The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-03

tax OF one quarter Of mil per hnnum W Ianse
sufficient sum 10 pay the interest ana the principal IN
eighteen years This was the amount then estimated 70
be necessary complete the enlargement Of the canals
addition the ten or twelve millions borrowed under
the provisions Of the amended constitution and expended
THE REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
This question is cardinal feature in the creed Of one
of the parties he notorious frauds alleged to be com
mtted the city Of New York and the other cities in this
State elections has been the means OF pouring into the
Legislature during the last dozen sessions thousands OF Pc
toners asking for the passage of registry law. The
party now power have uniformly pledged their assist
ance polls of election. Tens OF thousands OF votes
have been annually secured upon that promise 1t comes
full power now under guarantee that such law
shall be secured at the ensuing session. The leaders,
however, think OF doubtful proprety, and fear that
such an act will be considered by the mechanics and la
borers us bearing heavily upon them for quiet and
cordial submission The proposition will first be submit
ted TO embrace entire State but nearly every mem
Der from the rural districts will repcl the in
situation that fraudulent voting ever existed at
their polls of election, they will refuse TO sup
port such a bill. Then amendments will be sub
mitted making the registry law applicable TO cities
only This latter proposition will be resisted on the
ground that II would be unconstitutional 10 impose pc a.
upon suffrage portion of the State and not upon
arotherto certain conditions or qualifications OF
upon citizens of partial and unjust character
The dominant party will closely estimate the profit and
loss upon such political nvestment-wi foot up the
ledger ascertain whether will be prudent and
polite to fulfil the promises made and again to
the Americans and pass the registry law whether it
is wiser to retain hat portion OF the workngmens votes
they possess, and refuse to enact the law Our own
opinion is that the republican party will rather forfeit all
the pledges its leaders have made than take the re-
sponsbty of enacng such law either for the State at
large or the cities oaly.
may be well to state that registry law passed the
Senate during the expiring hours Of the last session The
republicans and Americans voted for IL and the demo
Gratis against it, In the House of Assembly it failed for
the want of two votes only those Mr. Alb
bolt, Of Cayuga and Mr. Baker, Of Montgomery, two
republican leaders Of the House. This gave evidence
concusey that the party knew the entire strength the
bill had in that body consequently it very easy to
manifest sympathy with the Americans in favor OF the
measure, when the time secret plot was formed
to defeat it. By this time there be no lodging: the
republicans deceive the Americans no longer; they
must now face the music
THE EXCISE AND PRoHIBIroRY LIQUOR LAWS.
No subject Of pablo policy has been buetted about
from kind of fanatics to another than the liquor
question Not with the enactment Of reasonable
popular laws to regulate the liquor traffic the ultra
lists would rather prefer free trade in than to assist in
the passage Of any law short Of absolute confscaon Of
property and total prohibition Of the liquor traffic.
The political juggers have time and again inveghed the
real friends temperance into their meshes under the
most solemn obligations Of friendship they went
far suffer the passage Of the notorious prohbory
law but at the same time purposay rendering IL SO
popular that people would not obey it, and the courts
sustained the opinion of the people, The foolish AMI alb
surd Law in existence possesses neither the cond
dence Of the temperance classes nor those who deal in
uuors. Attempts have been made 10 punish offenders,
but convictions have rarely followed In cities where
retailer pays for license 10 sell, dozen GROCERIES
in constant blast all around him, in open violation Of the
law AS was prosecuted in 1857 the understand
ing that if the law could not be enforced then it
utterly useless for any 10 pay thirty dollars for what
was called privilege but which turned out to be no pr
vlege whatever. so became the unanimous opinion Of
retailers that it was only throwing away their money to
apply for licenses The Court Of Appeals in the month of
April last decision that the law could be enforced
and the Excise Commissioners generally undertook TO
Brighten retailers into the belief that prosecutions for vio
laons would most assuredy take place Large sums
again paid for licenses but the indifference has
manifested itself, and thousands OF liquor retail
have proceeded with IMMUNITY as heretofore:
Now, the incoming administration are committed
to the ultra Maine lawes. prohibitory law Is what
promised them previous to the election If there is
spark OF honesty sincerity the republican party
the many reiterated pledges must be faithfully fulfilled
But the leaders will not permit such suicidal transac
ton. In either prohibition or not, they cannot
escape from all the responsibility in the matter II We
were permitted to offer advice, should refer to the old
license they stood before the temperance natcal
tinkering commenced. Those laws amply stringent
for all practical purposes and If they had been enforced
they easily might have BEEN the evils OF ntemprance
would have been greatly abated and essened liquor deal
ing confined TO its legitimate limits intoxicaon in great
suppressed and the morals OF the community ma
teray improved Turn back to the records when consist
ency moderation, practical common sense prevailed and
reenact from statutes now repealed the excss laws OF
these consieate days. and then the people will have Ak
else iaws Of practical utility in which the public have
confidence and they will be those which the officers of
justice enforce with systematic ease All the tinker
ing that has been done to them to crafty the temperance
drunkenness render laws ridiculous and set back
the tide of morality soberness and truth.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
If the party in power undertake redeem tenth
the pledges made before election the subject of tho
elective franchise, they will do much than
cpate. the first place, they under Obligations to
the twelve thousand coored voters for Morgan to obtain
an amendment Of the constitution aboshng the present
restriction upon gentlemen Of color' who are not in
.-ol
dollars The republican party, if has any sincerity
professions must that negroes placed in perfect
citizenship with the whites Notwithstanding the bred
Scott 10 the contrary They must be allowed to
partke Of official drpppgs the Legislature in the State
Offices upon the Judicial BENCH in the jury box, the
church. and at the family resde and hearthstone No
thing less all this viii fulfil the obligations Of the
Publican party their colored brethren. There must be
no escape through executive pigeonhoes this time.
Something Is also expected in relation to aliens excrcis
ing the right Of suffrage. At the State Convention the re-
publican party adopted Of the planks in the American
PLATFORM declaring imperative in order 70 insure the
protection and purity of the ballot box that naurazcd
citizens should be put on probation for considerable
length Of previous TO being allowed the prvcgeovot
ing The time not distinctly stated but IL is assumed
that latitude he allowed from one to twenty one
years. BY adoption Of this essential feature IN the
Know Nothing creed the republican candidates for State
officers and members Of Congress received moro than
ranks. AS in honor bound and to keep good faith
with those voters the republicans should enact law pre-
venting naturaized citizen from voting until he resides
in the State several years after becoming citizen. As
each State its judge OF the qualification Of the cleo
tors and regulate its own terms with adopted cuzens,
there doubt but the incoming Legislature Possesses
the power and the right to make such dscrmin alton be-
tween native and adopted citizens. II the republicans
such law they lose every adopted voter if they
refuse 10 fulfil their agreement and solemny pledged
contract with the Know Notings, then the partnersh
| with them will become instantly dissolved Then, TO
avoid Charybdis they must run foul Of Scya There is
| no alternative.
| THE Rates OF WHARFAGE IN THE PORT OF NEW
YOfx
We learn that the following bill win be brought before
the Legislature Of this State at the coming session.
An amend entitled "An 10 reinee seve
raj laws, relating particularly 70 the city Of New York,
into act - passed April o. 1S3 in respect the rates
Of wharf &c In cities Of New York and Brooklyn passed
| 1859
The people of the State OF New York, represented in
| Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows
l. The 212th section said 1912 her3bv