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north america-1-第79章
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executive power; Article IV。; is to be vested in a Governor and a Lieutenant…Governor; both of whom shall be chosen for two years。 The Governor must be a citizen of the United States; must be thirty years of age; and have lived for the last four years in the State。 He is to be commander…in…chief of the military and naval forces of the State; as is the President of those of the Union。 I see that this is also the case in inland States; which one would say can have no navies。 And with reference to some States it is enacted that the Governor is commander…in…chief of the army; navy; and militia; showing that some army over and beyond the militia may be kept by the State。 In Tennessee; which is an inland State; it is enacted that the Governor shall be 〃commander…in…chief of the army and navy of this State; and of the militia; except when they shall be called into the service of the United States。〃 In Ohio the same is the case; except that there is no mention of militia。 In New York there is no proviso with reference to the service of the United States。 I mention this as it bears with some strength on the question of the right of secession; and indicates the jealousy of the individual States with reference to the Federal government。 The Governor can convene extra sessions of one House or of both。 He makes a message to the legislature when it meetsa sort of Queen's speech; and he receives for his services a compensation to be established by law。 In New York this amounts to 800l。 a year。 In some States this is as low as 200l。 and 300l。 In Virginia it is 1000l。 In California; 1200l。 The Governor can pardon; except in cases of treason。 He has also a veto upon all bills sent up by the legislature。 If he exercise this veto he returns the bill to the legislature with his reasons for so doing。 If the bill on reconsideration by the Houses be again passed by a majority of two…thirds in each house; it becomes law in spite of the Governor's veto。 The veto of the President at Washington is of the same nature。 Such are the powers of the Governor。 But though they are very full; the Governor of each State does not practically exercise any great political power; nor is he; even politically; a great man。 You might live in a State during the whole term of his government and hardly hear of him。 There is vested in him by the language of the constitution a much wider power than that intrusted to the governor of our colonies。 But in our colonies everybody talks; and thinks; and knows about the governor。 As far as the limits of the colony the governor is a great man。 But this is not the case with reference to the governors in the different States。 The next article provides that the Governor's ministers; viz; the Secretary of State; the Controller; Treasurer; and Attorney… General; shall be chosen every two years at a general election。 In this respect the State constitution differs from that of the national constitution。 The President at Washington names his own ministerssubject to the approbation of the Senate。 He makes many other appointments with the same limitation; and the Senate; I believe; is not slow to interfere; but with reference to the ministers it is understood that the names sent in by the President shall stand。 Of the Secretary of State; Controller; etc。; belonging to the different States; and who are elected by the people; in a general way; one never hears。 No doubt they attend their offices and take their pay; but they are not political personages。 The next article; No。 VI。; refers to the judiciary; and is very complicated。 As I cannot understand it; I will not attempt to explain it。 Moreover; it is not within the scope of my ambition to convey here all the details of the State constitution。 In Sec。 20 of this article it is provided that no judicial officer; except justices of the peace; shall receive to his own use any fees or perquisites of office。〃 How pleasantly this enactment must sound in the ears of the justices of the peace! Article VII。 refers to fiscal matters; and is more especially interesting as showing how greatly the State of New York has depended on its canals for its wealth。 These canals are the property of the State; and by this article it seems to be provided that they shall not only maintain themselves; but maintain to a considerable extent the State expenditure also; and stand in lieu of taxation。 It is provided; Section 6 that the 〃legislature shall not sell; lease; or otherwise dispose of any of the canals of the State; but that they shall remain the property of the State; and under its management forever。〃 But in spite of its canals the State does not seem to be doing very well; for I see that; in 1860; its income was 4;780;000 dollars; and its expenditure 5;100;000; whereas its debt was 32;500;000 dollars。 Of all the States; Pennsylvania is the most indebted; Virginia the second; and New York the third。 New Hampshire; Connecticut; Vermont; Delaware; and Texas owe no State debts。 All the other State ships have taken in ballast。 The militia is supposed to consist of all men capable of bearing arms; under forty…five years of age。 But no one need be enrolled; who from scruples of conscience is averse to bearing arms。 At the present moment such scruples do not seem to be very general。 Then follows; in Article XI。; a detailed enactment as to the choosing of militia officers。 It may be perhaps sufficient to say that the privates are to choose the captains and the subalterns; the captains and subalterns are to choose the field officers; and the field officers the brigadier…generals and inspectors of brigade。 The Governor; however; with the consent of the Senate; shall nominate all major…generals。 Now that real soldiers have unfortunately become necessary; the above plan has not been found to work well。 Such is the constitution of the State of New York; which has been intended to work and does work quite separately from that of the United States。 It will be seen that the purport has been to make it as widely democratic as possibleto provide that all power of all description shall come directly from the people; and that such power shall return to the people at short intervals。 The Senate and the Governor each remain for two years; but not for the same two years。 If a new Senate commence its work in 1861; a new Governor will come in in 1862。 But; nevertheless; there is in the form of government as thus established an absence of that close and immediate responsibility which attends our ministers。 When a man has been voted in; it seems that responsibility is over for the period of the required service。 He has been chosen; and the country which has chosen him is to trust that he will do his best。 I do not know that this matters much with reference to the legislature or governments of the different States; for their State legislatures and governments are but puny powers; but in the legislature and government at Washington it does matter very much。 But I shall have another opportunity of speaking on that subject。 Nothing has struck me so much in America as the fact that these State legislatures are puny powers。 The absence of any tidings whatever of their doings across the water is a proof o
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