The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-24

mittee. At all events, ret the "pcor claim
ants" give the court fair trial before they
condemn 1t. Conducted upon proper princi-
pies, we think IL a good institution. Let US
give it trial.
DISSOLUTION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGIsLA-
TURE.-The respectable citizens Of Massacbu-
sets must have felt very much relieved last
Monday afternoon, when they heard the joyful
news that the General Court" had adjourned
without day. It wonld be well for the fair
fame of the State if its acts could be as easily
consigned to obscurity as its members. Toe
Legislature of 1866 has affixed such load of
disgrace upon Massachusetts, as will make her
sons, wherever dispersed, blush for their native
State. The majority Of the members, person
ally and politically, have disgrsced themselves,
inflicted severe blow upon the party that put
them in power, and grossly deceived, swindled
and abused the public trust confied to their
hands.
The session was long one, when it should
have been, according to promise, the shortest
on record. 1t was expensive beyond all pre-
cedent; and yet the Hon. and Rev. Speaker
complimented the majority upon their success
in preventing the squandering Of the public
treasure" A few figures will expose this hum
bug OF Mr.. Speakers The Chairman Of the
Committee on the Pay Roll reports that the
tota, cost Of the session will be about 100000.
The it, ms of pay and mileage amount to ST. 500
for the Senate and $161, 6O3 for the House.
The expense Of committees has been larger
than usual, and the incidental expenses will
undoubtedly swell the amoans to the sum esti-
mated. The pay and mileage Of the Legisla-
ture of 1854 amounted to only $l26685, and
the whole cost of the coalition Legislature of
1851, which has heretofore been reg arded as an
example Of extravaganza, was oaly $l39,47l,
or 100000 less than the probable cost of this
Legislature The cost of some of the sessions
of the Legislature held previous to that date
was as follows:--1845, $58,753; 1916, $66, IA;
ls47, ST. 466; 1s4s, s93,O9s; 1s49, $8l, JAG;
1850, $9O,9l5.
What has the State of Massachusetts, received
for all this money, in which is inc GUIDED the ex-
peDses Of the renowned Mrs. Patterson on the
occasion of her visit to Lowell with the mys-
terious friend of Mr.. Hiss, whose name the
"honor" of that pure-minded patriot would not
allow him to disclose? 1t is true that the LIE
gislature has passed five hundred bills aud
resolves. Every member who had a pet idea
incorporated it into law, and it was passed
over every thing. The Liquor law has been so
amended that at this moment the sale of sim
gle glass is punishable by Imprisonment during
six months at hard labor in the penitentiary.
In public meeting on this subject, one Of the
members of the Legislature-a plain. spoken
Boston mechanic-said that he was member
of the Committee on Roads and Bridges OF that
body that that committee had travelled large
ly over the State-that on one occasion they
were attended with upernumeraries-.ha the
entire party numbered ffteen-that he ordered
some spirits--that of the fifteen, thirteen drank
bountitully, and Of the thirteen twelve voted
for the new Liquor law.
The further acts of this Legislature are gene
rally not very important, excep. that they are
generally intensely ridiculous aud will not
stand legal tests. But the browning shame of
the session was the passage of the "Act for the
further Protection Of Personal Liberty
which not only nullifes the section in the
constitution of the United States which
provides for the return of fugitives escap-
ing from one State into another, and
ignores an act of Congress founded on that sec
ton, but overrides the constitution of Massa-
chusetts by providing new method for the
impeachment Of judges This bill was passed
in defiance of the Attorney Generals opinion,
and notwithstanding the veto Of the Governor
The free soil majority IL the Legislature, ny 90
critically avowjng its attachment to American
principles, has put forth its entire strength to
bring the American party into contempt with
national men, and to elevate the dogmas of the
Garrisonian propaganda.
1t is not pleasant to dwell upon the personal
conduct of these legislators, their conducl
while upon committees, their indecorous and
supplementary behavior in the House, their
shutting and contemplate trickery in the Nun.
nery investigation and Hiss affairs, their dis
graceful behavior while travelling on official
business, their open lechery and shameless de.
baucbery at Lowell, Springfield, Hartford and
other places, their obscene conversation and
updik nifed conduct OF saturnalia just before
II e close Of the session.; but the public has q
right to know these facts, as record of the
past and a warning for the future.
The last act of this model Legislature was to
rob the State Golfers of nearly forty thousand
dollars by certifying that the aggregate nom
attendance was only that of the absence of one
man for the whole session; whereas the fact is
that the daily absentees have numbered fro n
seventy to one hundred and twenty! The last
Legislature Of the State of New York was bad
enough, but it was excelled in debauchery rob.
berry. iguoraoce and stupidity by the "assem-
bIed wisdom" of the old Bay State, the boast