New-York tribune., 1872-10-12
w ATCH THE LEGISLATURE.
PUT NONE BOT HONEST MEN ON GUARD.
An APPEAL FBoM oCoNoR, PECKHAn, AND
I OTHERS.

publo officers previously 70 the last annual election
But The dscovcres recent that sufficient tine
WAS not afforded the full development OF proof and
tho sphero Of crime hastily assumed TO
be In great measure limited to a single dis
trct A few crafty individuals residing In tho
City Of New-York were deemed the euprits. little
fault being imputed to other persons or supposed 70
exist elsewhere As natural consequence, attention
was not drawn tho root OF the existing evil. vir-
tuous enthusiasm your capital city and with
resisess energy demanded reform Great benefits havo
resulted. One fact however almost entirely over
looked that say the necessity OF general move
meu hroup the Stale in favor OF having pure and
enlightened Legislature. with a very ic" honoraDe
exceptions the legislators elected at that time proved 70
be as little worthy Of public confidence az any that hah
ever previously been chosen No beneficial legisatlon
was obtained; all attempts that direction faied Ut
tery aud the accustomed evil usages OF these eV umo'
were all observed.
The press by one inadyertence has largely contributed
toward an existing popular deusion on ths subject In
all comments cn rs shortcomings they were called.
the fawmnkin power Of last Winter was denonlnated
"the Reform l. 81 Iature" This Indicated that the
members general had been cosen on an impulse in
favor OF reform and in rs interests Such was not ths
fact.
There is an evil tendency in such misstatemcnts As
serted by many denied by none they gain general
credit Thus were men led think that n q Reform
Legislature incapable OF good, there can DO no
utility IN striving to choose AT the last election,
he Importance Of the legislative element IN connection
with Reform was not generally felt acted on Even In
the civ OF New York II was not well attended 20 at ali
points Some OF the most noted individuals aimed AT py
the movement would have been strongly opposed had
they been nominated merely for cerkshps or for places
on the police force. The large conception mat aW-mak
Ing in It's sngoness entirety should be purified did
not make its II sufficiently felt in the canvass In Tact
il was not fully developed. The most notorious villain
among tile detected was actually returned 10 seat In
the Senate by enormous majority He had too mncs
sense OF shame TO take his seat, and majority OF his
compeers in that august chamber had too keen reco
Itinn Of their own former carer. ana too acute
OF his cOnse0uent power them TO take Oi
his crimes OF his conumacious absence HIS ses was
moi declared vacant An instance OF even greater de
ngneucy has left It's stigma upon the fame Of the A
sembly The weakness OF . DiuSh dld not tAero e1NO
itseaf 10 mitigate the dark record. -,
We trust you are not prepared to repeat this nesh
The exciting Interests Of Presidential election have
diverted from this subject the attention OF al those per
who in the habit OF leading the escto9i
Unwilling to their place, in any degree While
anything could be expected from ter ACTON, We ha's
iong deferred this appeal. We would not now make II
could hope Tor relief from any quarter agains. ihs
mischief OF corrupt awmaking. Wero it promised by
any existing organizat9n OF could We Tesst Ie
monitor that in this entire default OF an other
pronounccs it moral obligation to act, we would not
iTT Ne W viii % state reason for assuming tins duty
BY somewhat accidental course or events, growing
out of the public excitement In the last Autumn three OF
the undersigned. together with Mr. Eyars were selected
az unofficial aids to the AttOrneg egGeneral in prose
eutons against the peculat0rs In the absence o tns
gentleman named, his law partner ann Ifehd mas Deen
selected by his associates 10 act as his representative
In virtue Of this claim TO be heard we address you
and tender active services as "a cenrat oI gan VI
We to consider ourselves capable O thus serv
ing You in this peculiar "G g S s and oh in
relation TO the prominent candidates LOT niEn oises &
Each Of us has however, entire confidence III the far
ness and good faith OF the others AS an assurance TO
honescontending parsans that our action VIII be gov
erned by no favoritism men, parties special political
ideas we pledge ourselves TO act each ON bis own un
biased Judgment and also that no reserves ehan Oe All
nounced By US. except such as are the result OF an
| unanimous vote.
perutve The surprise of their sudden overthrow last
Autumn struck the official maeiaciors with terror nor
did they their sefpossession. Otherwise
they would have accomplished, during the last session,
much more than tley even yeutured to attempt Iney
ability to control the senate they have formed their
plans for securing yena Assembly; ana unless siren
and concerted opposition shall be made, this base
The statntes which gave the detected swnders their
powers procured from Legislatures In which
their chief sat AS law maker III y conceded by al
that these statutes mainly procured by brbng our
state legislators with moneys rined nom the public
Treasury. The precise Of vote in the horrible
shambes they thus purchased was almost
well known as The prices current OF merchandise; 49,
The legislative department OF commonwealth IL its
motive power It's operation Is Ike that OF he vital cur
rent In strong mans velns-t represents the impulses
OF the sovereign people IL is the will OF the state
corrupt majority in Legislature possesses in actual
practice vastly more power than the En~iish Paria-
berry OF the public treasure the restraints OF our fun
damental law such majority can render practically
powerless the Judiciary aud the Executive. The inu.
Of the latter sngarly narrowed Dy our present
Constitution Fewer votes are required to oNercomes
veto than 10 adopt law on its original passage.
II corrupt men can continue to control our state Leg
islaure, their domination must remain unbred, aud
In an amazingly short space OF time the whole country
may be mortgaged 10 pubic creuitors pretty nearly, II
not quite ITS value for moneys raised on the public
credit by our officials and mainly applied to the uses OF
themselves and their retainers.
The just deduction is clear. Our honest fellowciti
throughout the State ought certainly to lay aside
all interfering interests and affiliations, al businesses
aud excuses" and endeayor the ensuing elections to
secure sound awgyers as the only peaceful remedy for
existing or impending evils
in districts where the Republican party have q de-
cided majority II questionable candidate for Assembly
belonging to that party should be put in nomna
tion the honest Democrats district Should decline
20 nominate any one and acting as a balance power
they should tender their undivided support hon
est Republican candidate These views should ba
applied and acted conversely districts clearly
Democratic. Thus when candidate Of doubtful chaTac-
ter presented, he would generally find respectable
opponent supported by all good men in the district
without regard to any variance in their political sent
ments Public facts afford, to a certain extent, a
venient guide in the choice OF candidates. Having been
in the last Assembly should be regarded ground for
hesitation aud inquiry in regard TO most persons who
may tender themselves as candidates.
daily henceforth until the election. we viii examine
the position Of every candidate for the Assembly
throughout the State, and with all practicable prOmpt
our signatures. Our course viii be as follows:
Where as for instance, in the OF the two
temen now in nomination for Governor, all the candl.
dates for the Assembly in district are morally
ceptionable, we Will make no observation.
2. Where only OF the candidates are objection,
able, will recommend those who are worthy OF sup
port.
3. Where all the candidates in any district objeo-
tonabe will recommend the electors OF district
TO select and bring into the canvass another Candidate
but long a district shall be unprovded with rea
Bile candidate We will continue to urge further selee
ton.
As far as may be possible We will act without party
bias personal favor.
Written communications NAV be addressed 10 Joseph
II. Choate, No. 81 Wall St. New-iork."
All such communications will De regarded as conideR
election day will be destroyed There is sufficient
time suitable opportunity for personal nteryiewso
the reception statements. We must. there
fore, decline them. We advise the honest electors