The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-29
INTERESTING POLITICAL MANIFESTO.
Drmeer.sas Lesasla,ivs Adarsss.


Demecretae Legislative Address.
TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS OF THE sFATH OF
NEW YORK
The undersigned, democratic representatives in
the Assembly OF the State OF New York, 10 compli.
ance with honored custom desire to render to you
an account of such of their acts ~ they deem to be
public ard party interest.
The members of the Assembly received their APP
pointments AT the hands of the electors, under cir
cunstances peculiarly gratifying to the democracy
OF New York, and the Union. The reorganization OF
the party its ancient platform, Was foil owed by an
exemphfcatun Of more than its ancient vigor aad
power. 1t placed In the Presidential chair its npmi-
nee, Franklin Pierre by the votes OF twentysesel
of the thirty-one Sites OF the confederacy. The
whig party was displaced from power in the several
States and in this Slate the candidate OF the united
democracy, Governor Seym our, aud his democratic
colleagues, choseI by q majority Of % 00J.
Eightysix democratic members were returned to the
Assembly. The Senate. however, which had been
chosen one year before, under circumstances less
suspicious to the democracy, was tied, and subse-
quenty in the Extra Session, by the absence OF
democratic Senator, came under whig control, tn
neutralizing the numerical superiority Of the demo-
crazy in the popular branch. We refer to these
tagonsms of the two Houses, because they explain,
70 some extent the causes which led to the call of
extra session, and the protracted term OF icssauon.
The necessity which holds the legislative body To-
Cether beyond the term of oge hundred days indi
Gated in the Constitution, is always source OF re
gret, and especially when it leads to the matpi-
cation OF laws, or TO additional charge upon tue
Treasury. 1t is just, however to say that the public
acts in which we have been engaged, have been OF
An inn ortance seldom equalled.
We were advised by the Governor in his annual
message that the finances Oh the State were not in
satisfactory condition. The legislation of prede
cessors increased the charges upon the Treasury Of
the State, aud at the same time diminished its re-
venues. We found that the appropriations OF the
Legislature Of 1862 exceeded the revenues of the
General Fund about 100000 and that we were
under the necessity OF providing not only for the
deficiency, but also for the estimated deficiencies OF
the fiscal years ending Sept mber 1853 and 1854.
barrassed condition. The law releasing certain rail
roads from the payment of tolls, not only deprived
our public works of large amount OF revenue from
that source but II also rendered necessary q reduc
ton OF tolls upon property carried on our canals At
the commencement Of the present year there was
due to contractors and for land damages &c, nearly
$7500O0, for large portion OF which amount, drafts
had been given by the Canal Commissioners, and
were under protest for want OF funds to pay them.
The reputation of the State demanded that prompt
should be adopted to pay these debts, aud
the Assembly passed oils at the regular session of
the Legislature not only to meet these pressing de-
mands against the treasury, but also to provide fbr
the support Of government As these measures
were not acted upon by the Senate before the ad-
journment Of the regular session, the Governor was
compelled to convene the Legislature for the purpose
Of securing the passage Of laws required to preserve
the faith and credit of the st ite and essential to
able the State officers to carry the operations OF
government The extra session has been protracj ed
until this late day, in consequence of the delay
the part OF the Senate to act upon these impor
tant bills
The duty of providing means to pay the debts of
the State is so imperative that we have asseued to
the Senate bill increasing the tax levied upon the
people for the support OF government, although we
preferred the bills originated in the Assembly, by
which the railroads of the State made to con-
tribute towards the payment OF these debts incurred
for our canals. as the privileges conferred upon the
rOr tinpa NV fho Stufa have rod for
miGable competitors to our public works.
The action OF the two Houses in reference to the
public works has been OF great public interest and
importance. The loss of portion Of the revenue of
the canals by improvident legislation and the accu-
mutation OF the charges upon their fund, had been
such as to threaten to absorb the surplus revenues
devoted to their enlargement and unless their means
were enforced by some extraordinary resource,
to bring that work to q stop.
Many OF your representatives were reluctant to
adopt any measure which should destroy or material
ly weaken the admirable financial policy Of the
constitution Of 1896 but after protracted consuta
ton, they at last united with entire and cordial ap
proval upon the following constitutional amend
ment -
hetolved, (fthe Senate coucur) That the folo~ipg
eIdmant b. proposed the Constitution this State,
and referred the Legislature 10 be at next
general e'cndp II ators and be published for three
moths previous mskiog ucn choce In Of
the provisions OF the fest section OF the thirteenth
tices of .Ao stitution.
Substitute section three Of article seven tbs follow
Ing
After paying the said expenses Of collection supern
ten debce and repairs OF the canals and the appro
priseo by first ard seo1nd sections OF this article,
there shan be spprop aud set apart in each fiscal
year OF Tie surplus of the c.oals sink
Ing fund, tufcient TO ths interest 1t falls
due and extiDgpish the pincips within eighteen years
Of loan made uedsr THE section and IL ths said sink
log fund shall not se to redeem any part OF the
ptiDcipI ct the stipulated times VI payment to pay
any part OF the interest Of snch loans stipulated the
satisfy any such deficiency shall be procured
the credit u the ssd sims fund After pyiog ~ith
Of the said into the treasury Of tho state hun
dred thousand collars cefay peossss,y peasss
eoverunent. The remainder shA il acsl year be
applied for The en's gsment aud
compeon Of the canals mentioned in this section uasl
the said als shS be plsted In each fiscal year
after the remainder sbs be disposed Of ia such
Dsbnsr rhe Legislature may direct, but shall at
in advance the gislatu.e shall annually daring the
Rext four years oats TO the enlargement Of the
Erie the Ossego ths Csyuaa and seoeca csnals add TO
tie completion OF the Black River and Iene,ee
Valley cALals. and for the eDLa'gemsnt OF the
locks of the ChAmpl4in cansL Whenever from dspi-
dshon decay it shalt he Necessary - reout'd
them. . sun Dot exceeding two mi Hons two hundred
snd city thousand dollars The remainder o. ths rave
Of the canals for the current fiscal year in which
such appropriation Il made sha b. applied 70 meet such
appropriation: al II the sball be deemed iosum
clint The Leeiaturo shall a. the same seson provide for
the deficiency nv losn The legislature shall also boero
ore million an fee hundred dollars TO to
the bodes Of tbs canal certificates issued under
the provisions of chapter four bupdred aud eighty five OF
the laws OF tie rhOu and eight hun 1red aud
fifty the recsived into the treasury thse
But interest to sccrne at ar July first
thousand eight hundred ard Atty FIVE sha be paid
srcb certificates The provisions OF tecd,n .Seve ~
tins article requiring every law for borrowing money
to he submitted to the people shall not aopv to the loans
autborzec by tbis section No ,Art Of tbs Of
the canals of the fund, borrowed unde tois secon
shall Re psid applied upon in consqueocs of any
alleged oonac, made under chap er four huodted and
eigh live II the las o' the gear one thousand eight
hurdrd and fifty one except to pay for york done
teralr furn prior the first day Of uue thou
sapc .igh hundred ADD fifty two The rates Of toll
sbd property Transported on the causs shall not
be reduced below sbote for the year tbouss eight
hundred sDd ff'ytwo e,capt by the canal board With
the Of the legislators ALI contracts for
atersl- spy csnal .ba be ada wi h the
who shall offer TO prosoe the At the 10 sest
pice nth adequate securi'y or their performance.
This amendment, while it points to the surplus re-
venues the means for the enlargement OF the ca
nails continues in force the guarantees Of the present
constitution Tor the public stock, with the pledge Of
State faith. and provides for the extnguishment of
the debt by sinking funds within eighteen years. IL
provides for the submission Of the subject Of the
templated debt to the electors themselves, in their