The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-18
The War, Against the Aldermen-Terrible
Times Ahead.

The War Against the Aldermen-Te,nible
Times Ahead.
Never, in the antecedent history Of this
| city or country, has such determined and
| exterminating onslaught been made on any
| sect, party, corporation, or individual, as
that which has recently been inaugurated
against the conscript fathers Of the NUM-
cipality. Even the Britishers metless uni
versal hostility during the Revolutionary
era. The courts Of justice, the legislative
bodies Of the State, the press, and the people
at large, join in the modern crusade against
these devoted aldermen. We cannot sum up
the variety of charges lavished wholesale
against them, nor the multifarious ordeals
through which their guilt or innocence is to be
tested The hundred-handed Briareus would
seem to have been specially engaged against
the representatives of the city; and if they pass
unscathed through the net work of furnaces in
which their purity is to be tested, they must
have possessed a degree of virtue hardly to be
expected from any body of men in this corrupt
money getting age.
The first movement originated against them
was by the honorable judges of our courts In
functions were Illuminated from the bench, re-
straining them from further proceedings in the
matter of the Broadway and other rail roads;
and when they had the boldness or rashness to
disregard the stern mandates of the law, they
found that that venerable institution was
too strong for them, and that they would
have to make reparation for treating it SO
cavalierly. Then came the indictments of
body of citizens denominated the grand
jury, who had taken the liberty of call
ing in question the probity of the city gov
eminent and instituting an inquiry into their
conduct, which resulted in the Indictment of
two Of its members for specific charges of NAL
versaton in Office. and polite requisition to
Recorder Tillou to continue the investigations
| they had entered upon. Thse was not enough;
but as if all the elements of society had con-
| spired against the fallen, the Senate of the
State took it into its head to intermeddle in
the movement, by introducing bill to remodel
the railroad law, as it applies to cities-a law
general in it's terms, but specially directed
against the Common Council Of New York.
Nor was it enough that the Judges the Grand
Jury, and the Legislature. should thus coalesce
in this modern crusade, but the rOr popui must
also make their thunder heard, and the mass
meeting at Metropolitan Hall was good sam
pie Of the sentiment pervading the masses.
Then the committee appointed at this meeting
must also carry out the resolutions, by present
ing themselves at Albany, and demanding from
the Legislature a remodelling and amendment
Of the city charter Nor were party operations
quiescant The Young Mems Democratic Union
Club has come in to swell the numbers of the
opposing host, and to appoint vigilance COM
mittee to look after city affairs, and, if ne
cessary, to summon another mass meeting
But we are not yet done with our enumera-
ton of the ordeals through which the Common
Council have had, or are, 10 pass. The Boars
of Assistant Aldermen alarmed at the dangers
surrounding them, and the charges and susp-
cions entertained against their virtue, appoint
ed committee Of their own number, to hold
strictly private investigation into the truth or
falsehood of the statements made to the preju-
dice Of the body, and to select the black sheep
from the fold. if on inspection, any were found
to have lost their purity. This committee is in
session. and the public are watching with the
greatest interest, mingled with some suspicion,
for the results of their investigation.
But the end is not yet. Complications thick
en- and surround the accused with an almost
impenetrable net; and if none are caught within
its meshes, then our representatives will be fit
subjects for canonization. The Courier and En-
q,,irer, few days since supplied, by special re-
quest for the edfcaton or the public, and for the
satisfaction Of one Of the editors Of the Journal
Of Commerce in particular, certain affidavit
verified by Alderman Barr distinctly charging
the Immaculate reformer Of the Journal with an
attempt to induce the aforesaid Alderman to
deviate from the strict path of propriety by
voting for certain project, in which he was
concerned, for consideration. The gentleman
thus charged responds in his paper Of yesterday
as follows =
CoSoREss HALL, ALBANY, March l6, 1853
| received, yesterday, teegraphc communca
| ton announcing that in the New York Courier anil
Enquirer, there was affidavit Of Thomas J. Barr,
| now an Alderman Of the CITY of New York endeay
orng to sustain the charge made by that print that
had attempted to bride Of the present alder
| men OF the city, but did not zee the affidavit until
the NEW YORK HERALD was received to-day find
in the HERALD the preceding Qhe afIidavit) from
| the Courtp.
intend to give this subject the fullest and prompt
| est attention.
II will be seen that the alleged time il no, more
| particularly fixed than during the years 1850 and
| 1851: that the subject under consideration il not
mentioned and that the alleged bride is not in any
| manner specified. Indeed, the only matter clearly
stated in the affidavit is the assertion that Alderman
Barr had the opportunity to receive bride aud de
! clined.
Before showing as ] shall most concusvely that
any charge OF that description is utterly false and
malicious, demand TO know, through the columns
OF the New York Courier and Enquirer, which
made the charge, and has now more completely as