The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-04


New York Legislature.
ALBANY, January 3.-The New York State
Legislature met yesterday. The Assembly
organized by electing Mr.. Littlejohn Speaker.
The Governors Message Is q document Of
considerable length, and refers almost entirely
to matters Of local interest. He thinks 1t in
expedient that the canals pass from the con-
troll Of the State, and strongly urges that they
be'completed with water way Of seven feet
deep and seventy feet wide before the opening
Of navigation in 1861.
The Governor does not doubt either the wis
dom or justice for rsimposing, for few years,
a moderate toll rer tun, during the season Of
navigation, upon all freight passing over rail-
roads competing with the canals, or Of requir-
ing these roads to pay an equivalent in money
annually into the treasury. When the canals
shall have boon completed, the railroads should
be relived from this burden temporarily i'm
posed.
In speaking Of the Metropolitan Police Law
he says the discipline, conduct and efficiency
of the police of New York fully vindicate the
wisdom and propriety of that law. Even those
who opposed its enactment now admit that
New Yo.ss never had so good police, and
citizens Of other States propose the introduc-
ton into their larger cities Of q system SINH
larly conducted.
He recommends that the Legislature grant
further aid for the completion Of the Central
Park.
In speaking Of the defenses Of New York
the Governor remarks that it is obvious that
the approach of New York by water is not
now adequately defended, and invites the
Legislature To consider whether some action
Of theirs may not aid In procuring from Con-
gress the means for the prompt completion of
our defensive works.
The Governor thinks that the Registry Law
Of 1859 has answered its purposes, and advises
some amendments to make it still better.
The Governor concludes his message as fol-
lows: New York yields 10 none of her sister
States in her devotion to the Union. She
reveres il as the fruit Of long protracted
contest for liberty and independence, and she
cherishes it for Its present benefits, and its
guarantees for the future. Her citizens dis
covered, at q very early period, that slavery
was an evil, and prompt aud considerate pro-
viUion was made for its extinction. So far as
our example was worthy of imitation, the
other members of the confedsracy had the
advantage Of it; but We never claimed that
we had the right to interfere, directly or indi-
rectly, with slavery as 1t existed In the other
States of the Union. We were satisfied with
the solemn and earnest declaration recorded
upon our statute book, that we regarded
slavery as social evil, and treated it accord
ingly. New York still maintains the same
position. She emphatically disavows all sym
pathy or cooperation with those misguided
men who, no matter under what provocation,
who have sought in the past, or who may seek
in the future, unlawfully to interfere with any
of her sister States. That the offenders in the
recent invasion Of Virginia intended to sub
vert the existing government, and establish in
its stead another more consonant with their
notions Of justice and equal rights, is not cer-
tain.
That they propose to lberate and arm the
slaves of that region, and aid their ercape to
foreign country, is beyond dispute, and that
purpose, II need hardly be observed, was un-
lawful, and certain to be resisted at all hazards.
Bloodshed thus melted rests in the eye of hu-
man law, on the heads of those whose vio-
lation Of laws provoked or caused it. We
may admit that their aims were unselfsh and
even philanthropic, that they honestly be-
lieved and felt that they were risking life in
behalf Of the wronged and oppressed but we
must never forget the obvious truth that social
order can only exist through general recog-
milton of the sanotity of law, and that tran
guilty and security must vanish from that
community wherein every one shall feel at
liberty 10 redress whatever he deems grievous
by raising his arm against the authorities and
the laws.
Another question is presented when it is
proposed to establish or to permit the estab-
lishment of slavery in the Territories. Being
the common property Of the whole people so
long as they remain Territories, New York
will claim the right to participate in their
government. In no way can she do 80 except
through the agency Of her chosen representa-
tivss in Congress, and therefore It is that tho
electors, of New York recognize the authority
Of Congress to legislate for the Territories and
prohibit the establishment of slavery therein
Yielding cheerful obedience to the doctrines
of State sovereignty; having no disposition to
interfere with the local institutions of the
States; prepared at all times to aid those
States in the preservation of their sovereign
power, New York, enforcing her views in
legal, peaceful and constitutional manner,
will not surrender the right to participate in
the reformation of this or any other evil in
the administration of the National Govern
ment.