The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-26

such mutual concessions in behalf of recon-
Citation from the North and the South as will
lead to the happiest results in the great work
Of reconstruction of the Union.
The Governor OF New York is republican,
our Legislature in both branches is strongly
republican, and the state has gone heavily for
the republican party. The same is true of
Pennsylvania to stu greater extent. She is
called the republican Banner State" of the
late campaign. But IT is because they stand
forward as the leading republican States that
we believe any practical concessions for the
Union from New York and Pennsylvania, act
ing in conjunction with Virginia and Tennssssee,
two of the most important States of tho South,
would be productive of the most bcne6cent re-
suits. We appeal to our Governor and to the
Governor of Pennsylvania to take the initia-
tive in this direction While this great c0nfcd-
eracy is breaking to pieces, and when the
clouds of civil war are thickening over us, as
they are now, this is not the time for men in
authority to halt upon the paltry and obsolete
considerations of party principles or plat
forms.
Let Governor Morgan, in his annual message
to our Legislature, put in strong recommen-
dation for the call of State Convention to
open negotiations with Virginia for the Union,
and let our Legislature call Convention at
once for this purpose, and New York may open
the way Of deliverance.
The Contest for Speaker OF the Next state
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF the Question.
There is at present a bitter warfare raging be-
tween the two wings of the republican party in
this State the organization of the next State
Assembly, which convenes at Albany on the LIST
day of January, 1851. The choice of Speaker
for that branch of our State Legislature has
had the effect of stirring up the generals, cap
tains. lieutenants, place and spoils hunters in
both branches of the recently triumphant party.
The Seward-Weed portion of the party are
pushing the claims of Dewitt G.. Littlejohn,
Speaker Of the last Assembly, and supporter of
all those measures which the public have stig-
matized as being corrupt; while the Spruce
street philosopher, backed by Bryant, Field and
the radicals generally, has trotted out Lucius
Robinson, one of the members Of the last Legis-
lature who stood up in defiance of the hurricane
of venality that swept through the halls at our
session; and each are busy influencing the new
ly elected members upon this question.
The selection of Speaker for the lower
branch OF our Legislature is of far more import
ance than is generally supposed by the public
at large; but the politicians and lobby men are
fully alive to the magnitude of the question !;
hence we have not only the party leaders, but
members of the third house, engaged
in this controversy, and, as might be ex-
pected, This latter class are confident of the
reelection of Speaker Littlejohn, and boldly
assert that he can be Speaker IL he wishes it,
vital interest to Weed and his lobby associates,
or upon ii depend in measure the profits of
their winters business as engineers, fremen
and wheel greasers of the Legislative machine
The Speaker, in the first place, has the ap-
pointmcnt of all the committees who are to
an easy matter for him to select. out of one hun
dred and twenty-eight members, seven for the
Committee ION Cities and Villages" who will be
guided solely by the demands OF the lobby, or
seven who will turn cold shoulder to all Of their
mportuning. Next in importance to that of
appointing the committees, and question that
il entering largely into the controversy, is the
fact that the Speaker of the Assembly is, by
virtue Of that Office, ono Of the Commissioners
Of the Land Office, who have under their juris-
dction all such questions as the West Washing
ton Market site. This being still an open ques-
ton, Il is not to be wondered at that the friends
and operators in that measure are now
upon the anxious seat in regard to
the organization of the House. These,
with several other considerations of more or
less importance fully realized by those who are
after the spoils as well MS the name and glory Of
victory, are the elements a. work in this sharply
fought contest, which the public at large are APP
parently looking at with quiet indifference
The finale Of these wranglcs, considering the at
ten,ion which our Legislature Of late has paid
to New York city affairs, is Of the greatest i'm
| poriance 10 our property holders and taxpayers
BY the peculiar organization OF the committees
last winter the schemes OF the gridiron opera
tors were put through without saving clause
being incorporated, and every demand Of the
hangers on who were classified in Weeds ar
my was granted without the least resistance
from the majority, 1t mat,ered not how OBJ
| noxious the measure or how adverse to the in
terests Of the public at large. The organization
| of the next House Is therefore TO settle the
question whether the raid against the rights Of
the inhabitants Of Manhattan Island Is to be
continued, or a new order Of things established
with our lawmakers. Whether or not the scene
shifters Of the last remarkable Legislature
shall continue to hold that position for another
term, is a question worthy Of serious con.
sideration on the part Of all friends OF honest
legislation, without regard TO party lines.
Let the result be as II may, there are many
indications Of split in the dominant party in
this State that far exceeds he bitter wrangle
L +.