The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-01
oITY REF OR NJ.
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MEETING AT OLD TAl6A6ANY.
Speeches Of James T. Brady, L. B.
Shepard, Henry Acularius,
&c., &s., d.

sent as were also the Hon John Van Buren, Mr. Charles
O'Conor Hon J. A. Dix Hon. F. B. Cutting, Hon John
NcKeon and others.
JAMES 7. BRADY, Esq.
WAS called to the chair.
The following gentlemen were then appointed Vice
Presidents and Secretaries.
Henry Ncon. Mark Spencer
VIM r ckwell, ND. David banks,
Elijah +. Purdy, Edmond Miller,
James L. Curtis, T. K. Collins,
James Lee, Schuyler Livingston.
Wilson G. Hunt, JonathAnI Coddington,
Henry G. Stebbins Elijah Ward
August Belmont, Robert Kelly
Gilbert N. Speir S I'M Barlow.
Geo. Barstow, John r. Brady
C. cambridge Smith
The following preamble and resolutions were then read
to the meeting
The democracy of the city and county Of New York. in
meeting assembled believe that il the duty Of
citizens to guard viganty the ceremonial of
and that II is the Office of political organizations to apply
We believe that escape from danger does much
consist in its discovery in the devised to avert
il and the vigor with which they are ployed We be.
eve that laws inefficient without the approval and
imperative without the esteem, of the people, that sup
Elemental legislation emendaory only when dictated
BY observation and maured by perence and always
to be suspected when supplied emergency and feared
when enacted in haste We believe that the desire of
lief may be stimulated by OF burdens endured
and imperfect expedents shall be accepted
reform and that grievances fanced real may
than that which it is proposed to We believe
that there provisions city charter incompatible
that they should be repealed knowing
tina. schemes of municipal reform have engaged the at
tenton Of an excited population and been submitted to
proposed do, therefore, in common desire
for the general good
Resolve That every departure from and strict
accountability III the receipt and expenditure Of the pub
lie moneys is violation Of the general right and high
offence against the democratic principle that while In
and pecuaton it becomes to follow the investigation
OF offences charged with condemnation Of the often
oers, if proved.
Resolved, That beneath the charges ndustriously cir
cuaed by wing machinery and art Of the corruption and
fanny Of whig officials. Should there be q doubt the
facts resolve it. The charges preferred embrace period
Office the aldermen elected in the fall Of 1850 and sub.
stantially ending with the fall Of 1852 Though
ed in both Boards of the Common Council, yet a
WING minority furnished to each while the heads Of
the executive departments including the Mayor and the
Comptroller and excepting alone the Commissioner of
Streets (and that only for portion Of the period we're
represented by whg incumbents Thus of
executive arm, and commanding the treasury, the
quiet and the other closed till both appro
by wing corruption and employed for the benefit of whg
officials. wing mayors vote assisted to the disposal
that recent adjudication conferred unusual dis
tinction in proceeding for contempt The charter
enactment OF wing legislature presided by wing
Speaker and whg President of the Senate and made
time that democratic legislature Speaker President Of
the Ser ate and Governor should relieve city from
from the evil Vaccinations OF whig office holders.
Resolved, That BY replacing whig Comptroller by
Azariah C. Fagg the democratic par practically illus
tated its ancient doctrine of reform
While that fearless and incorrupblc public pre-
sides over the city treasury the tide of public prodi
Resolved That che democracy Of the city and county
Of New York deserve well of their political opponents
for their nomination and election of Jacob A. Westervet
mis- judgment and integrity BY all parties Of his fellow
tsens by the remarkably pure and able administration
q his ONCE
Resolved That the decentralization of power as it has
always been continues be the chief article in the de-
mocratic creed; and therefore recommend to
Legislative representatives and insist that in all pract
cable cases municipal officers be made elective BY the
Resolved That disagree to any division of existin
wards possessed Of the standard population propert
and territorial extent, to them all. Attempts
such divisions attribute unworthy designs to
create and nct the expenses Of additional wards for in
diydual purposes and private gain.
Resolved That the manner in which primary meet
ings conducted merits animadversiOns.
That when reminded Of the compacness of city popu
iation, OF the absorbing commercial professional and
other conventional channels into which their pursuits are
divided and exclusively directed and OF the consequent
fact that city politics be the exclusive
session of large cooperating numbers embarked in the
trade We do not perceive that other system OF nom
nations adopted would avoie the abuses OF this That
only hope Of escape from the mansm brutality,
and fraud which beset our prary elections is in their
gazation We therefore urge this subject of
thereon.
Resolved That the true guards of municipal interests
and which wise experience has planted deep in demo
cratic ground of ordinate legislative
dies of ual constituency and continuance in Office
of elective judiciary and of executive with veto
prevailing within the limits OF two third vote; OF jury
system in worked By aldermen by any of
bcia not specifically created for the purpose uniform
ed police with elective head extending
serving the city in its its haroors its rivers
and its wharves: and of elections ordered and
ring that local and nsular interests shall be
controlled by those ncom patibe and general
Resolved mat 70 the thanks commonly accorded TO the
New York DELEGATE for their prompt introduction into
the State ASSEMBLY of bill further 10 amend the charter
Of the city Of New York, we add the most gene
rous of own; that the general fea
lures the bill faithfully represent the spirit
beneficial reform and attest the legislative quail
Of the gentlemen who produced them. The haste
quired it's complete may, however have occasion
ed omissions of details and the consequent
sibity Of deberation have caused partial error We
recommend reprss enatves a reconsideration Of
their decision blend charter with the general cleo
tons. Other causes believe than the separation of
the elections for the snail vote Of the June
dietary polls and Inconvenience and impocy should not
be invoked against the wisdom OF defending local inter
ests from rabid politics
We suggest that section three OF the bill should pro
vide that the districts TO be created should not only b,
dozen councimen may cooperate with alderman,
when it would be difficult for him to propitste frac
tionsl legislator.
prve the aldermen of all in the selection OF Grand
Jurors, and Of all power as ba'ling MAGISTRATES Ihe
the power Of admitting him to bail
And we also suggest that section thirteen Of the blu be
made to correspond with the recommendations Of the
report, and that instead Of three fourth vote being
made the warrant for expenditure Of money pecu-
Liar emergency that it require the unanimous
both Boards Of thu Common Council. Grudzed honors dc
not illustrate the living and the dead need reluctant
ebsequiss
We also suggest that there is necessity for FOUR
any additional judges 1t should be provided that the
courts of Oyer and 1erniner and General Sessions
be held by ose Judge The charge for the the
judges suggested would in opinion, be useless
burthen on the public
Resolved. That thanks due to the public press
and 10 all fellow citizens who have aidod pro
Noting the municipal reform much needed and that
we willing to unite in any judicious which
may increase the prosperity exat the reputation
city.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. BRADY sad-Fellow Cit
xena-You well aware that it is the custom,
sons Like this for the chairman of the meeting to
its general objects at the moment Of its organization
only departed from that custom at the present time