Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-23
POLITICAL.
THE EMPIRE CITY OF THE EMPIRE STA

THE EMPIRE Cll1 Of fMi si:tiE is INV
AS STEEL.
Again the Democracy Of the City of New York has
conquered Notwithstanding our want OF organization
and harmony many OF the wards and strange apathy
in others Notwithstanding the fawning sycoPhancy
and hostility of very many of those who have
lived and fa,ened the Democratic party; the peo-
ple-the real hone and sinew Of the City-took the
matter in hand and have elected that STERN honest and
upright Democrat, ROBERT II. MORRIS, to the
Nluyoralty of the City of New York by majority Of
about 400 We are not disappointed at the reduced
majority have received for, notwithstanding the
apparent apathy in both parties, II really did not e1-
list among the Wings. They have here played deep
game-and let it be warning TO the Democracy in
future trust to the seeming snessnesa of that
wily nsdious and corrupt party The vote 1t VIII be
perceived is unusually small. We have clear majo.
ry to-day of 3,0O0 but have slept upon our post
we have allowed the enemy TO steal upon US and al
most defeat in strong hold. Still when we take
into consideration the extreme apathy prevailing in
ranks-he tremendous defeat the Democracy of the
Union have sustained, consider it GREAT AND
GLORIOUS VICTORY, and fully sustains the repu-
ation which great city is justly entitled to.
[.ltc York Era
THE MAYOR ELEcT-.7 Political .horal.-We were
among those who sincerely believed that the conduct
of Recorder Morris in the Gentworlh affair right
and Just We then felt called upon by every conslde
ration connected with the public welfare the purity Of
the elective franchise and the administration Of justice,
70 defend not the merely, but the minister Of the
law and the course which he took that occasion.
Although the madness of the hour probably prevented
our argume nts from having much weight, need not
stop to repeat them now. Our present business is
with subsequent events and the great and satisfactory
political moral which they teach. During the canvass
for Mayor we have most seduousy abstaned from ut.
terng single word which could possibly be tortured
into a leaning in favor of side the other. We
now disclam every shadow Of party feeling in what
we have to say and if did not the contest is over,
and would, of course, be wholly without effect Our
only object is to illustrate principle which will be of
equal value to all politicians, no matter to what party
they belong.
Since the investigation into the election frauds OF
1885 took place before Recorder Norris he has been
assailed with unparalleled bitterness Of denuncation
Up that time he had passed IN society for honest
and respectable man. sound lawyer, and an upright
magistrate. Such was his character as was generally
admitted by men of all parties And even within the
last three days. of the papers that has assaed him
most violently, has admitted that it knew nothing
against his private character The manner in which
he had discharged his duties the bench Recorder
of the city, had elected approbaton-we may safely
say, admiration-from all quarters But the moment
that he laid his hand upon the documentary evidence
of the guilt Of political partisan, that moment he be-
came the target at which the most envenomed arrows
oath, breaker of locks, thief, burglar, who
condemned the laws, and one who it was unsafe to
leave at large, unless all doors well secured
The whole vocabulary of malignant abuse was ex-
hausted upon him. but this did not satisfy the madden
ed vengeance Of party further sacrifice
ry; and without trial he summary removed from
office, covered with indgnities, with taunts and in
suits In the hot haste TO strike down the victim all
the forms prescribed by the Constitution to prevent
party spirit from obtrudng itself within the walls OF
the sacred temple of justice were set at naugh and dis
regarded.
Well, what is the next chapter in this hstory:-Why
this same Robert H. Morris, thus loaded with every vile
epithe thus rudely hurled from office which il was
said he unworthy to fill, Mayor elect of the
city ofN York. The blow which intended to strike
him down has raised him up. Had his assaiants let
him alone he would still have been holding an inferior
station To their hot and furious onsets is he indebted
for his present elevation.
We have thus given brief and simple recital of
facts and what moral may be drawn from them
There is kind of sublimity in the manner in which
the sovereign people punish cases of unjust proscrp
ton. Let politicians of all parties be admonished by
it. Let them learn that before they attempt destroy
man who has served the public faithfully, they must
be able to show clearly that he has been guilty of some
wrong The most that conended for in the Of
Recorder Morris that he had ovestepped the trchn
cal forms OF law. The people generally did not think
so-or they did they at asked themselves what
was his object, and they could only answer-JusrcE
When partzans wish to break down faithful magis.
trate and blast his character they must have stronger
ground than this to stand upon.
This is not for the first instance in which tho ,eone
have evinced their disposition protect those who
have served them well, and have been made the VIC
tins of unjust prescription. When Dewitt Clinton
was turned out of Office Canal Commissioner
purely on party grounds, the people took him up at
once and elected him Governor of the State by nearly
thirty thousand majority When Mr.. Van Buren, was
rejected minister to England, recoect to have
heard ofhs most bitter opponents, Gen. Root,
mark that he deeply regretted the step, for it would
make him Vice President, and eventually President.
The prediction proved to be strictly true. Mr.. Scott
who was removed from the bench of the Marine Court
of this city, was Immediately elected TO the Senate
Several other instances to us, which we might
mention; but it is unnecessary to pursue the subject
In relation 10 the continued attacks upon Mr. Morris