Year: 1871

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