New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-28

the first day OF January next lnde7 'en"""s" VI
the duty OF choosing United states 'eaas'i io'
the full term of six years, commench " on '"o
ath of March next, o more than oroih"iy
weight Of responsibility viii de'olse q, ppn IN"
Republican members. They arc in maJ> 'H's III
both branches, as were their predecessors Ia tne
last Legislature, and on them will rest the re-
spopsibility of the dongs Of the Winter; for II Is
not possible that the Democratic minority OF ''"iS
year will be so utterly venal and corrupt as we 10
their immediate predecessors, who saved the H''
publican party from defeat by emitting no con
ceiyable chance to vote for an abomination, wlth
almost complete unalimity. Had they been sim
ply decent, we should have been ruined. s
Probably among the first questions to be called
Nh will be the repeal of the obnoxious measures
Of the last session, and an inquiry at the ssmo
time as to how they came to be passed. Many
Of the Republican members Of the House have
been chosen with the distinct understanding, ex-
press or implied, that such a course would be
adopted, and that the offending Senators should
thus be forced by party discipline, to answer for
their behavior.
The first question, however, is the organiza-
ton of the House 1t is understood that tbere
will he two prominent candidates for the Speak
ersbip. viz Lucius Robinson Of Chemung and
De Witt c. Littlejohn Of 0swego. Both ~ere
members Of the last House, and the latter has
for four sessions filed the Speakers chair.
No better index to the character of the two men
can be found. than the record of their respective
votes on the Governors vetoes Of the City Railroad
Jobs, the West Washington Market bill, and sun
dry other exceptionabe measures Ofthe last Legs.
lature. Mr.. Robinson voted in opposition TO
every one of these measures, while Dir. Little
John gave his vote 10 favor of them all
TIE Speaker of the Assembly is ex ofhco ons
of the Commissioners Of the Land.Office. The
people of this city have deep interest in the
election of Speaker on that account. Tie law
passed at the last session, over the Governors
ito. entitled San act ID authorize the Saie oil
rec2rtain lands belonging to the State, sndsto
empower the Corporation Of the City OF New
'.York TO purchase the same" plainly cio.hes
the Commissioners of the Land-Ofice with extra
ordinary powers. Among other provisions, II au-
thorizes them to sell to the City Of New-York all
the lands on the Hudson aud East Rivers which
have beeD in whole or in part reclaimed and
filled in, either by natural accretion otherwise,
and which lie outside Of and adjoining the grants
made to the Corporation under the Mon,gomerie
Charter, or any other charter or grant. This
property ia valued at scveral millions Of dollars
The City of New.YOIk, with its own funds aud
it's own toll, has reclaimed it. Heretofore the
State has always said to the Corporation: "You
Z" are the riparian owners and you may take out
Z" below low-water mark, if you will advance the
commerce of the City aud State of New-York."
From the foundation of the Government down to
this day it is the first time that the State has
made any such claim to these reclaimed lands.
We know the State must lay hea's hand upon
the property and labor Of the people in order TO
meet its own liabilities, but we trust the Com
missiOners of the Land-OSice will hesitate long
before they avail themselves Of the power which
the act puts into their hand. In 1858, the Com
nissioners of the Land fice--Mr. LittlejOhn be-
ing one Of the number-leased the West Wash
ington Market property to Messrs. Taylor and
Brennan for one year, at $1,000 and the lease
has been twice renewed at the same rate. There
have also been assigned to them all the back
rents which have accrued upon the property, the
amount claimed being SiS60OO. The Corpora
ton Counsel, the Hon. Greene C. Bronson, in
Lis argument before the Supreme Court ut the
July Term, on On application to vacate two judg
ments amounting to over 100000, obtained by
Taylor aud Brennan against the City, held the
following language:
Mr. Tsyors application made ard l-.,e grsn,sd
and what this tb,t before the ease gsued
matter arranged some~ here else Where know not,
bat Infer that, sir for | have right speak fousn,
iehce. inter that fon the face Of the papers aud
vii fall nFon yell ard else But Whist ccrred
in fee irre property IN York called the We.t
arlington Market Plea.e give lease of Il for $500
Ceuini,sioR.r. the ssS day resolved that
the lease be psn,ed TOR Now. ST. is Pogbs 60
the 2ih Ap skiing oi cHe Tor s5ooo they
sit down and iesol,e that the, shall bs,- IT, 10 ,hs the
the the property. inquiry the rents
aud udesvo Their part 10 how much more they could
amour as 70 such lIee snl mo g then hunared thou
send dohfs per d sTsn to Taylor Brennan Tor
acted total snorAree ne property
s.e tLsy granted the len,e with % eyes open. they mar
take vbieh horn OF tse dnemma they please f they led
With their eyes Op.r. they sawCr.6y Of tbs asce"
In speaking Df Mr. Eiiteiohns agency in get
ting the bill for the sale of the property Though
this Assembly, Judge Bronson said, r.,...-.-
N.yeIthe."h Was said Of Albany ies psssta
u sod that the Cooperation Uounss substantially u
tAsr Of Yea one "a th- Coalss.lone;s VI he Lad
spssh ssain s up and the PsssS Of the III uttered
thoss words, BY which carried T0nSh the Lagsssv
dir city, IL has sw orr to s,. Is, now n ~ %
NOT 'ay ai tho Speaker OF the Assembly desesndsd k9
lhce to ey oal aha. he had hseu aOiRs CegnSs Of
undoubtedly. told that ID. Cotyple in q OF H.