New-York tribune., 1869-04-12

(Chenhngo. Delaware and SchoharieJ HUMPiRkf, hle'
gany. Livingston and WyomngJ hATToos, tOswego ana
MadisonJ Norris (Chautauquaand Cattaraugnsl NfcKs,
(Chemung Schuyler and steubenJ Norton. CiyJ Fice,
tKingsJ T,seed, city, VAN PErTES tHerkimer and OF
segoJ and WILLIAMS (Cayuga and Wayne)-fs % Repub-
llcanA, II DemocratsJ
Absent-Messrs. HALE, Essex. &C., aud STANFORD,
schenectady, &cl-3 both Republicans
(R.pubiesas Ia isILL oirrriL,
We shall not insult the understandings of
our readers by any attempt TO elucidate this
vote SO long ago rs 1860, Gov. Morgan, in
his first Message, and again In his Veto Of
certain City Railroad bills, laid down the just
and Obvious principle that, if the streets OF our
| City, on which millions of the taxpayers
money has been expended to level and smooth
them, arc to be in part surrendered to com
panies to be used for their special omolument,
then the fair value Of the privileges so con-
ceded should be paid by the grantees into the
City Treasury. Gov. Seymour succeeded Gov.
Morgan, and also refused his assent to City
Railroad lin Broadway, for substantially iden-
tical reasons. Gov. Fenton succeeded Gov.
Seymour and maintained throughout like
position. Cows. Morgan and Fenton were re-
elected by increased majOrities, largely because
of their firm stand on this Railroad question.
Gov. Seymour was not reelected, but he was
rcnominated and sustained by the full strength
of his party no man venturing to object to
his action on City Railroads. IL ever public
sentiment was unanimous on any question, 1t
is in demanding that franchise so enormously
profitable as this is sure to be should be
granted on such terms that the profit shall
enure to public rather than to private benefit.
Yet We presume this bill is bound to pass.
1t will be vetoed, Of course but the engineers
have doubtless provided against that coDtin-
gency, and know just whence they are TO OBJ
tain the needed votes to override the veto.
Some can be hired to stay away who might
not venture to vote squarely Yea thus, by
hook or by crook, the bill is to be clothed with
the forms Of law, and the swag divided among
those who have concocted the conspiracy and
their hired abettou. Some OF them know right
we'll that all tho money they can ever earn by
legislative votes must be bagged within the
next fortnight, and will make all possible hay
during that feeting CLEAN of sunshine. .l
But we have small account to settle with
Messrs. Hale, Thayer and Edwards, ,whoform the
Senate's Corruption Investigating Committee
These gentlemen took occasion to lecture us
for our structures on the gigantic corruptions
of last Winter, and TO intimate that journalists
ought not to charge legislative corruption un-
less they are prepared to Offer Judicial evidence
that A. b. paid over 80 much cash to c. ID. for
his vote on q certain bill. This IL i'm effect to
say that the press should be silent with regard
to Legislative Corruption for 1t is rarely that
such evidence can be given Bribery, like
lewdness, shuns publicity, and is only to be
seen in its effects. We tell Messrs. Hale g.
Co. that not only has this Broadway Railroad
bill been corruptly pushed nearly through the
Senate, but that they know IL as well as
we do. We have seen no money paid
in the premises, nor have they yet we
could have named beforehand, and so could
they, at least two-thirds of the Republican
Senators whose votes would be obtained
for this measure, as we'll as of those whose
votes could not be had for it at any price
There is such thing as moral eyidence and
Messrs. Hale g. Co. have not been Senators
These two years without learning very much rs
to tlre characters and controlling impulses Of
their daily associates. They know how this
bill has bt4n driven 80 far and how 1t will be
forced through, and what is tho inducement
for the passage Of several bills equally afro
cious through the Assembly last week. They
know that men yote1 for their anti Corruption
bill LOST week whom tat bill, fairly executed,
would long since have Consigned to o State
Prison had 1t been passed two years since and
had It's enforcement been practicable. We do
not object to their bill; We only Insist that 1t
| VIII provo inoporative unless based uboa and