The New York herald., 1871-01-04
The Governors Mcssagc-The state Leais-
ture.

as those connected with the remodelling of
our city government and the laying out fiat Z
certain disorganizing elements in the ruling
party, which rendered the session Of 1870 re-
markable above all others as battle field OF
shifting scenes, full of excitement and
pregnant with the future interests Of
the metropolis-the message of Cover
nor Hoffman, which we print in full
| to-day, is worthy of much thought and con-
sideration. The Governor, partially ignoring
the past of our local legislation, goes deeply
into the future not only of the State but ofthe
country. He regards the legislation of last year
| as having accomplished so much good for the
State-in the encouragement of special legsla-
| tion, the modification of the excise laws and
the restoration to the people of the great cities
of their municipal rights, including the Charter
for the government of New York, all Of which
have commanded the popular endorsement
that little is left for the present Legislature to
accomplish, and that, therefore, it should not
continue beyond the time absolutely necessary
for the labor required to fill such deficiencies
as may remain from the legislation oflast year,
or such new measures as the progress ofevents
may demand. That the terrible bore and OBJ
struction to business involved in special legis-
lation-which simply means the capital upon
which the disreputable lobby trades and grows
fat-has been in great measure killed Off is
owing to Governor Hoffman's judcious vetoes
of last year. We cannot expect however,
that the lobby, that hungry and greedy excres-
cence, will be deferred by the opposition Of
the Governor from pursuing its occupation.
On the contrary, it will probably endeavor to
revive many of the bills passed last year in
private or corporate interests, with
view to their repeal, unless the parties
interested, and who have been already
bled profusely by the lobbyists, come down
with fresh gratuities The Governor will.
therefore, have an opportunity Of exer-
cising the veto power with the same discretion
and vigor which for the past two years con-
signed to oblivion so much rotten legislation.
But even should it happen that some of his
vetoes shall be overridden, which is the pos
sible fate Of all executive privileges in this
q
chance to expose the corruption of such jobs
as by undue haste or evil influence may find
their way through the Legislature to the Execu-
tive chamber for endorsement. Governor Hoff-
man is remarkable in the exercise Of the veto
power, in this that he dissects the obnoxious
bill with sharp scalpel, and, by giving his
objections in clear, full and logical fashion,
exposes its snormity or its absurdity at once,
SO that, whether the job lives or dies, the
public are put in possession of all its corrup-
ton, and they know where the veto comes in
appropriately.
We do not mean to discuss the Governors
message in detail. There are many points in
it bearing upon the immediate interests Of the
State and of the metropolis which will COM
mand attention. In the laws relating to mur-
der, for instance, he asks for such changes
by the Legislature as will enable juries
to render a verdict of murder in the
second degree, which involves the penalty of
Imprisonment for life, instead of the existing
law, which only leaves them the option of
convicting for manslaughter. The necessity
for such modification of the law is severely
felt in this community, in view of the increase
of homicides in our midst. Upon the question
of rapid transit between the two ends of Man
haitian Island the Governor favors the HERALD
plan Of an elevated railroad, built through the
rear Of the blocks, and thus avoiding the dis
igurement Of the streets and the obstruction
of travel on the crowded highways. This
is the most available way of obtaining
an easy and speedy transit to the upper end
of the city, and we are glad that the Governor
recommends it in preference to the impracti-
cable schemes of underground and arcade and
surface railroads, all Of which will of
course be up in due order again this session.
to meet with the same fate that awaited them
last year.
The Governor, evidently regarding the
affairs Of the State to be in pretty flourishing
condition, and seeing that they arein the hands
of the democratic party, with majority in
the Legislature just sufficient to make straight
the path for the democratic leaders, devotes
the most serious portion of his message to
the affairs Of the federal government and
the general interests of the nation. Herein
he looks into the future, beginning with a
squint at the Presidential democratic prospects
for 1872. The course of the administration is
subjected to severe criticism. Its financial
policy is denounced as system designed for
the benefit Of the few at the expense of the
many. The Governor undertakes to lecture
Secretary Boutwell, and to point out to him the
way which the democratic party mean to
pursue when they get into power in order to
relieve the country from all its monetary diff
culties, including the payment of the public
debt by slow degrees instead of the present
mode Of rapid reduction of the debt, and the
consequent increase Of the heavy burden of