New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-02-24
Local and General Politics .sumbled.

NrssRs ED1roRs: By the advertisement IL
,o,r napcr of the Dist see that the Committee
Of tho Second Ward have Resolved that they
will continue the organization Of that Ward Oh
Wig principles; require the enactment OF laws
10 shield them from foreign legislation; restriction
o, Executive power; Currency regulated by one
Legislature. and not ,wen,v-six; q limit OF one
tenn OF the Presidential Office &c. &c. his
Committee, | presume, nominated the City O'lcers
as well rs others.
believe the Democrats are NOT less busyin
organizing Wards Metr principles; 50
nave no exclusive complaints make against Ell
her; but if could what they intend to do
about the business offAe CITY 9j Nea- York, ]
should be somewhat better satisfied. 1t appears
10 me that the local business. sometimes the local
oycreignty is sacrificed to the Union or the State
-gener.lly the former; tina, the local governments
are clectionccring Instruments n4d by par,ie,;
and that the tcndcncvo of this is to rcntralze the
rower of the People, and make the central power
the effective controller OF local affairs. Not that
he constitution laws prescrlte such II course:
but PARTIES, intent on success III National Or State
affairs, believe they gam vote, by compromi-
sing local ntcrcsis and therefore cndcay0r place
therzealous supporters in the local Offices Tor the
purpose OF doing the best they can i>r the onion,
and without regard to the interests they are bound
10 support If ever the political condition of this
country become, ntolcrablc, II will he IN consc-
qucnce of an undue accumulation Of power IN the
Umon Government and in Tie Stute Governments
aud the loss Of that power By the municipalities
and Townships and whether these governments
themselves. by direct usurpaon, or their volunteer
local committees, by their lmprudenl manuuvrcs,
shall make the loc; interests snbscrvi,.l,l to the
general Interests, cannot make much practical diff
ference.
There is principle which believe would
preserve the local >oycrcjgnrv. end which, nm
therefore anxious have adopted tina, of subject
ing measures TO the popular yotc. For myself,
and know many agree with me, | am in favor OF
many City and State regulations which are oppo-
scd by the party whose leading ma:i,ns on the
= Union affairs prefer 10 the other party: but feel
constrained no, 10 uid in delr0i,ne that party for
the sake Of these local regulations. Therefore
wish to take measures separately, and not in PR
ceIs--to vote each, tina, may not vote a goinSl
those approev, and fail 10 IN joc0r Of those
/ approve It's said by some tina. the vote on mea-
yures-wtich has always been the distinguishing
feature of tho local governments i'll Ncw-Englaald
is announcement, because il obgcS tho citizens to
vote often, and attend to small affairs, which they
would rather leave to the discretion Of their oli-
GERS, &c But II may be soapplicd as to remove
this difficulty: we may adopt general rule, re-
curing that y majority of all the votes, according
10 the registry, shall be required to annul any act
Of the local authorities orto carry any measure
I'D ,f
one who acqaicSces in the acts Of The officers, or
does not favor the private proposition, may remain
at home without losing his influence on those mat
sers:--il- not voting would be equivalent o vote
in the negative.
believe almost any number of propositions
might be submitted, at the regular elections, with
out ,ubecling the City to any extra COST save that
Of counting the votes.
y our obcdient servant. J. r. +