New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-31
Afairs Of the City Government.
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Mr. s. Z. SwEErMAS delivered, on Thursday
night, at Hope Chapel, Introductory lecture the
above He said that in his present undertaking he
was not moved by desire to serve any party or
ton bis aim being thepubc good he considered there
were abuses either in the State City Government
II wac HE right and duy to expose them. The Consti
tuition Of the United .es declartd in its preamble that
Government is to promCte the general welfare and for
the protection security and benefit Of the people and
the people have right expect this from those whom
they have entrusted with the administration OF the aws
and Government The financial affairs of so large
community as that Of New-York, were of great mpor
lance, and the citizens ought toknow for what pur-
poses the enormous sums that annually TOW into
the City Treasury were expended, and what is the
cause Of our continually increasing revenue This
would principally form tie subject Of the lectures he in
tended to give on the aiairs OF the City Government
only for the present and sst year. but for the past
ten years For everything he said ne would produce
proofs, exhibit documests give "chsper and verse,
and then let the people Judge for themselves draw their
swn conclusions and shape their future course twas,
he considered most Likely that he would make enemies
for himse in thus enceavorng TO promote the general
good among hose who now enjoy the privilege OF least
ing faenng and getting rich al the expense OF the cit
liens those who In former times had this privilege
Blu he did not want place. and popularity was not hs
object IL may be that those who sport spendid
eqipsges give isshoLabe and costly banquets and who
have opulCIce the unfccOuntcd proceeds
OF public taxation, would not be pleased, would en-
deavor 10 Willy him and deny the truth OF his statements
but be did not for al th he had the documents
and would give them TO The people, and he would show
them that till they met and rallied, and combined, aRd
elected honest men their representatives in the State
and City OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of political bias
and trading demagogues, that they could not expect
true reform or economy. 80
He contended that man was less corrupt IN an uncf
lied than in a civilized sate-at least IN such Cry rs
New-York, which wac tyeword among all tue other
cities Of the Union for its corruption and prolgaey
and 10 prove this II was only necessary 10 opser,e inc
conduct Of our youth and If youth be corrupt old sge
must necessarily be So for youth u not tha hst that
become corrupt. They only follow the example get
them. S,mc commended that wp wanted legislative in
terfererce-additiona and stringent lawsto prevent
political scoundels FROM robbing the public treasury
but he dill not consider such at all necessary for tne
laws were good, and had plenty Of them, II they
were only properly administered; and little of hon
e.,y and public virtue could be infused into oar City
Government there would coon be such an improve
msnt as to render all new laws unnecessary.
The lecturer then went into detail OF the Heads OF
Departments OF the City Government, of the Common
Council and OF the officers under them; their respons
bies their duties and also their patronage He said
tDt OF oil the Offices that OF the Controller was the
most responsible; rs even II the Common Counci
passed order for the payment OF any bill or item OF
expenses that he could refuse paying II II was not le
gal He conteDded thst many such bills were passed
and that legal unless those for which an ap
prorrntion hsd been made before they had been
incurred He said he would not now enter into the de-
tails of he transactions OF any Offices, the mode IN
Which business wac conducted the present being merely
an Introductory discourse lie asked for the aud OF the
press which was the most powerful eoemy OF cor;
ruptiop as IL talked 20 millions a, one and
the ssme time. Tire blessings of an honest
press could not be too highly noticed, iox men
who were corrupt would secure If not the advocacy
al oast the hired silence OF the papers Ia Their Locality
II thew could and II word could be got FROM the press
in praise OF the body ii all right for the majority Of
people believed what they Jaw in the papers without
sufficient examination The next lecture, oil which no
ncc would be given be on the dongs OF the Com
mon Council.
There was very select audience present. most s OF
whom seemed to pay great attention to the leeture
and many Of them went into the retiring room 70 see
him after be had concluded