The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-05


listing evils but prevent their recurrence. It is Of
the utmost importance that this public sentiment
should be confirmed and concentrated that petitions
to the Legislature should be signed by the citizens lug
general that deputation Of respectable men OF all
the professions and empoyments should attend upon
the Legislature In person, and enforce their grev-
and demand their remedy, and that the public;
press should faithfully and boldly uphold and adj
vance this just cause Of the people. Wisdom in the
adoption Of measures, neither attempting plans
sound OF impossible, abating from any essential
or eicacious demand, flrmness and unanmity in in
ssting upon what the general sense Of the honest
friends OF reform shall approve, though at the sacri-
flee OF personal plans and Judgment, are the twn
great qualities with which success is sure, without
which it is impractcabe.
Your committee call your attention to the forms OF
petition to the Legislature which they have prepared
and recommend that they be circulated for sigoa-
lures without delay.
b. Winthrop, Peter Cooper,
A. Vanderpool, J. Bo0rman,
John l.. Mason, Henry Grinnell,
G. w. Lawrence, Thomas SuHerD,
Edgar Ketchum, Jas. b. Murray,
John NJ. Dodd, VIM. Browning,
Syvanus s. Ward, Burtis SkidlnOre,
John A. Harriet, VIM. M. Evarts,
Wm Chauncey, Simeon Baldwin.
New York, February /, 1863
MEMORIAL.
To the Legislature of the State of Ne,c York.
The undersigned, citizens and inhabitants of the
city Of New York, respectfully represent, that they
are sufferers from the grievous taxation imposed
upon them, to meet the enormous expenses of the
city government, now administered; that the pub
lie property of the city is exposed to waste and dla
pidation that the property Of the city and common
rights of the citizens made the subjects Of special
and exclusive grants TO individuals; that the inter-
ests OF the city neglected by its government and
its revenues expended to large amounts for Illegal
objects and that the general credit and repute Of the
city and its citizens are furnished by the general
opinion that has obtained of the reckless and impro
yidert il not corrupt aud profigate management of
its public affairs
Your petitioners earnestly pray for such Legislative
fer, and particularly, that in the Act to enable the
Supervisors of the city and county OF New York tn
raise money by tax" to be passed at the present.
specially prescribing the objects of expenditure and
the amounts to be raised for them respectively, and
prohibiting the expenditure Of any larger sum, and
the incurrng Of any debt for such objects 80 that
the contributions OF the tax payers, which, in fact.
are mainly borne by the laboring classes, may By
applied for the common benefit
Secondly, that the charter of the city may b.,
amended 50 as to separate the election of charter Off
GERS from the general election, and restore it to the
month Of April in each year.
Thirdly, that the charter of the city may be amend
ed so as to establish IN Independent Board Of FIJI
nance Tor the general management and control of tho
finances OF the city.
And lastly, that such other measures in correction
OF the evil government under which the citizens arc
suffering, may be adopted as to the wisdom Of the
Legislature may seem meet.
The report was adopted.
Judge vANDERPooL then said he was glad to see
this assemblage OF gentlemen, composed of both ths
great political parties Of the country. They had
met to cooperate in some effort to remedy the evils
our city suffering from, the curse Of overtaxa.
ton. 1t was to him an ample pledge that there
occasions when men could throw of the shackleS of
party and unite in attempt to promote the public:
good. He had been party man, and claimed to be-
long to the old line democracy; bat he thought the
time had emphatically arrived in the affairs Of Our
yEhQ nv1IO fnr hn thIr
high pleasure here to Witness Ii the evil Of ncreas
ing and yet increasing taxation was not arrested,
where was the thing to end? Our valuations Of pro-
perry stretched up to their utmost tension; while
in other parts Of the State the assessors estimates did
not exceed fifty per cent Of their actual value; and yet
our taxes are one and quarter per cent. When they
reach two and half per cent, as soon they would.
If something were not done to dam up the torrent
which threatens to oyerwhelm US, you will find out
TO your sorrow how little your real estate will be-
worth. Should a commercial revulsion or moned
crisis come, as come they would, sooner or later.
your city would soon be depopulated Of moneyed
men. Yes, capitalists would flee from it like
arghted sheep to get rid of the curse Of nt0lerabe
taxation. What we have done and are now doing
is only the beginning Of our abors. Much remains
to be done. Our organization must be extended,
so that its qualifications embrace every portion Of our
ctyal its classes and interests Petitions must be
circulated, and agencies employed, to urge your
subjects Of reform upon the consideration of the
Legislature; and should you be fortunate enough tn
get favorable response from the law making power.
the struggle will not then be half finished. Your
work must be submitted to the popular suffrage, and
then our utmost efforts would be necessary to secure
the appreciation of the popular vote. You must ex.
pect opposition The interests opposed to an
mca administration Of our city affairs are too mul,
tiplied and strong to surrender without conflict.
You viii have to strive to array the masses on your
sides to convince them, If possible, that they-poor
and humble though they may be-pay infinitely more
than their fair portion OF oycrtaxat0n. fear there
is heresy too prevalent among u.s. that the burthep
ofonr city government falls chiefly the rich the
property holders. 1t il not so. It required no great
advance in the science Of political economy, nu
Adam Smith to convince any thoughtful mind, that
labor, however humble, always pays more than Its
fair share of taxation. Capital is powerful and al
ways tlinmphs in a contest with labor in regard tn
public bnrthens. Our f1ightful amount of taxa
ton; our four or five millions per year, enters
into everything the poor man consumes, into every
loaf OF bread he eats into every dollar of rent he pays
for his humble dwelling Are your taxes increased
the real estate owner relieves himself by adding tn
hs rent; and 1t has already come to this and We
hear the complaint daily that poor man can hardly
afford to get house and humble home in this tax
ridden city. This view, ja~t. s.tevident when
fairly stated, must be enforced upon the popular
mind The notion that tue e,it md Inconvenience
OF public extravaganza fa mainly the rich-a
notion so false and decepth lie dispelled from
the popular mind. Once conyincs the masses what
il the principal cause Of high lcps md dear bread,
and your city authorities would he adm0nished
hat an economical use Of H.. l.ahio purse was the
only guarantee of popular fave. ~ public promo
ton. He hoped the time had - Fci'}ih come whcf
good men Of all parties we're regty - buckle on theg
armor, and 20 forth in the ptasi'g es'rk of city n
form. The men in easy cjre slaces at length
cemed willing to leave, for w,e, taelr pleasant
rarlor and their evening rp-lcs. aad bestir them7
elves for the public veal. He va, glad at last to
ee this shaking among bones hitherto so dry and
dead as to public matters. II was 4 good augury.
and If the zeal of the class Of gentlemen here assem-
blcd should keep pace with the demands Of the times,
much good could not fail to out Of their efforts.
The meeting was then addressed by William NJ.
Evarts, Hiram ketchum, and BENJAMIN +. Butler.
Esquires, and was composed about equally Of wbig'
and democrats.
PRISONER EsCAPED.-A man by the name of
Caymelich, Spaniard, who was tried and found
guilty OF murders at the last term of the Circuit Court
of jackson county and sentenced by Judge Watts to