The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-12

ter is, on the whole, plausible and rational
exposition Of his motives Of action.
The Last Legislature and the Next
The most prominent of the republican organs
in the State, including the New York Tribune,
the New York Epening Post, the New York
(ommerciol Advertiser, and the Buffalo Com
merciol Advertiser, concur In the expression OF
opinion that the State Legislature Of 1860 was
the most UNANIMOUSLY corrupt and shameless
body that ever disgraoed the Capitol at Albany.
The intelligent men and honest organs of all
parties and opinions coincide in that sentiment.
In fact, there is remarkable unanimity Of OPT
Mon throughout. the whole State upon it. The
State Legislature of 1860 will stand embalmed
in history alongside Of that Common Council
OF ours which earned for itself the distinctive
cognomen of the " Forty Thieves"
Well, we have cause 10 fear that the i,egisia-
ture of 1861 viii not be much of an improve
ment upon its immediate predecessor The
Presidential contest being as it were, allowed
to 60 by default, our politicians have time to
turn their attention 10 the State election of this
fall, when another batch of Senators and AS
semblymen are to be, voted for. Our astute
Albany correspondent gave an accurate aud
graphic sketch last fail Of the mode ia which
Thurlow Weed, George Law and the political
wirepullers at Albany manipulated the ma
| nagers Of primary elections SO as 10 secure the
nomination Of just such men as would be plant
tools in their hands for the contamination Of their
schemes. The proceedings of the session showed
with what success this course was crowned
George Law, Thurlow Weed and the tricksters
whom they took into partnership, had all their
| city railroad bills and the West Washington
Market swindle passed by large msjorites in
both houses, and when Governor Morgan put
his veto on them. they were again passed over
the veto. II would seem that the hireling poll
ticians who were enlisted to do their work in
the Legislature, and who took the bounty, re-
NAMED true to their pledges and implicitly
obeyed the orders given them The votes on
those several measures, which we published
day or two ago, showed that party politics had
nothing to do with them, and that republicans
and democrats alike sold themselves to the
Mephistophiles Of Albany.
Just so IL will be in the next Legislature il
the sovereign people Of this State do not re.
solve to prevent ii. Under cover of the Presi-
dental election, and aided by the fact that there
are four parties in the feid-Breckinridge demo
Gratis, Douglas democrats, black republicans and
Americans-the wirepullers are probably at
work throughout the State manipulating the
leaders of grogshop primaries to give the
Senate and Assembly nominations to men who
have no character to lose, aud whose
votes can be bought cheap. That seems
now -a-days; and no doubt il could be as
successfully pursued now as 1t was at the last
election, unless, indeed, the exposures which
we have made of 1t, and the reeking, shameless
corruption Of the Legislature of 1850, may, by
arousiDg public attention, thwsrt the plans of
Weed, Law d Co.
The rank and file OF all parties are undoubt-
edly honest. 1t is only scheming wirepullers,
working on brainless politicians, that effect all
these corrupt and proaigaie measures which
exssperate the public mind and bring our legis-
lation into odiun and disgrace. But active
honesty is always an overmatch for villauy,
and IL the people of this State could only be
got to give little attention to political affairs
and not leave them altogether in the hands Of
the most degraded portion of the population,
our legislation might be redeemed from the op-
probium that now attaches to il.
We therefore call upon the leading and in
auential citizens, Of all parties, to get out of
their torpid condition, yield up little Of their
personal ease, and take an active interest in
the public affairs Of the day. There Is no rea-
son why our business men-intelligent, prac-
teal, honest, as they are-should not occasion
ally contribute members he Legislature.
But they hardly ever do 81. They leave those
public posts to be filed by men who would
better grace the public stocks, IL that
antlquated institution still survived, II Is
time there should be a change In this.
The history Of the last Legislature cries aloud
for change. Let the respectable classes of
the community make their influence felt in the
nomination of candidates for the next Legisla.
ture. And in doing So they should see to Il that
no man shall be nominated for the Senate or
Assembly who will not pledge himself to vote
for the repeal Of every Que Of the corrupt mea-
sures Of the last Legislature. including the city
railroad bills. the infamous transfer of the
IVES. Washington Market property. and the dis
graceful scheme for grading Washington
Heights Let the nominations be given on
such conditions alone, and thus the task of
cleansing the Capitol at Albany of the pollu.
tons of the last Legislature maJ be performed.
Now l. the time for action.
GRAND FErr or THE Muscular CsRIsrIANs--
An OPENING roR THE Politicians. perceive