The New York herald., 1870-01-05
ASSEMBLY.
Jan. 4, 1870.

ALBANY, Jan. 4, 1870.
TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF OFFICERS.
The House Of Assembly was called to order ut
ten O'Clock A. NJ, by Mr.. c. +. Undernin clerk of
the last house. Prayer was offered by Rev. NJ.
BridgmAn. The oath Of ONCE was then admits
tered 70 the members by the Secretary OF State. on
motion of MI MOsEBY, Of Kings the House pro-
ceeded to the election of officers. The democrats
voted for their caucus nominees and the republicans
theirs. The following officers, all democrats were
elected
Speaker-Wiilam Hitchman, Of New York.
Clerk-C0rnelius W. Armstrong, OF Albany.
Sergeant at Arms-J. @. Rhodes. OF Onondaga
Assistant-Myron J. Hubbard, Of Otsego.
Doorkeeper-J. q. Pierce, Of Wyoming.
SPEECH OF SPEAKER HlTcR1AN.
MI. HTrcHMAN, On taking the speakers chair, al.
dressed the House as 1oIows:-
GENTLEMEN OF THE AssEhBLy-l accept the trust
you have reposed in me by electing as your pre-.
siding officer, and shall discharge the duty that
trust Imposes lmparttaIly and u the best OF my
ability. Having been honored with the like conf
dence on former occasion, realize more fully
from the experience thus acquired our mutual de-
pendence on each other for the proper discharge OF
our duties. From me You have right TO expect a
me- aud thorough understsnding @ and inst ad.
mlnisration OF the rules which you shall adopt aud
Which parliamentary usage has established for the
Orderly discharge OF the business which Will come
before this house. These rules are designed for the
projection OF the rights OF the minority OF your
majority IL will be my effort TO enforce these rules
intelllgenty and justly. From you shall none TO
Of these delicate and responsible duties. Co
operating, as feel we shall, have no
apprenenslons but tnat our session win be
marked by harmony, conscientious fidelity, and the
hnal approval OF our constituents IN the work 1t
Will be our duty. in part, to perfect. II has been
customary for the presiding oficer OF this body on
assuming the chair to refer TO some OF the general
questions which VIII be presented for legislative
M consiaeTa.on. io come practically 10 these ques-
af
tional privilege through the election at which we
were chosen have overthrown the party which was
IN the majority In the Legislature year ago. BY
their ac5s they have been judged and condemned,
and so in turn the dominant party OF to-day viii
compelled to surrender power their acts sha, not
meet public approval. The people VIII expect at
prudent and economical administration OF that
part OF the government OF the State committed to
our care. Among The questions which viii be pre-
Sented for our consideration Will be measures ior the
Improvement OI tue pubic works OF the State-and
for cheapenlng their use so THAT the internal
mcrce OF the state shall be fostered and the public
welfare promoted; the restoration OF the right Of
aelf-government to municipalities the Adoption OF
uniform election and excise laws, the more strin-
gent guarding OF the ballot box rom abuse. and the
repeal OF oppressive laws on the laborng men Of
the state. 1t WIN be our duty 10 carefully examine
all bits approprlasing tue public money and to
avoid SPECIAL Legislation when general laws operating
equally for all viii be found adequate. We should
lie trust to be exercised solely on pub
lie grounds, and thar finally the people, in
Tile baXdClOu WHICH bucy Will De COmpelIcu meet,
should nnd no evidence Of waste or extravaganza
On onr pars adding 10 their already heavy burdens.
But all these matters VIII necessarily be more
fnlly and appropriately presented In the mes
sage or his Excelency the Governor. In addition
to Inc measures OF purely State concern which we
VIII be called upon to consider, there are national
questions Of grave importance which we viii be
compelled TO meet. While we IND the general gov
ernnent snrrendering she rights and dignity OF The
republic on ali questions with foreign governments
Withdrawing iJs demands at menace from Span.
and susDcndtng It's negotiations with Great Britain
pyfli n AQfg lny hal hp q ,l3atd
temper; ana rhe national finances arc regulated
on system of daily shifting expedience without
plan, parnanency or principle Congress Is dev0tng
itself to systematic usurpatfons by which the con.
stitutiOna character OF our government Is 10 be
formed the Union predicted that the greatest danger
was to he apprehended from Congress which, by
assembling ALI the powers or the government in the
same hands musC lead to the same tyranny as that
threatened from the usurpaton OF a monarchy.
1hcir reliance for comp etc security against the In
yason or public liberty BY national authority was In
the state governments and the preservation III the
States OF the powers established Tor their protection.
One OF the most distinguished Of these great men
remarked shortly afIer the adoption OF the conslitu-
t,on:-"ProJects Of usurpat0n cannot be masked
under pretences so likely TO escape the penetration
of select bouies Of men as or the people az large.
The Legislatures will have better means OF informa-
ton they can discover the danger at distance, and,
possessing the power and confidence OF the people,
they can at once adopt regular plan OF opposition,
IN which they can combine oil the resources Of the
ssch oher in hty deren1 sa:es and n,s iner conn conn
mon forces for the protection OF their common
liberty" The controlling political party OF. this
State ls devoted TO tue Union anu the con-
stiniion. which guides ana guards that Union
aud guarantees the liberties OF the people,
They recognize and mean TO i've up TO all the dnties
winch the war for national preservation created.
The debt incurred for that war rhey regard as q
sacred trust, to lie paid principal and interest, to
the last farthing. The en'ranchsemens or an en-
shaved race, which resulted from that struggle, they
not only accept put they recognize the obligation OF
elevatng and advancing that race 10 the highest
condition OF which 1t IN capable and they look
the perpetnly Of constitutional Union thus saved
the common glory Of the whole people. But they
ask that wnen war mas ceased peace shall resume
Its sway. The safety OF rhe government being
secured they ask that the consequence