Year: 1869

| othpr
whether faithful Inefficient prudent OF onpressiye


corrupt in expenditure pst or arbitrary yi n bPen AZ


thew are apt to believe their party VIII Susain 'ne 10


nerence proves that such officials imposed for par
,,s objects 10 usIirp power for the minority cohsler
% harsh and imperious disregard Of the rights OF the
majority is likely 10 commend tnein 10 lnoso in %


& feeling on the part the superior officers soon IN.
fuses itself among the subOrdinaes The result Is ne
rshor than temperate responsible exercise OF a


thoy. II this were otherwise ana the people weie ery
dollar paid for taxation would draw win ~ atieJ III


responsibility and every 1eef @ ~oS So pertv could long
maintain local ascendency wmch ana not honlnh.o IN e
Tor TGe Gr and Ga a0nirn ho Of T sTs Consistent With
These considerations are applicable not alone to tho
cities Of NewYok and BROOKLYN but to all other citeS
in state which have been brought uhoer the opera


deem my duty in this my first annual message to
give decided expression TO opinion that no good GOV
have one responsible head in whom shall be vested all
executive power and to whom, as me elected repre- pb
executive duties, shall be directly and summariy re-
| sponsibe and accountable. .,,


H. with this the fundamental idea plan shall DO
devised which wlgye to the political minority within
city just in it's councils. we shall doubt


less secure better results IN mnneipai So'ernnon' 'na
| have ever before been obtained.


Respectfully call the attention OF the Legisature 10
another subject in which the people OF the CITY OF New
| York have and feel deep interest The commercial
needs Of the metropolis demand that there should 10
wbarves and piers They should be constructed aer he





| during. The work should be commenced as soon as
possible. ,.., -,


tance The city well afford TO pay whatever may DC
necessary TO perfect the work when completed II would
Yield revenue suicient to pay the the
pendture and to create sinking fund for the SPEEDY
II is necessary that should commit myself to any
particular form OF legislation for the accomplishment OF
Of suggestion that if should be deemed impossible to
mature plan during the present session he ay0r OarS
with authority TO examine the whole subject and to re-
port to the next Legislature for ITS consideration plan
of the proposed work, with estimate OF Its probable
and such suggestions with reference thereto as they
may deem proper.


The Excise law which is in force throughout the Metro
pCan J ny IN the Spa{ f M
operaton violates principles involving rights OF indlyd
created by the Legislature, and deriving OF its
thorty from the people of the District, extra
%y Judgment many harsh and unwise provisions
II the objects OF its enact ment were to dimn-
Consumption OF Intoxicating liquors. these objects have
not attained. AT the same time, this law has been
temperate manner, and in a spirit which has created
great dissatisfaction even among many who were It's
that they are oppressed by It's oncrous exaotons
and requirements. No deplores more than
do tho evils OF intemperanee; but they are
not local. and not confined 70 any section or or
district and II they be checked or modified by
legislation the remedy can only be secured Dy Inc @
one OF
Judgment why the whole any portion OF the Metro
poltan District should be subjected to an excise law


@ S. .hSa bSat aBSa B Snya S IN %
should have for their object not the enforcement OF ea
good habits and the preservation Of public order The
present law ueedessy violates private rights IL pro
vokes hostility because 1t does so and because IL Is ad
ministered harshly by partisan officers therefore
recommend its repeal so that we may have put one law
for the whole be administered, whether In coun
ties or In cities, by the legally constituted local author


thereof by officers 10 be appointed BY them such


law would command universal respocs ana Beneral
obedience - |


Every means should adopted by which the electors
may have secured to them freedom from Intimidation or
corrupt Influences the exercise OF the elective franchise


the highest privilege OF citizen. IL cannot be denied
that wealth y It's lavish expenditure TO control elections
il fast becoming more Influential than abilities and public
service 10 obtain political power and official station 1t
IL not unusual TO hear the claims OF pnDc men asserted
in proportion the pecuniary contributions which they
make TO party funds In amounts which obviously cannot
be required used for the legitimate purposes OF an
nominations important Offices sought by and given
70 Of S SS %s m order el @ Gl BE-
accomplish success. The dangers arising ana TO be


Officials taught that money. however acquired. is the
passport Office aud authority electors are corrupted
and their corrupt tending 10 the ubverson OF the
rights and liberties OF the people and the destruction
Of the principles OF Government AS one result OF
this growing tendency OF moneyed Influences 10 assert an
eIelusyeness o esss ana superior n se
control In regard TO suffrage. large communities
by special applicable To other parts OF the state
Before all equal and never more so than
when in the Of their ght duty Of voting
20 sustain principles and to elect their representatives


Laws provide regulations and restrictions in regard to
elections should apply to all citizens and TO all sections
alike The preserve the purity Of the balotbox
and 10 prevent the corrupt OF money An elections
should be general stringent, and vigorously enforced La
my Judgment there should be one registry law for the
whole state imposing equal conditions and restrictions
every and should be the aim thereof to secure to
every citizen his right Of suffrage free from intimidation,
corruption, exactons; while the corrupt use
OF money elections should be severely punished and
guaranty established by which illegal voting may
be prevented.


In this connection It may not be improper to aude to
the fact there manifest disposition in
control and regulation suffrage all the States This
Is another step in the direction OF centralized power In
which would enable dangerous aud INSCRIPTIONS men.
who might obtain possession OF the National
the people II is certain that purity OF elections In
States cannot be secured e the direction or
be purity In the General Government unless 1t
of s1 en- the
Of Congress- in this matter They expressly guarded


BY the Federal Constitution "the times, places and
Of holding elections for Senators aud Represen.
Legislature thereof but provided that Congress may
any make or alter such regulations except TO
the paces'o choosing Senators THIS authority TO pre-
scribe regulations as TO the Time places and mannes
Of holding elections was contested at the adoption OF the
which might be exercised defeat the just rights
OF the States to Ss1 Iss S Ss and pob
ably never would be, employed except when the states
ns %sht pf.Rs and then only for national self
preseryaton But tho question Of suffrage was wisely |
put beyond the control OF Congress and 1t was provided
that "the electors each State shall have the quaca
ton requisite electors OF the most numerous branch
OF the State Legislature This settlement OF the right OF
suffrage was regarded as fundamental article OF re-
publican government The question OF suffrage Is thus
withdrawn from the caprciousor dangerous inter
ference OF Congress II is not left TO legislative discretion
In the States but Ied by the State Constitutions and
here think every rejecting mind will conclude that II |
may DO wisely aud safely left.


NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP.
There s also disposition manifested To place obstacles
I'm tho way OF the naturalization OF citizens While In the