New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-22
OUR LEGIsLATURE.

OUR LEGlhIATt kE.
The new Legislature Of our State will con-
vene at Albany on Tuesday. Jan. 3, for u sos
sion limited by the Constitution TO hundred
days-or rather, the SO per day stops at the
expiration of that term, leaving the members
free to serve the public as much longer for
nothing a. they may see tit 10 30. Our former
Legislatures under this rule have usually de-
voted about an extra week TO making up their
lost time. And, though the qrality Of the acts
they grind out is often objected TO, we never
heard a complaint that the quantity was de-
fcient
We have termed this nep Legislature and
such it emphatically is. OF the thirty-two
Senators officially returned, but SIR were in the
last Senate, though a seventh tJudgc Low
viii pretty surely establish bis night and
ultimately be seated. Oh the one hundred and
twenty-eight Members Of Assembly, we note
but hc,nty.sertn as members last year; though
there may be one OF two more. II We add to
these the four Senators CT. C.. Fields, Z. +.
Havens, +. Cornell, and Saxton Smith) who
we're in the last Assembly, and still to these the
half dozen or 70 who were members of some
former Legislature, we have total of less than
ffy OF the one hundred and sixty members Of
the two Houses who have had any legislative
experience whatever.
Politically, the new Legislature stands abou,
seas;, Union - Opposition.
As',~tiy -" Union" ei OpPoAlon....."
Joint Ballot Jos -
There are two or three contested returns,
which, when decided, will probably vary these
aggregates. 1t is not probable, however, that
any measure which Gov. Seymour may see fit
on party grounds 10 veto can be passed over
his head.
Our adyersarcs have asserted that the Const
tuition may be seasonably amended 70 ne to en-
able our electors who maybe serving their coun-
try in her armies to vote at our next State and
Presidential Election. We presume our friends
in the Legislature will take them at their word
We have done orr very utmost TO pass bill
securing to our soldiers their right 20 vote forth
with; we were beaten by the Governor veto.
Let "a now follow il we cannot lead, and win
their rights for our soldiers in any feasible man
ner. We trust they will all be at home before
next November, but We can take no risks. Let
us make il certain that they shall 10 all events
vote for our next President. Who should if they
should mott But for them, We hoald not have
had any opportunity to vote agan for President
ourselves.
AS to tie corruption which 81 late has
sialked shamelessly through out Legislative
hala. what IL to BE- done' II nothing, then re-
publican institutions are failure. BIT some
thing must and will be. Let us SEES Hlnt can
be done BY bringing public observation 10 bear
on the subject Few Of those generally be-
cy ed 10 have sold their votes for base lucre last
Winter have been returned; while several who
passed the ordeal triumphantly have been
chosen to higher positions than they then held.
Let il he settled that whoever bear away from
tho Capital this Winter a tainted reputation
sinks under it forever.
We shall have Constitutional Convention in
le6i and We trust that Convention Will take
us back 10 the old mode Of choosing Assembly
men by C0sn,ies whenever County is not too
populOus for Senate District. We certainly
had ADLER Members Of Assembly, in the average,
when Oneida, Onondnga, Monroe, Erie, DO,
chose by general ticket, than we now have; for
then we had always strong name at the head
Of the ticket some Joshua A. Spencer, james
II. LaWrence, Victory Birdseye, Henry w.
Taylor, Preston King, Abijah Mann, or the like
whereas, tho same Counties are now apt to
send men Of ordinary abilities from top to bot
tom Of the list We shall be very glad to find
that they have done better this yeor. Still, tie
District System has not proved favorable to the
nurture Of Legislative ability; and, if the next
three years do not manifest improvement, We
shall DO inclined to give it up.
But the fault, after oil, is In our detestable
system Of making nominations. 1t is all
Tickle me and I'll tickle you" from beginning
to end The delegations are selected by the
candidates, when the candidates should be the
unbiased choice Of the delegations. A. Is. gets
from his town q delegation for G. ID. for Clerk,
with an understanding that G. ID. will recipro-
cate The favor by sending delegation from his
town who will support A. B. or his favorte
for Sheriff; and SO the whole business is
managed aud log-roled by few threwd,
interchangeable and selfish schemers. The
result is O ticket which satisios nobody but