill first; sc that it must be acted upon be-
fore these essential bills could be reached.
struggle for priority first cnsaed. The
opponents Of the bill tried to get up the ap'
preparation bills, and pass them. before
touching this contested bill but It's friends
resisted and defeated them. The Erie bill
then camc up, upon which twelse Senators
resigned. leaving only twcnty members, or
Just enough TO form quorum. oue oil the
+ hn nd
notice that he was IN the Senate for the
purpose of acting - ordoi to pass The IN
dispcnsablc appropriation bills, and that he
would rcmain for that purpose; ba, II 1t
were attempted to get up the enlargement
bill he would resign also. The ma
joriiv persisted, aud he too quit the Senate
chamber. aud Ieft the body without quo.
rum, aud it was compelled to adjourn s'ne
die.
Both parties have met and issued address.
SEES to the people in support OF themselves.
Each accuses the other Of being the cause
of the defeat Of the money bills, and exch
iustifes its own acts on tho enlargement
bil. The defeat OF this last bill was greet.
ed by a salute of hundred guns, as OF n
srcat constitutional victory, and !, denoune.
ed by ghc other side as revolutionary and
iactous 4 grand demonstration in favor
of the resigned Senators WAS made on the
ISL, in the Park. in front Of the capitol in
Albany, aud ten ,housa~i persons are re-.
ported "a present and aiding. The leading
Democrats OF tho State were present,
aud resolved to make the Enlargement bill
and the constitutional question, tests for the
next election.
The Wings are equally resolved and
equally willing 10 60 before the people on
the issue. Gov. HUT hss ssned wfts for
the election OF Senators IN the several DIS.
tricls IN place of those resigned, and has
called M extra session Of the Legislature TO
meet ia June next.
The opponents OF the Erie bill nre play.
ing bod galne---one jus,iiiable only IN an
exirerfe ease to prevent the passage OF
bill believed to be unconstitutional. which
would create such rights or become 40 i'm.
mcdia,ely executed. that the slow process.
% of the Judiciary could not reach the
case or fad remedy. They have Chosen
to take responsibility Of going before the
people on saeh an issue, aud express The
utmost confidence in their being sastained.
There will be not time IN New York
preceding these elections, and a most excl
ling session in June.
|, is but proper to add. that although this
bill became almost party measure at last,
!, was introduced into the House by
prominent Democrat, who sustained it all
tlrough.-PieaRnne.
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