The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-09
ruE BROADWAY RAILROAD CAST
prroRE r11E ASSEMBLY CoMMITTEE.
THE OPPOSITION SIDE.


S,re YOU gentlemen shall be As concise a hssiose-
shall not follow the gentleman over all the ground
he has gone because it is unnecessary that should
40 so do not come here As opponent OF railroads
in New York; do not come here Is an opponent OF
the Broadway railroad and venture - say that my
name will not he found any Of the INCONSISTENCIES
read all the arguments for and against the Broad
way raroad have read pretty much every argu. |
nent made since the injunction was laid upon IT. |
do not come here to retard the progress OF New York
city but to retard the progress OF corruption
and fraud. And however the gentleman may say /
that everything appears be fair the face OF this
contract, think / show by the contract itself
that il is most foul. | venture to say That no ous-
meas man would have given that contract ON the |
priAciple that the contract was given They tell
You here that the aldermen were discriminating and |
hence that they gave this contract as tney were IN
the habit of giving all these grants, to the lowest
bidder Let them point out any one grant given in |
the city of New York for the last year two which
has not been given TO the lowest bidder. viii ven
ture to say that all had equally good reason for &C.
ecng their avorites the recipients of grants,
Is they had in this case. Now, this railroad is pro
posed for the accommodation of the public-to that
have not the slightest objection, il it be shown
that it 10 an accommodation. have an interest in
property in Broadway, but l would not give four
cents whether that railroad be made in it or not When
was called on to subscribe for the purpose OF pay
ing the expenses Of the lawsuits, told the gentle
man who applied to me, that did not care whether
the railroad was laid in Broadway or not; but
would give one hundred dollars towards the stop
ping the progress of fraud and corruption in the
Common Council. came here, gentlemen on diff
ferent principle than that the gentleman has taken
did not come here to oppose the granting OF rail-
roads but rather to oppose the manner of grantin.
them. The gentleman says that the people ri
New ! ork are able to take care OF themselves so
they are, if the Legislature will give Us organic
law under which we can aet-f they will take these
discriminating Aldermen OF the bench that when
the citizen goes to the polls to exercise the elective
franchise lie shall not be knocked down and tram
pied in the gutter; and when the aggresors are
brought before these Aldermen sitting the bench,
they shall not be discharged without giving satisfac
ton There has not been political roter within the
city Of New York who, within my recollection, has
been punished for such offence more than by slight
fine. And then the gentleman say why don't you
60 TO the polls and retrn proper men TO tie ofce of
Aldermen will tell you why citizens do MT go to
The polls There great many persons who have
children around them, and who have vulgar prej1-
dees about presenting to these children the spec
tacle Of black eye They think il is degrading 70
the feelings of father to present black eye to
their children; and venture 70 say that no man can
60 to the primary elections, for the purpose OF
taking OF himself and the interests Of the city,
without being knocked down by buiies, paid for the
expires purpose OF preventing such persons going to
the polls. The gentleman talks of reform, and OF
running honest men for office. What would be the
result If any respectable citizen attempting ssch
reform The reform party would arrange their
boxes and have pectabe persons to give out their
tickets; but early in the morning, up would come
party Of these rowdies and hired DULLES and upset
tier boxes into the gutter, and themselves after
them; and that would be the last Of the reform party
for that election. These things arc not new, gentle
men, These facts are well known, and the great
dill Guilty in the way OF remedyng the evil
is. that you can get no redress from the
discriminating Aldermen on the bench. There Is 40
possible mode for citizen to get any redress, no
matter how much be may have been abused and how
much disabled He may be disabled for life aud
then will venture to say, not political roer
IL New York would be sent to prison. And yet the
gentleman says, that able 10 take care OF our
selves. So if the Legislature give us laws IN
Ger which we can protect ourselves. ! am as much
III favor OF municipal government as the gentleman
Il. ] would be the last person TO come TO Albany TO
ask the Legislature to infringe on any right belonging
70 the city OF New York But in this case 1t hap
pens not purely democratic, and trust il /
very fortunate thing that We are not. We claim
that It Is necessary to have some organic law with
which to govern legislators. TIE State deems it ne
cesry to have constitution, aud toe city deems l.
Necessary 10 have a charter, and experienced ciu
considerit necessary to have me check agains
fraud aud corruption in their charter. We have
had according 10 the report ofthe Comptroller OF the
city variety of guards and checks bat the misfor
tGne has been that we have not been able to taxi
care OF ourselves after all and have got dishonest
men in Office, who have disregarded that charter.
But will come u the point The question here hap
pens to be misunderstood by the g ntleman on the
other side. ! am assured that hold in my ha1d
correct copy of the bill passed in tue Senate OF the
State and, as | said when 1 came to the city Of
Albany, if. there were anything in that bill which
would deprive the city Of New York Of its franchise
| would be among the opponents OF the bill fhe
bill Las been shown to me, and l have examined it
carefully, and can find nothing in it but what is
perfectly reasonable-perfectly constitutiona--and
what the cit zcns Of New York may have como to
ak for without being charged with cowardice. This
amendment provides for general Law but i first
stope the progress Of any railroad ia the city OF New
York not in operation, until after the passage OF the
law Tins general law applies TO every city and town
in the state. 1t is not exclusively for the city Of
New York nor neither is It intended that the clt-
gcns OF New York should travel to Albany,
have been compelled TO travel for a few days past;
but it IL intended 70 provide that the municipal
government shall give out these grants for railroads
on fair and honorable principle5-whch are, that
tose Who viii offer tie largest conditions to the city
for the grant and prefer 70 for The lowest fare,
shall have the privilege Of laying down the track.
The gentleman who opened for the Second avenue,
expressed considerable astoni3hment that citi-
zeDS should have the presumptioA Of coming up here
" Albany and appearing before committee u the
Legislature without beng represented by counsel,
aud a. be sad particularly inasmuch as this was
pESely legal question. Now, ! do not know mush
al 81 the law, bot ! hold that every citizen who
claims the privilege Of governing himself by cast
ing bis vote. should know something about the
fundamental law Of the land, and about the
general principles a law. And one OF those
general principles is. that all laws are subject
10 three tests-the first H. whether it Is expe-
deut 70 pas il tie next, whether is sound 10
principle; and tie next whetherit - Constitutional
Any further e al question before the Legislature
have not get heard and of course you will make
allowance for my ignorance on the subject Bat
the only apology We have tn offer for coming here
without ceun-el ia, that we thought that our caute
was very simple one AID we did not think it ne
eessary 70 have three four lawyers aud chief
justice r. make plain statement Of acta laughter
and that M yht therefore give humble opinion
upon it. However sary for the other side it
" present such array 81 lawyers against
il for them TO determine, not for The question
arises now why aid this law originate IN the Senatel
AS said the other evening, IL was no. asked 'Dr.
Now, why was II brought forward in the Senator
There reason for II. certainly. IL WIS
brought forward be alye tie corfu JtiDa OF tire
Common Council u New York had reached the CAPT
td 81 The state. And il wa not very astonsnny
that II should have reached Albany when II has
been commented upon sy the press OF London. This
corruption had reached Albany; Il wA7 known blythe
gentleman who brought The b. ilto the Senate tut
railroads were being asked for in the city ~ Nev
York by all parties. " was well known that large
consderations we're paid for these grant,. Il Is said