The New York herald., 1862-03-22
INTERESTING FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.

Beer Prohibition Amendment to tn
Constitution-Procsed I'm tho Al
sembly-Csid Water Thrown on tn
Propositfon-The Cold Waterites Long
Faced-The Personal Contest Over Pub
He Defence-Who Triumphed, an
How-Ncw York Court House-Reduc
tion OF Taxes-Repeal OF the EcclesI
asttcal Tenure Act, &C., SC.
ALBANY, March 81, 1862
We have had the longest session in the Assembly tc
day Of any this winter The House remained in sesso
from eleven O'Clock A. NJ until half-pas six p NJ quar-
seng the constisutionalty Of prohibiting the sal
of intoxicating liquors. About five P. NJ, and after th
members had worn the original subject threadbars MI
Tracy offered substitute providing that the question
an amendment to the constitution the liquor prohb
Sion subject should be submitted to the people at tn
next election.
point OF order was raised that is could not be
sdered because it was original subject
Mr. schoefeld, in the chair decided that it in or
der, and could be received.
An appeal taken, and argued at much length
Several members who desirous Of avoiding direc
vote tho original question spoke in favor Of submit
ting. After hours sharp discussion vote was taken
and the decision Of the chair reversed
This threw out the substitute and brought the House
70 airec vote on tho original proposition without any
chance for to dodge unless he left the House
when Raymond as Speaker, took the Chair the motion
was made TO disagree with the report of the Committee
OF tho Whole and that the resolution be adopted On this
The yeas and called and the resolution was re-
eoted the motion only receiving 3S yeas TO 70 nays-a
decided vote against it.
Amotion made to reconsider and that motion was
voted down, which prevents it from being brought up
egsn this winter II "seeps tho sleep that knows no
waking" -
The latter portion Of the session was exceedingly exc
ang The leaders on both sides fully aroused-rich
boldly stood UP for the contest The prohibition party
are going about with long faces and grieving over the
ls: "rnr ha ne 1sner sae are everywhere holding
The House, coming to vote on the Public Defence bill
s night, ended personal fight that has boen in vogue
SVer since the bill was first brought up The whole
thing was controlled and decided by virtue Of contest
Tor leadership and influence in the House, It will be re.
eoored that at an early stage Of the session there was
Dtter contest over the financial resolutions-there
osing two sets OF resolutions one known as Mr. HUI
burds and the other Raymond's The discussion took
such that, before ended the whole matter re-
solved itself into struggle to whether Hulburd or
ynona i, should carry the majority Of the House with
ply or In other words the leader 1t finally resulted in
badly laying out Raymond and establishing Huburd as
the cade' OF the Assembly In this fight Mr.. Alvord
took sides with Hubur but seeing that gave Huburd
prestige in the Assembly thar was likely to give him
great influence in the legislation Of the session, comb
ground. 80
Several efforts made under the lead or Avord to
accomplish this, but question found upon which
the members Of the House could be rallied until the
Public Defence bill came up This bill reported from
The Militia Committee by Mr. Pierce The committee was
assisted by Mr. Hulburd in getting up that gen
tleman made the first speech in its defence, thus in
measure assuming its responsibility Mr. Alvord seeing
his opportunity, at took stand against the BILL and
made speech on its unconstutionaty but finding tnat
measure Of public defence he held conference meeting
ut his rooms at the Delavan House. and prepared SUBJ
stitvte accomplishing the object that intended
by the original BILL but in different manner and
fendcr the direction of the general government This
substitute acceded by essrs Hulburd and Pierce
considered that tho final action tho Defence bill would
give to him the prestige OF the leader of the House.
Thus matters stood when the question postponed for
neary,a week, but Raymond had not up to this time
showed his hand he was evidently waiting his time to
etrko blow that would regain him the prestige lost
early in the session.
Two weeks ago last Wednesday night he took the floor
and made speech, Of over two hours DURATION against
all Of the bills then before the Assembly The result
was that the subject postponed for two weeks and
The general impression existed that the bills all
dead Before tho weeks elapsed the Merrirnac came
OF its hiding place Norfolk and committed its de-
prcdaons upon the blockading squadron This aroused
She psaple Of New York. and mond found that he had
got himself into hot water by his action There was in
other words, storm about his head and when the De-
fence bill up he far backed out Of his former po
dollars for New York alone Then contest as to
whose bill should pass-a personal affair altogether
which lasted for two days Raymond finally cut down
the his bill to three hundred thousand dollars
and managed to get 1t before the House that had
q be taken first on bis proposition, and in the position
that any member who voted against ii would appear
though he opposed to doing anything for New York
in tho present emergency and in that position tho vote
was taken and his bill adopted The friends OF Raymond
clam for him the triumph. He did certainly outmanage
the leaders for the other bills and thus secured bill
but IT is test OF his strength Members voted for it
because they fearful that they could get any
thing else. Ho has simply outgencraed Messrs Alvord
and Fierce by overriding all heard Of rules Of legislation
and his friends claim for him the prestige Of tho
leader Of the House-tha prestige secured by direct
violation OF the ruesat the expense Of appropriating
place in New York harbor-and will prove OF but little
value toward protecting tho harbor The end is not yet
onohcr contest will arise on its third reading.
The resolution passed by the last legislature amend
tHg tho constitution 50 as to prohibit the sale Of ntox
eating liquors came up as ths special order in tho As
friends Of the bill finally talked the House nearly empty
and there being no quorum present the Speaker took the
chair when the roll was Called and by the time the list
gone through with word got to absent members
and sufficient number answered to make quorum.
The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
the subject.
Mr. Coddington, from the Committee on Cities, report
ed this morning the New York Court House BILL also the
York by applying TO the general fund tho surplus in the
interest sinking fund.- and converting the bonds issued
raise money for soldiers and their families into
b nds.
senator Connoly's bill to repeal the Bishop Hughes
Ecclesiastical Tenure ACT passed under the excitement
the controversy between Erastus Brooks Bishop
Hughes in tho great days Of Know Nothngism. passed
sh senate TINS Is. hi FeUsys EnNn g Twenty a%ve
Senator Bradcys Hay and Straw bill. has also passed
che senate y prevents the use Of more than fifteen
pounds OF wood in doing up tho bales also punishes those
who place stones and other hard substances inside 10
incroose the weight.
The Executive Committee Of the State Central Repub
lican Committee met this morning at Congress Hall bu.
before concluding thoir labors adjourned the Deavan
House AZ the latter meeting this afternoon thoy adopted
series OF resolutions, endorsing without reservation the
public policy OF President Lincoln app owing Of his special
Message to Congress to tender aid to all states that
would initiate the movement Of emancipation,
and congratulating tho public on the re.
cent victories. They also compliment the State
the successful management OF the canals and the
creased They also specially refer the vo-
luntccrs In the army who have heretofore acted
with the democratic party and praise them for dropping
party and rayibg to the protection OF their country
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.