The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-13
The Charter Elccilon-Ths Result.

We publish, in another column, more COM
plete returns of the charter election which took
place in this city on Tuesday last, and also COM
parative tables of the vote cast this year, and
that thrown in the preceding election. The re-
suit shows that the whig candidates for Mayor
and Alms-House Commissioner are defeated,
but that the wings have elected majority in the
Board of Aldermen an d produced tie in the
Assistants.
There perhaps never was more holly con-
tested struggle between the two great rival par
ties; and up to late hour on the evening of the
election, the result was matter Of doubt; and
when ascertained, 1t was to a great many far
different from what they expected. This result
will give us a conservative city government.
But the wings lost ground, and why?
The whig party went into office last spring,
under the old cry Of reform and retrenchment,
to which they pledged themselves; but we never
saw 90 baretaced violation of sacred promise rs
that which they have been guilty of The public
treasury was unlocked and thrown open. and
immense sums expended without any cores.
ponding benefit. Contracts were given in viola
ton of law, and members of their own body
participated in the profits in contraventon of the
city charter, which they swore to respect Such
things could not be overlooked by the intelli
gent tax payers of New York, who saw in every
piece of extravaganza and wastefulness, money
taken from their own pockets to enrich the par
tisans OF the party in power When the wings
were elected last spring, we reminded them of
their promises, and predicted that unless they
fulfilled them, they would be hurled from
ofice-and the result of the recent election
confirms what We told them would be the result
If they disappointed the public. 1t is not, how.
ever, as disastrous to them as we expected il
would be; and we attribute their election Of a
majority of their candidates for aldermen, to the
numerous split loco-ioco tickets in many of the
wards. This alone saved them from defeat
that would have Frustrated them. They entered
the contest with many strong advantages. In
possession of the city government, and all the
Offices, they held a powerful weapon against
their opponents; and in view of this, and the
shameless extravaganza which characterised
their administration for year past, the wonder
is that they have come out OF the strife SO we'll.
In the nomination for Mayor, each party pre-.
sented its strongest candidate. Mr.. Have.
meyer was formerly elected by the aid of the
wings, and showed himself capable, efficient
and independent officer. Mr.. Brady, likewise,
has been an excellent magistrate; and with either
ofthem at the head of the city government, there
would be little TO be afraid OF in that part of the
municipal administration.
Both parties can draw a lesson from this re-
suit. They have the strongest proof that our
tax-payipg voters will discriminate between the
men for whom they intend 10 cast their ballots,
and it is to be hoped that they will profit by it.
As to the influence which this result will have
on the Presidential election, we do not think it
will amount to much. There is growing dis.
position among our tax-paying citizens to sepa.
rate the affairs of this metropolis from those OF
the State or nation; and it may be looked upon as
a fixed fact, that any party, be it wing or de-
mocrat, that will conduct our municipal affairs
economically, and give us clean streets, can re-
main in power as long as they please.
With advantages that no other city possesses
for cheapness and cleanliness, the city of New
York is the dirtiest and most costly on the con
tinent. Let any party apply these advantages
and our city can be as clean as any we eve
visited, at cost trifling to what is now expend
ed for that purpose.