New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-22
OUR NEXT LEGIsLATURE.

The new Legislature of our State convenes at
Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 2. II probably con-
tains fewer reelected members than any OF Its
predecessors since IS3S-but eight, we believe
Of the thirty.two Senators having been reeho-
sen. while in the House the proportion OF new
members will be two or three to one.
But the change in the character and caliber
OF the members chosen, if not so general, Is
equally decided. The new Senate is stronger
than the last the Assembly eminently so.
The election to that body Of Judge Selden, Ly
man Tremain, Clark b. Cochrane, AID several
other gentlemen of marked ability and expert
ence herads an era for which We have waited
quite too long. The notion that anybody who
knows enough to go in when it rains will answer
for legislator has been quietly accepted, until sad
experience has exposed its fallacy. This State is
to-day far poorer and more heavily burdened than
she would have been had her legislative halls
annually echoed the speeches OF such men as
Elisha Williams, Daniel Cady, A. c. Flagg,
Erastus Root John C.. Spencer, Samuel Young,
David b. Ogden, Preston King, Luther Bradish,
! Michael Hoffman, George W. Patterson, Rich
ard Hubert, and other legislators Of other days
wrong headed, some of them, doubtless, and
often mistaken; but men whom Corruption
dared never approach, and who were impellcd
by lofty patriotism and profound devotion
TO what they believed the dictates Of integrity
and devotion to the public veal.
We trust that the old days are returning,
and that the Legislature soon to assemble will
afford an earnest Of the fact. We know there
have been legislatures whom no money could
induce to pass good act-much less bad one
whom the most brazen jobber dare not ap-
proach with suggestions affecting the pecunl-
ary interest of members or their friends. Why
should We not look on their like again
True, our current system Of nomination is as
bad as bad well could be. Giving this town its
turn " this year. that one next year-how
could men fit to frame laws be chosen in this
way We must break this up, and adopt some
substitute which will allow the whole people a
voice in the selection Of their law makers; which
is now monopolizcd, in most cases, by a few
working, trafiicking politicians.
Until this is done, we shall often have reason to
blush for the character Of those most naccur-
ately standing forth aS representatives OF the
People.
The next Legislature will be politically one
so than almost any predecessor
The miscalled Democrats have but five Sena-
tors and less than a third of the Assembly.
This throws great responsibility upon the
members chosen by the Union party. The
People are now heavily laden with Debt and
Taxes, and will seem to be still more so when
our Currency shall be so appreciated as to
restore the era Of moderate prices. Yet
schemes specious on their face, but calculated
to swell the public burdens, will be presented
from this side and from that, and pressed TO-
ward consummation by the combined " shrieks
Of locality and promptings of personal interest.
They must be met and defeated. No Public
Works can be wisely or prudently undertaken