The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-24
Our New Haven Correspondence.
New HAVEN, Conn, June ~, 1856

NEW HAVEN, Conn, June ~, looz
Tie LEGISLATURE Free Banking La,o-Judic,A
Rcfo,m--1hc abolition Of the Death Penalty
Maine Law-The Democratic Nomination &c
nooi Seott-1he Prospects, &c.
After six long weeks Of hard fighting, the Con-
necticu Legislature Of 1852 is upon tho point Of aA
journment. Taken by and large, up side and
down the other it has probably been the least nstsA
for its talent and real ability of any body Of men
that ever convened in the capacity of legislative
assembly. There are, however, few-and very
few, too-who, although not the possessors Of ia
Tents CANCEL bright" still have been good, practical
legislators The democratic party, when they OBJ
tanned the full reins at the Apri election, at onos
set themselves about the task of reform Governor
Seymour, in his annual message, recommended a va
rey oireiorms founded III justice, and actually need
ed by the people Of the State. The Legislature, in
obedience to his suggestions, have therefore been
nearly the whole session in the attempt to mould them
into correct and proper form. The general bank
ing law has been of the most important Of those.
Two or three previous attempts have been made 70
pass it, but with no other effect than humiliaing
defeat; but this year, by dint Of hard work, eau
cussng, and party drilling, it passed by q very do
cisve vote. The bill in form is nearly like the New
York law, few verbal amendments and slight alter
ations being the only difference. As passed, it is
probably in as unexceptionable form was possible
to present it in. There be but one opinion a. to
the correctness of the principle, and the instances
rare, when a subject is correct in theory aud
not in practice.
thorough reform in our judicial system was alse
strongly recommended by the Governor. The Ju-
dicia1y Committee have spent Il majority Of their
time in an investigations but they probably found
the task difficult that their legislative lazness re-
yoltod at the idea Of the labor it would take to
make the alteration. In word, our whole system
Of Judicial management j. all wrong. The speedy
rendition of justice is the last thing be looked fer
in Connecticut courts. Our system Of pleadings ID
truly barbarous in fact the whole civil and crimi-
raj code needs thorough and extensive revision.
The abolition of the death penalty is another Of
the reforms which our Legislature have essaycd to
create The bill, as passed in the Senate, provides
that The convict shall in case be executed untila
year after sentence and then not until the Legsla
tufo, by special act, order his execution ho, in
the meantime, TO be Mt bard labor in State prison.
The bill comes up in tho House to- day, and will
undoubtedly pass. The vote in tho Senate was tive
to in its favor and that Of the House will pro-
badly be equally decisive
The Temperance Mane-acs made silly and char
aeteristc attempt to pass the Maine law, or some
thing similar, but Il was no 90. After full and
interesting discussion the bill was rejected in the
House, by vote Of III against 100. Its friends
sent il bushcl and halt Of petitions, containing
about iO,000 names, but All Of no avail. Had the
House passed it, as it at one time believed they
would, the senate would nave rejected it by strong
vote and i, in any contingency, it had passed both
houses, the Governor would have vetoed il in half
an hour. The recent judicial decision, adverse to
one Of it's leading provisions, in the Maine courts,
essentially kills the bill IT. friends staggered.
What effect il will have upon the Rhode Island and
Massachusetts liquor dealers and temperance men, it
is impossible to conjecture.
The nomination Of Pierce and King by the Demo-
cratic National Convention is regarded here
rap d'aat second only to that Of Louis Napoleon.
Ii appears to harmonic all sections factions, and
wings Of the party--hunkers and barnburners-old
fogics and young-all all in fact appear to have
caught the infection, and are working might and
main TO secure their election. BY the way, Mr..
Herald, when the opinion as to who might event.
uay be the nominee, in your daily OF January
last appeared, cut it out and pinned it on the
Office door, with heavy pencil mark drawn under
meath 4, In the present excited state Of political
feeling it is hardly possible to say what his prospects
are; il must be confessed however, that they are
now fatteTing.
The nomination Of General Scott by the wings
comes like O wet blanket upon the party here. A
funt effort was made yesterday, on receipt Of the
news. to awaken little enthusiasm, yet their as
appointment was evident, Daniel Webster was
cmphaticaily the choice of New England, and many
persuaded themselves that he would eventually DO
nominated The wings hold ratification meeting
tonight. One hundred guns viii be hreo' notea
gentleman Of the party told me, today, ne tearca
they were going 20 nave tnelr iyn ~ ausanes ~,
aw,ointuient al ths defeat Of his fayorite than
t6atoitrb consideration Of all the chances which
cluster around the candidate General SCOTS
ehanccs for the Presidency have always boon good.
Undoubtedly, he viii draw larger vote than any
man they could have nominated His chances for
the electoral votes Of New \ ork, Pennsyiyania ant
Ohio are certainly good while Massachusetts,. Maine.
and Indiana will almost surely give him their votes
The democrats gave, however, tho greatest blow
hts prospects when they nominated Porcc that "
possible. At I'll ~ onts the race viii be ciplg
an a. mated one. aa} ~ VIII await WITH w
W. ,.,-...