The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-23
Great Democratic Meeting at Tammany
Hall-Most important Proposition to Re-
form tho City Government.


Attn o'clock, on moton.of Mr.. GLEASON, the
Hon. RoBERT II. MORRIS, the Mayor, was unani-
mously moved to the chair.
The following gentlemen were appointed Vice
Presidents
John NJ Bradhurst John NJ Bloodgood,
Daniel c. Pentz, Stephen Putnam,
John 8. Conger, Cornelious b. Archer
John J. V. Wcstervet Joseph Bishop
Abraham B. Purdy. Paul Grout,
William Martin, Adam c. Flanagan
ThomasJ Agnew, William Denman
Andrew II. Mckle, Elisha Morrell
The following were nominated Secretaries -
f. L. B. Brooks, EdgarJ Leete,
Isaac V. Fowler, Theophilus Civil
Henry Taylor
The MAYOR then said It necessary for him to state
Of the public the subject of municipal reform in
this city and to ascertain whether the people themselves
should not now come forward and ask the legislature of
the State to enact law to compel the municipal govern
ment to pass an ordnance that those placed in the
management Of the city government may be compelled
least possible expense to and property The char
ter Of the city under which the government now ad
ter was amended however at various times but still II
did not answer the objects of the persons who
cd it. The object of the meeting then to debate
plan, by which the municipal government would be
properly organized and to prepare such documents to
be presented to the legislature, would the OBJ
ects proposed The who had convened the
ing had hoped that their city fathers would long ago
proposed some plan embracing this object and they found
a ey on he "a
Their and take their sense the subject He proposed
then that committee of five be appointed to draft pre-
ambe and resolutions on the subject
The following were nominated and retired -
Daniel Gleason, Saul Alley
d. +. Carroll +. l.. b. Brooks, and
Daniel C. Pentz.
The Hon ELY moore then came forward, and after 20.
ing considerably into detail on the proposition involved
the contemplated measures OF REFORM and quantity Of
defamation in relation thereto went to say-That
the archyPa or pattern government, after which we
propose to fashlon-as far as praccableOur municipal
government, is experiment and untried theory
but living facta substantial truth II has braved the
storms 81 more nnh h and thanks be
wisdom and vrtuets battlements unscathed its ounda
tons unshaken Most Of the State governments. all
states-and let it be observed wherever there 10 mark
ed departure from that model the people become dissat
fed and desire change of the organic law as the
in Rhode Island and the present in
New Jersey plainly show In any plan of municipal re.
lorm, is believed that the following principles should
he embodied -
lst The executive and legislative powers should be
completely separated from each other
ID The executive power should be vested in single
officer. to whom all other executive officers should be
borlinate.
3D. The chief executive officer should possess the veto
power by the President OF the United States
and by the Governor Of this State.
4th He should nominate and with the advice and con-
sent OF the permanent branch Of the legislative de-
partment should appoint all executive and judicial Off
cerssnch as are now appointed by the Common Council.
msdemsanors upon impeachment by the popular branch
of the legislature and conviction by the other branch
9th. The mayor should be elected az at present.
7th There should be one board chamber of the city
legislature elected annually at present. by the several
wards the members thereof to be also magistrates end
pervisors Of the county.
9Th. A more permanent branch is also recommended,
but whose members shall not be either magistrates
pervsors part say third only of this branch to be
elected each year by divisions Of the city, analogous
the division Of the state into senate districts
9th The members Of both legislative bodies should be
paid an equitable compensation for their services
have RETAINED from offering any suggestions relative
to reform in the Police Department. and for the reason
that the present Common Council now actively engag
ed on that subject The propositions just submitted en-
BRACE you the leading principles upon which
based the federal well of the State constiu
tons That those principles essential to free govern.
ment, whether embracing within its limits population Of
three hundred thousand of three hundred millions will
not apprehend, be disputed by any American citizen
do not mean to say that the alterations which propos
ed to make in our city are all that are neces
sary, nor the best most wise, that could have been
named. By no means. They are thrown out as sugges
tions rather than as matrely devised PLAN 1t is the
province OF the Common Council to mature and perfect
the system OF which the foregoing propositions but the
type The great object is to call public attention to the
subject and when that shall be properly done, there is
told that the people do not desire change in the sruc
ture and organization of city government This de-
claration regard insult their understandings and
libel their daily asseverations 1t has also been said
that there were some who would oppose any attempt at
form This may be sos for there are in every communi-
y more or less individuals whose minds uniortu-
natey constituted that they incapable of dscrmi
mating between right and wrong. While there
The latter class will as matter OF course oppose any at
tempt at reform, whether moral municipal Their OPP
position, however will be harmless and when they shall
make the attempt they will find the saying that God
has given short horns to the mischievous OK verified
When the honest and intelligent many lend their energies
to the york the ignorant and vicious few will oppose in
vain Is it asked when the work of reform shall be
menced lanswcr NOW Let there be no more de.
'
prompt and energetic action They require that the
daes both for the Mayoalty and the City Legislature
elected to push the work Of reform to speedy consu
nation. And call upon those who preparing to
leave the city-on account Of the enormous taxes to
which they are subectedto remain at their posts and
lend helping hand in the cause of reform. 10 always
more manly and generally more safe to face an enemy
flying and all feel can-if the people but will it-be
easily and speedily removed. If the present Common
Council have not the time the inclination, to mature
plan Of REFORM that the State Legislature in
sion, act upon it, let their successors az soon in
stalled commence the work, and prosecute until
pleed that the next State Legislature
vened may pass upon II.
The Committee appointed to draft report and resolu
mendaon that petition be presented to the Legislature
of the State to enact bill for the reform of the govern
ment Of this city 1t deplored that the people oil the differ
ent wards had no power in appointing them to perform
important duties though they paid them The present
state Of the municipal law tended to Capitalization Of
power and render facilities for designing to scheme
and abuses to creep in The public money has been
pended without regardto economy The charter Of the
city providing check on the Common Council they
have usurped powers not belonging to them-only be.
longing to the supreme power OF the State. II joins the
functions Of legislative government with executive
power. resolves on what works shall be performed
appoints the persons and assigns the compensation
Members Of the Common Council supply tae city govern
ment with articles, and tax the citizens TO pay them
selves, and afiix their own compensation The
natural and inevitable consequence Of this disorder
increase Of the public burthens, until lat length
sve taxation is driving freeholders to sell their property
and to other places where they better govern
ed, and less severely taxed Thus the property of
city. we'll considerations of higher nature mpc
rously iemanda reformaton,o these crying abuses.
Resolved That in the opinion OF this meeting the Co
vernmen Of the United States is the perfect Of all
known systems Of Government and that in any reform
be undertaken by the democratic party in the govern
Of this city the principle OF the Federal Constitution
should be the guide
Resolved That II ia the duty of the democratic party
IL 1t would maintain its claim TO be the party Of reform
the true movement party Of the age the party ofprogress
in the discovery and application of truth in the science Of
Government the active representation Of the great prn
cpes OF philanthropy and Justice TO effect such reform
in the organization OF our city government the light Of
experience indicate the best calculated TO
of