The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-08

same time with the candidates for the several
Offices OF State No nomination was made for
the local officers, and as matter of course, they
were expected 10 hold over until some other form
OF government should be determined upon. A
meeting OF citizens was recommended by the AL
calde, tor the purpose Of taking into consideration
the expedency of applying for city charter; but
the then state Of AFFAIRS and the fact tina, the new
government was hardly IN operation, prevented
any movement In regard to the matter. There is
no one who has reflected upon the subject or gwen
II any attention, who does not perceive the inn
portance OF some clearly defined form of govern
ment, In consonance with our own American
ideas. The Mexican law Is but imperfectly un-
derstood, and cannot be carried out 20 the letter
and we have been living under sort OF hodge
podge system, the law being sort OF ola podrida
collated from all countries, and mixed and Jumbled
up together. The powers of the officers and Of the
Ayuntamlento, are not clearly known, and they
have In some instances exceeded them In the
most marked and illegal manner, without shadow
OF authority, their only argument being expedlency.
For instance, the sale OF the public domain was
utterly illegal, and perfectly at variance with the
provisions existing relative TO the matter. We
have reason 10 doubt that the me mbers of the
old council acted as they believed for the best in-
terests of the community, and they certainly served
faithfully and cheerfuly. But ever since their
tamiento, have been constantly at loggerheads,
and dlsagreelng upon most important subjects.
We wish we could approve OF the course OF Mr..
Project Hawes, but we cannot. He appears to
the first, and made no endeavors TO smooth the
administration OF the civil affairs, and evinced
no very particular care for the common veal.
In many matters, where II was expected he
would act, he has lain dormant; and when Others
have felt called upon to take the response
bllty, has out tardlly with some proclamation
calculated TO produce dissatisfaction, and create
new and additional perplexties. His course with
regard TO the last election was certainly ill-ad-
vsed, to say the least. 1t necessary fill the
vacancies in the Ayuntamento, or suffer that body
to expire naturally for want of quorum, and leave
the government TO be administered by the other
local officers. No provisions had been made for
an election at the same time and place that for
Senator and Representative although, if the Pre-
feet judged he had the right to order an election,
he should have done SO upon more than two days
notice. But II was not until the Alcalde had as
sumed the responsibility of ordering election to
fill vacancies, that Mr.. Halves came out and order
Ayuntamlento. This was certainly done with the
intention OF oustlng the old authorities, and was
petty and unworthy piece Of man9uvrlog. The In
consistency OF the matter was not the least amusing
portion OF IT, So great an opinion had he of his
own powers and wOrhness, that he couldn't at all
see The necessity of having new Project. He
appears to have acted under the conviction, that
that Office was sufficiently well filled, and to his
own personal satisfaction. But we are dwelling
too long upon this matter; the election was held,
and The old Alcaldes aud members of the Ayunta-
Rlento were reelected.
We hope that we shall soon be rid of everything
that smacks of the Mexican law, and that the
Ayuntamiento, Alcaldes, Projects, aud high con-
stables, will all be done away with. Let the
council draw up city charter, promulgate it, and
submit it fairly to the people for their ratification;
and then, II approved OF, make the proper applca-
ton TO the Legislature for of Incorporation.
1t is unnecessary to hold dozen public meetings
and have a convention, awhen the various int.
rests OF the1 community are represented in the
council. We expressed ourselves adverse to
movement Of this kind some time since, prior to
the organization OF the State government, but now
that matters are arranged at the capital, we fully
believe that the time for action has arrived, aud
hope that the AyuntamIento will at once give their
immediate attention 10 matter so important to the
interests OF the entire community.