New-York tribune., 1867-06-27
THE CONVENTION.


presented no less than hIyseven petitions upon this
subject nine OF which FROM Utica eight from New
York City aud the remainder from different parts of the
State.
Mr. stratton of NewYOrk tbe only Republican district
delegate elected from the city, presented memorial
from one OF his constituents, MI IL b. Wilson Of No 7
Nassau-st, which in view Of the peculiar and startling
nature OF the communication he desired might be read
for the benefit Of the Convention Intellectual attempts
made during the progress of the reading suspend
its further reading and lay il upon the table but in spite
Of its length the members persisted in hearing it TO the
close lnasmuch as resolution was before the House
asking for special Committee upon Legislative
ruptIOn, Mr. StIatton desired that the communication
might lie upon the table for the present and II thus
disposed or The communication might well he called
peculiar and startling for i went into the question OF
legislative corruption and offered responsible testimony
when needed Mr. Wilson states that his knowledge had
been acquired during four sessions spent at Albany in
construction Of tunnel railway in the City OF NewYork
Official report had published its extent, the mode
by which IL is conducted Corruption was not
confined TO limited number Of unprinciped pol
tcians but the evil had included large majority Of the
Legislatures. THE NEw-YoRK tribune asserted during
the lat sitting Of that body that of the 100 members IN
the branches 11S known 10 receive brbes from
party requiring their vote. This statement fell he
low the mark There are nearly that number in one
branch alone. Many took pay from both sides when
there were competing interests thus adding to their
niamy. The more mer1torious the measure, the more
CxOrbtant the demands made on its promoters. Nothing
IN the annals of history equals the corruption
not the result Of day or year. bnt
the growth OF time, and the result
bad system. They call for change in the fundamental
lay Of the state Members Justify 1t by their starvation %
during the Their term of Office, they say. is too
short warrant the expenses OF election. Members
lies respectfully the capital somc proposed
the evil by increasing the members Of the Legislature.
But diluOn would not this evil. Individual mem
bers would perhaps sell cheaper, but the aggrc-
gate cost Of legislation to the public would be
Increased An Increase Of tenure OF office would make
the people more crcunspect in their CHOICE while an IN
crease of members would have contrary effect The
usually superior To the Asseubymen. Hence
he nfers that longer terms Will lead TO valuable results
The aim of the Convention should be to the temp
ation of the Legislature to do wrong While people are
ready to buy votes, members Will sell. In ad-
dltion to the increase, of pay, we need code
Of subjects. a comprehensive law for the organization
as the English Joint stock Co.'S act copy of which is
ncoseG would lessen the temptation to bribery and
eye the Legislature Of half its abors. Private legsa-
ton should in fact be as far possible avoided What is
proper for individuals alone combined to have OF do,
should lie provided by comprehensive general laws When
be OnpOrtaDce they will cease 10 be bought
and there will be motives for ayes TO combine either
money Everybody who knows anythingAof the broker
age Of votes at Albany, knows can be carried on win
mprnity Neither party VIII Inform. member sells
his vote, goes To an opposing party who Is willing TO pay
much more, after he has given his vote The bar
gain is made ana the last dealer gets te NOc ana paws
the price. A number of such cases bad been brought
under his notice at the last session .and member
boed how he had got paid for an old score by this pro
The number OF members in the Assembly Is large
enough the work to be performed. larger number
would impair the efficiency OF the body. The Senate
might with advantage, DC doubled His suggestions are;
l..
Legislature Provide for the passage Of more compe-
laws TO meet the wants OF corporations. or indi
S"'' and prSesa Sfsss BSnSlc the tenn % of ser
vice. g. Increase the number ot Senators.
evils rcmcdied and specific laws against bribery
Will not do IT, lie closes his lengthy communication by
marty IN Albany prepared TO defeat any such amend
ens This he cannot believe 10 be true of the Con' en-
tlOn. The above is full summary OF this remarkable
document which although conveying no news, certainly
created great sensation today.
The President presented replies from Thomas C. Acton,
President OF the metropolitan Board OF Police. In regard
TO copies OF their report and from the Secretary Of state
in rdSeTsd S ns Oh tue S" VINO" were ~
M Gcfy of NewYork called mp his resolution inquir
Legislature affecting the city Of NewYOrk. Mr. MELON
H & ppg M M az erg d he 6d no eon & eS II o tho S
his object 10 show the Conyenion at glance the in
tercss that center in New-Hork CITY MT kFum moved
10 the bills affecting corporatons The amendment
Mr. Opdyke called up his resolution asking for the ap
pointment special committee OF hye upon " "oihcia
SIR Beckwith Of Clinton called ub his resolution OF In
the condition of the Champlan Canal
Mr. Miller of Delaware said: The gentleman from West
chester ir Greeley had brought ont some important
lie did not get the information that he wanted,
and perhaps he coma ,bS rot m&S IN nt nf
had been brought out to startle them, and
He did not know whether this was proper or not but he
was favor Of piercing this Canal Department III every
way possible. There much Ignorance on this subject
and was not confined to this Convention alone lie had
read an account OF n meeting in Troy, where serious
charges were made with reference the Champlaln
Canal. but no one seemed TO know where the
troui;le lay The President said It was not
his fault the superintendent said IL not his fault,
and other officers said the Several might be cen
sured but Of censurng men In the gross
We must have responsible head we have none now
there one 10 blame He would suggest 70 the Coln
mltee Canals that this should be attended TO- Inc
first business OF the committee should be 10 PROVIDE
remedy for this evil 10y providing some mead upon Whom
Bcckwh which calls upon the Auditor for Information
was then adopted. . .,,,,,,
day is fast approaching and as most or the members de-
sired TO keep IN some forln ana az Their duties were
growing more ese, nc I'M ee,onirt i of du,ie ne rped
10 introduce resolution providing Tor an open session
which would give the committees an olp1tIun,y 1 I3r
daily work In the interim Mr. Greeley SAID the only OBJ
lection he had this resolution was. that the Committee
wold not meet during that time This resolution giving
lise to debate. IL laid over under the rule
Mr. Pond OF Saratoga called up the resolution intro
dced by him carly the session. asking for the appoint
mcnt of Committee Of Ave. TO consider the expedency
was introduced by himself with reference to the contin-
gency contemplated by the act under which they were
where The time contemplated by the act had evidently
arrived or would be reached when this body met
and comfort Of the Convention would be promoted by
holding the session in some place other than Albany.
table which was lost by count of 40 Yeas to 20 Nays.
Mr. Bckford Of jefferson thought this matter should
NOT he taken consideration for moment There was
no t place for the Convention 20 meet In at Saratoga
there was no sickness nothing ke an epdeml; IN Al
lin of New-York here moved amendment that the
words "or the City OF New-York" be inserted
in the resolution after the word Saratoga The
amendment was adopted by count OF 80 Yeas.
Mr. sylvester of Columbia offered, by way OF amend
inent proposition that the Convention should adjourn
from Saratoga after two weeks stay 10 Niagara
adiournlng after two weeks 10 Lebanon Springs Not
wthstandng its favorable promise OF health and enter
tainment TO the members IT was voted down without
debate IL was evident that Saratoga had strong party
presrnt led by many prominent New-Yorkers OF both
parties and they not 10 he diverted from the main
issue. =, o,,,, -,
MIR Pond OF Saratoga, in reply 70 Mr. Bickford said
Although there sickness here now, 1t would be
well to direct the Committee 10 inquire when meeting
can be held and have the inquiry made before sickness
cnrnns Merritt of 81. LAMrenCe moved the lndel