mittees as the representatives of their respective parties, and finally a declaration of principles, drawn by the equal rights men, was formally adopted by the general committee of Tammany Hall, and the union was effected in October, 1837.

A correspondent possessing a highly enlightened and philosophic mind, after speaking of the loco-foco party, adds "The workingmen's party and the equal rights party have operated as causes producing effects that will shape the course of the two great parties of the United States, and consequently the destinies of this great republic. The mere party politician cannot see this; but to him who discerns the philosophy of historical events, it will be of deep interest."

CHAPTER XLII.

FROM JANUARY 1, 1839, TO DECEMBER, 1840.

The legislature assembled on the 1st day of January, 1839.

George W. Patterson, of Livingston county, was chosen speaker. He received seventy-nine votes and was elected; forty-one votes were given to Thomas Armstrong, the democratic candidate, and one vote was given to James A. Lawrence, of Onondaga, probably by Mr. Patterson. I cannot name Mr. Lawrence without stopping to add, even in this brief sketch, that he was one of the most candid, upright and useful members of that house.

The governor's message, though obnoxious to the complaint I have so often made in relation to similar communications, in being too long, was an able document, and written in an easy and elegant style. In the first part of it he made several insinuations against the party which lately had had possession of the state government, and indeed in various other parts are to be found pretty severe reflections upon their policy. He intimates an opinion that too much power and patronage, and too great a latitude of discretion had been conferred on the canal commissioners. On that subject he makes the following judicious remarks:

"With the extention of our internal improvements, there has been an immense and unlooked for enlargement of the financial operations and the official power and patronage of the canal commissioners and the canal board. These operations are conducted, and this power and patronage exercised and dispensed with few of those requirements as to accountability and publicity enforced with scrupulous

care in every other department of the government. So inconsistent and unequal are the best efforts to maintain simplicity, uniformity and accountability throughout the various departments, that a great, mysterious and undefined power has thus grown up unobserved, while the public attention has exhausted itself in narrowly watching the action of more unimportant functionaries. It is a proposition worthy of consideration, whether greater economy and efficiency in the management of our present public works, would not be secured; a wiser direction given to efforts for internal improvement throughout the state, and a more equal diffusion of its advantages be effected by constituting a board of internal improvements, to consist of one member from each senate district. This board might be divided into two classes, the term of one of which should expire annually. It should discharge all the duties of the present canal board; should audit all accounts, have the general superintendence of the canals, and all other public works, with powers of investigation in regard to those in which the state has an interest by loan or otherwise; report upon all special applications for surveys, or aid, and annually submit a detailed statement of its proceedings to the legislature. It is the worst economy to devolve upon officers constituted for one department, duties appurtenant to others. Its universal results are diminished responsibility and diminished efficiency in both the principal and incidental departments."

On the subject of the lunatic asylum, then being constructed, the governor expresses his sentiments in a manner very impressive. He says, " Among all His blessings, none calls so loudly for gratitude to God as the preservation of our reason. Of all the inequalities in the social condition, there is none so affecting as its privation. He sees fit to cast upon our benevolent care those whom he visits with that fearful affliction. It would be alike un

feeling and ungrateful to withhold it. Let then this noble charity be carried forward."

He recommends important reforms in our judiciary establishment. He speaks in terms of high commendation of the system of free banking. He disapproves of taxation for the purpose of internal improvement, but he recommends the speedy enlargement of the Erie canal, and suggests various other improvements by roads and canals. He proposes three great lines of railroad through the state, a northern, middle and southern, and he, in substance, endorses the report of Mr. Ruggles to the assembly in the session of 1838, in respect to the finances of the state, and its true policy in relation to the construction of railroads and canals. In allusion to the past achievements of the state, he makes the following just remarks; and every New-Yorker must feel a laudable state pride, because they are just:

"History furnishes no parallel to the financial achievements of this state. It surrendered its share in the national domain, and relinquished for the general welfare all the revenues of its foreign commerce, equal generally to two-thirds of the entire expenditure of the federal government. It has nevertheless sustained the expenses of its own administration, founded and endowed a broad system of education, charitable institutions for every class of the unfortunate, and a penitentiary establishment which is adopted as a model by civilized nations. It has increased four-fold the wealth of its citizens, and relieved them from direct taxation; and in addition to all this has carried forward a stupendous enterprise of improvement, all the while diminishing its debt, magnifying its credit, and augmenting its resources."

He adds, with great propriety, and what ought never to be forgotten, that:

"This cheering view of our condition ought to encourage neither prodigality of expenditure nor legislation of doubtful expediency. All appropriations for purposes of internal improvement ought to be made with a view and constant purpose to call into co-operation individual capital and enterprise. Rigid economy ought to be enforced, and perfect accountability exacted, in this as in every other department of the public service."

The governor closes his message with the following very handsome tribute of respect to the merits of the late Gov. Clinton:

"It is now eleven years since this state was suddenly called to mourn the death of a citizen, who illustrated her history by a life of eminent public usefulness. His death happened in the maturity of his manhood, and while yet the wisdom of his policy and the purity of his motives were loudly questioned. Experience has, more rapidly than the almost inspired enthusiasm of his genius anticipated, sanctioned the one, and posterity has made extraordinary haste to vindicate the other. His remains still rest in that vault of a private friend which hospitably received them as a sacred trust, until an auspicious period for more fitting public obsequies should arrive. He is understood to have left to his children no inheritance but what they enjoy in common with all their fellow-citizenshis fame and abounding public prosperity. The custom of honoring the dead commends itself to the natural sentiments of mankind; and although in ignorant and depraved countries it has been abused by the erection of pyramids, and temples, and tombs, to preserve the ashes of tyrants, it cannot, among an enlightened people, be otherwise than right and expedient to perpetuate the memory of public benefactors, and thus stimulate and encourage emulation of their deeds. Our state early followed the good example, by providing a tomb for the