The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-21

Order il Heavens first law.-Peps
Experience has shown that every well regulated
community must be governed by laws for the main
tenance Of justice, the preservation Of order and
the detection and prevention of crime. When 4
small number OF persons are associated together
constituting village or hamlet, the fact that every
iahabitant is known, that his pursuits and occups-
tions are watched and commented upon, is in it,ef
sufficient safeguard in most instances against the
commission of any serious offence upon society;
but where large masses drawn together, there il
an inherent tendency in the present state of our ma
ture for the evil disposed to infringe upon
the rights of the common whole. II 10 on this ac-
count that communities so situated have been in
vested with higher powers Of jurisdiction and incor-
porated into cities. having granted them particu-
lar privileges and immunites
On the fall Of the Roman eUpire, the people of
many Of the towns harassed and distracted BY the
frequent attacks Of lawless soldiery upon their
weak and feeble aid afforded by the government an.
der which they n0mnally lived, at last threw off the
yoke, created themselves into independent commu-
mites, elected some of the citizens 10 the magstra-
cy, fortified their Cities maintained order and re-
pulsing their enemies, enjoyed a long career of
wealth and prosperity. II only by the same sac.
rifces and devotion TO the public interests, that any
community can ever enjoy safety or merit feputa-
ton for order and good government.
In other countries, where greater power is either
delegated or nsurped. crimes against the laws do
not 30 much affect the character of society Since
it is not possessed of the right to redress wrongs
that may be inflicted upon but in this free land
where the admitted and recognised principle is that
the people is sovereign, that they are the true and
only source OF power, the obligation s of the most
sacred character, TO discharge the trust that ius
tce and security shall be maintained protection On.
forced, and the laws respected that the progress
OF the democratic principle shall NOT be checked
or confidence in it's capacity impaired. While il is
source Of pride that our county is an ASYLUM for
the oppressed of all naoas there cannot be 4 doubt
that the loose and inefficient character of our DO
lice system has attracted hther thousands Of despe.
RADIOS, who come among as hardened in crime en-
boldened by success and almost assured of escane
from detection. f M
Being thoroughly convinced of the inadequacv of
our public system as existing at present for the
maintenance Of order, the suppression of vice.
and the detection of crime. Our able and enliQht.
ened Chief Magistrate, with zeal that does honor
to their interests far greather than the fair promises
OF words, has long been engaged in maturing
plan tor the Reorganization OF municipal stem,
which when known and understood by the public,
will be demanded by every citizen who has at heart
the welfare CT the community, or feels interested
that the falr lame OF our tree Institutions shall re-
main untarnished. In this praiseworthy effort he
has been sustained by the powerful aid OF an INTEL
ligent committee OF the Common Council, whose
labors have been embodied in . report to that
body, the details Of which it is our purpose to ex-
anime In our next number. REroRM.