JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. STATE OF NEW YORK. In Senate, March 20, 1850. Whereas, The following amendment to the constitution of this state was, at the last session of the legislature, proposed in the senate, viz: "In case of the impeachment of the governor, or his removal from office, death, inability to discharge the power and duties of said office, resignation or absence from the state, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor, for the residue of the term, or until the disability shall cease, or if there shall be a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor, or if the lieutenant governor be under impeachment, or be absent from the state, or incapable of performing the duties of his office, then the powers and duties of governor shall devolve upon the president of the senate; or if there be no president of the senate at the time, then upon the speaker of the assembly, for the residue of the term of the said governor or until the disability shall cease. But when the governor shall, with the consent of the legislature, be out of the state in time of war, at the head of a military force, he shall continue commander-inchief of all the military force in the state. And, whereas, the said proposed amendment was then agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, and was entered on their journals, with the ayes and nays taken thereon and referred to the legislature then to be chosen" at the next general election of senators. And, whereas, the said proposed amendment has been duly published three months previous to the time of making such choice. Resolved, That the senate do agree to the said proposed amendment. By order, Passed, having received the votes of a majority of all the senators elected to the senate, March 20, 1850. WILLIAM HENRY BOGART, Clerk. STATE OF NEW YORK. In Assembly, March 25, 1850. Resolved, That the assembly concur in the said proposed amendment. By order, Passed, having received the majority of all the members elected to the assembly. JAS. R. ROSE, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS IN RELATION TO THE REDUCTION OF POSTAGE. STATE OF NEW YORK. In Senate, March 20, 1850. Resolved (if the assembly concur), That it be recommended to the senators and representatives of the state of New York, in Congress of the United States, to use their best efforts to procure the passage of a law during the present congress, which shall reduce the postage chargeable on all letters, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, carried in the United States mail, for all distances within the United States, and the territories thereof, to five cents, and for any additional weight, to five cents for each half ounce, or for any fraction less than half an ounce; and in case of prepayment at the post office where such letters are deposited, such postage to be farther reduced to two cents for each half ounce in weight, and to two cents for each additional half ounce and fraction less than half an ounce. Resolved (if the assembly concur), That it is unjust and inexpedient that the expenses of unproductive mail routes, of free letters and documents of dead letters, and the excess of the cost of transporting in the mails, newspapers and pamphlets beyond the postage charged on them, should be borne solely by those who send and receive letters; that such service is for the benefit of the whole people, and its expenses should be defrayed from the common treasury, if the revenues of the post office department, under a reduced rate of postage, should prove insufficient, and that said senators and representatives be requested to use their best efforts for an early removal of this oppressive and unequal tax upon the business and social relations of the people. Resolved (if the assembly concur), That our senators and representatives in congress, be requested to recommend the adoption of a law making newspapers, postage free, in each county where the same are printed. Resolved (if the assembly concur), That the governor be requested to transmit copies of these resolutions to said senators and representatives. By order, WILLIAM HENRY BOGART, Clerk. STATE OF NEW YORK. In Assembly, April 1, 1850. Resolved, That the assembly concur in the passage of the foregoing resolutions. By order, JAS. R. ROSE, Clerk, |