The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-17
AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
Our Albany C0rrespOn dcnco.

Our Albany C0rresp0nticaco.
ALBANY, February IL, 1851.
Can State Senator, elected to me ~ert Congress,
retain his seat after the third of Marcha
A question will soon erise in the Senate, which
will involve a legal and constitutional point of
much importance. Mr.. Schoonmaker, Senator
from the Ulster district, was elected a member of
Congress at the last election. The Congaess 10
which he was elected commences with the 4th Of
March next. Can he, therefore, hold his seat in
the Senate of this State, and be representative
in the Congress OF the United States at the same
time? The Constitution of this State, article third
section eight, is explicit upon the subject 1t 10 as
| follows
No person, being member of Congress, or holding
any judicial military ONCE under the United States,
shall hold seat in the LIE legislature and any per-
shsli after his election member Of the Legis-
lsture be elested to Congress or appointed 70 any
Office civil military under the government OF the
United States his acceptance thereof shsl vscAts his
| seat
| So far as Mr.. s. is personally concerned, he
would probably vacstr his seat in the Senate on
| the 4th Of March HIS known rep ltation as fair
| and liberal minded man, justices the expectation
that II left to decide the matter in accordance with
the dictates his own sense OF right and justice,
he would promptly resign his senatorship But
the majority of his party in that BODY being de-
any poical project, will endeavor by all means to
retain hun in his seat until the expiration
III.
The Passage OF all laws requires seventeen votes,
and that Is tie exact number which the wings
possess when the entire number are present.
Should Mr. Schoonmaker leave the Senate, a,arge
number OF laws which the wings desire to enact,
would 20 overheard.
II would seem, from the intention of Mr.. 8. to
make another effort TO elect United States Sena-
tor, that he wishes make the trial before the 4th
| of March. Should choice be made after that
time with his assistance, the election would GER
tainly be contested upon the ground OF the invali-
dry OF his vote, aud the question submitted 10 the
United States Senate, which body has the right to
judge OF the elections, quailhCatioas and returns
of It's ME bers. Therefore, should Senator
be chose after the Sd Of March, and Mr. 8. parti-
c pate the election, the United States Senate
will decide whether Mr. 5. was member of Con-
gress after the Sd Of March, in accordance with
the true spirit and meaning of the eighth section.
as above quoted Should his acton be judged If
regular aad illegal, the person sent to the United
States Senate by those ans, would, in all proba-
b,li,y, be refused seat in that body.
When this question comes up--as il certainly
will in the course of a very few days-I am aware
that the wings will quote the precedent in the aso
cf Mr.. Bokee. This case was precisely similar to
Mr.. Schoonmakei's; and on that occasion, after
d. hate of day or two, the Senate decided by q
party vOie-the wings having two-thirds of the Sc
natt-that Mr.. Bokee was not disqualified from
performing Senatorial duties, although he held in
his pocket cerhc ate OF his election to the House
Of Represe ntatives Of the United States. Mr..
Schoonnaker being gentlemen possessed OF q
high sense of honor will not. Il is supposed, retain
the legality Of doing so w.
ALBANY. Feb. IL, 1851.
The Pubic Printing.
The Hon Thomas E. Carroll, Senator from the
Rensselaer, district, viii introduce bill in the
Senate, providing foS the election of public
printer by the people, and to establish State print
ing office. He is induced 10 present this proposi-
ton in consequence Of alleged malpractice under
~.
many reasons for adopting such course, which arc
teLahle; aud could the project be accomplished, it
would undoubtedly remedy many Of the evils which
are now alleged to exist But the principal obJec-
ton to it is, that il would unavoid ably create q
mammo political engine, more subservient to po-
hncat demagogues, more formidable in its secret
movements. than ths Of any other system hitherto
pursued. BY elecuDg public printer, he must of
nece ssi be politician: aud the party which sue
ceeds in electng him will compel him to subscribe
TO certain regulations In the purchase of paper,
types, end other stock, aud also 10 the employs
OF printers, binders, folders and stitchers. Tho
party friends muet be provided for; and By employ
il IN State establishment from enc TO two hum
drsd mechanics and operatives most OF whom
would be employed on account of their party
fidelity, dynasty will be established which will
control and influence many hund ed voters.
That the public printing amounts 10 an enormous
sum annually, is undenlable fact; and la re-
fleeing upon the subj CT, nine-enths of the people
look no farther than to the public printer himself.
But the Jue cause exiels in the absolute ignorance
OF those who order the printing doae. For In
stsnce. The Legislature. some years since, authsr-
lied Gov Buuck 10 enter into contract with print
ers, for publishing the Geological Survey Of the
State. Well he concluded an arrangement with
CARROLL Cock to do the printing; but before the
first type was set, his excellency was informed
that IL was necessary 10 accompany the printed
matter with engraved illustrations, giving vie of
ss This he m ,hs
engravtrs ccmmeicsd the job Within monih
afterwards, the Governor Was again applied TO by
one at the profession, VINO informed him, that in
consequence at the vsriegated appearance of a
large variety OF the primitive rccks marbles, slate
gness, felepsr, &c. II was alb solutely necessary
| that portion Of the engraving should be colores,
in order that an original sppe 3rance Of them might
be presented and preserved in the great State
work To this the Governor also yielded; and
thus the work went on until the present tim--the
expense having arrived ct nearly two hundred
thsussnd dollnrs without any prospect, 10 this day
cf its being ever completed.
So, also, with the Agricultural Report OF the last
sestion This was also cumbersome volume Of
some thousond pages. This WAS ordered to be
printed by the Hotse, without any knowledge Of
| its size. capacity, usefulness, or cost Some five
or ten thousand copies were ordered 10 be printed,
al the expense OF the State, without It's containing
a single line in the whole volume requiring legts-
lstiye sciion, nor was there in its contents any
reference whatever To business appertaning to the
legislature.
And at this session, TOO, while tn. two houses
were Keeling 10 and fro, upon this subject OF public
printing. and when IT was well known that the
Senate wes determined TO cartail this species Of
expense, the House, with a single dash, adopted a
resolution 10 print the Agricultural Report Of this
year, ordering an immense number OF copies the
cost OF which will exceed sixty thousand dollars.
Theseere only few specimens of ordering PRINT
ing done The faux is in the Legislature, not ia
the ru Ole printer. He does not PRINT oil,
port, or document, Tut which 10 ordered; neither
does he 2rnt single copy more than directed
HIS guIa. 'sthe Legislature, and he cannot issue
single le without the authority of the
other brs, ries Of the Legislature; or, should he do
so, his b. woplt certainly be rejected in the
Comptroller 0,u"a
The truth /, IN l. gsiature, every session. order
an immense amount Of printing, and have no
knowledge Of iis cost. But when an appropriation
is asked to pay for the work which the members
have themselves, by resolution, allowed, whv
thea, an alarm is raised-a great hue and cry is