The New York herald., 1845-03-14

1
been pretty much alike faithless 10 the public in
terest Last of all we have had the "natives,"
and whatever the degrees of imbecility, weakness
and extravaganza in those who preceded them,
they certainly may be included in the superlatve
degree ofevery thing, that is weak, silly and bad =
The melancholy part OF the business. however, is,
that we stillremain without good city government.
Still the effort to obtain reform in the manage
ment of our municipal affairs is not by any means
| TO be given up. Let us see if there be not some
obstacle in the way besides the weakness and un-
falthfuness of those entrusted with power in the
| corporation.
| We do believe that one reason why we cannot
obtain good city government. arises from the i'm
perfect and defective organization of the system
! itself. We want good form of government We
want one effective, properly balanced, and adapted
| to the present circumstances. In the city govern
ment at present there is mixture OF the legislative
| and executive functions which most seriously in
terfere with its sautary administration There is
| order, system, regularity uniformity in the pre-
/ sent mode of governing the city The whole sys-
| tern ought to be re-organlzed and constructed on
the principles of our State and National govern
ments. This is the only mode in which we can
obtain effectual reform of the present enormous
| abuses.
In the first place, all the civic officers ought to
be paid an adequate salary for their services. This
will ensure the Offices being filled by respectable,
| Intelligent, and competent citizens-men OF busi-
ness, who will then be willing to devote their time
to the discharge of their duties, and not look for
remuneration out of corrupt contracts. The Mayor
ought to be elected for two, three, four years,
and the Aldermen for the same perod-one-thrd
to go out every year, always to retain in the
Offices men who know the routine of its duties.
| l hen there should be two representatives from
each OF the wards, to meet as legislative body,
! and remain in session for three or four months
every year, transactng all the legislative business,
aud leaving the executive business to the Mayor,
and the several departments Of police--streets
education, &c. &c.
municipal government of this character would
be salutary, safe and permanent in its action For
| such system, all who really desire reform and
| good government ought to labor. The present
system is altogether detective and entirely fails to
bring into energetic and useful action the natural
capacities Of men for government, however it may
have answered the purpose, when the city had a
population of fifteen or twenty thousand, some half
century ago.
EFFERvEscENcE AMONGST THE OFFIcE-SEEKING
CLToUEs IN THE CITY.-The office seeking cliques
| in this city are now in terrible ferment Great
dissatisfaction and excitement have been produced
by the movement of Alderman Purdy in procuring
the endorsement by the Committees Of his applica-
tion for the Coectorship. This act is regarded as
transcending altogether the powers of the Commit
tees, and improper interference with their du
| ties. Amongst the most intelligent politicians,
however, the whole thing is regarded as rMse, in
tended to cover aud effect some other purpose
Alderman Purdy belongs to that class Of the demo-
cracy that always look one way and row the other.
We are very much disposed to believe that from
the first jump he did not at all mean to be candi
date for the Colectorship knowing that he was not
fit for that Office, however competent to discharge
the duties Of weigher in the Custom House,
which he formerly did with, we believe, perfect
fidelity. Most likely, therefore, the Ex-Alderman,
like knowing, shrewd, wide-awake old tom.cat,
means to fall on soft place, and under cover Of
this application for the Collectorshp, to drop into
the Post Office and oust Colonel Graham. If
that be his object, we believe it is, we have no
objection. We rather think he would make to-
leraby good post-master-at all events better than
the present incumbent As to mere party recon-
mendations, however, we do not think that Presi-
dent Polk will pay much attention to them.
WILLIAM H. Polk. THE PRESIDENTS BROTHER
We perceive by our Washington correspondence
that the President has re-nominated his brother
for the post of Charges des Afauss at Naples, and
the probability is that he will be confirmed by the
Senate. At the first blush there might seem to be
want of delicacy in the new President thus pick
ing out his brother from the crowd of those Drop
ped overheard during Tyler's term, and probably
such purists as the Richmond Enquirer and others
may find fault with it. by turning portion Of
| grumbling to that from some other quarter But
we do not see anything very obnoxious reprehen-
sible in this act. Young Polk left Tennessee un-
known TO his elder brother, now the President,
came to Washington, was an applicant for Office
under Tyler, was nominated to the Senate, and
fell through amongst the other nominees which
fingered there for months before the accession of
the new President. During all this time, Presi.
dent Polk knew nothing of the movements of his
brother, and now he has been induced by num-
ber Of the friends of his administration from all
parts of the country, at Washington, to renew the
nomination. We, therefore, do not perceive any
improperly in the act, although probably there
will be great deal said about it. Young Polk is
perfectly qualified for the Office; he is gentleman.
ly and high-minded person, and will very properly
represent his government in Southern Italy.
SOUTHERN MAL.-We hope that the new Post.
master General will expedite the great Southern
mail. There is no reason why it should not arrive
before two o'clock every afternoon, instead Of
three and four o'clock. 1t now lays over three or
four hours in Philadelphia. Our merchants have
suffered every inconvenience under the present ar
rangement.
CANDIDATE FOR NEXT MAYoR-At one of the
meetings in the uptown wards, the name of Saul
Alley was mentioned as candidate for Mayor. A
capital idea-a better man could not be selected.
Put him up, and he will be put IN.
ANTI-RKNr TRouBLEs.-The trouble among the
late military exhibition at Hudson. The Aibanv
argus OF yesterday, gives the annexed intelligence