New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-07


together th.s evening toe object o. Cty
reform The present chief mAg.rrste Of the iitci
stes hss wisely sta.od In his inau-ur sdirrss tia; IN
TIE b1mni.aon Of domestic Affairs the people expect
DEVOTED TTTGxTTY in the public service. and ga OBJ
serTaDce Of rigid economy IN al departments, EARE
IN, AZ rEyTK 70 II QUESTIONED. and be truly ais,
ust without diligence, integrity. and capac'iy ~her
ever there duties to be periorns. more stringent
vain"
These truths have been impressed upon 4, every
step Of cur progress snd hence il the call Of ih meet
ing, the TIVE obsc,s q reor-nniz lsn OF tAe Common
Council a3d such amendments OF the City chlrser
cent experience has shown % be necessary, were 1nty
In asking for these ctanses no dimnuton Of charter.
ed nights s thought o. TIE power Of the people nIst
be represented In government II viii ~ weak and
Inefficient No viO.atiOn Of any Of tho principles whi'h
lie e. the foundation Of free inst,sons VIII De accept
%. Ontht contrary ask that q cal g5vernu nj
oour city may be made 20 conform 70 those principles
In the ori-ns fabric Of al constitutions system
Of powers ard checks has been happily combined. A
Senate and Assembly representing encies Of diff
ferent magnitude Il feature recognized in Amsrcan
GoTernmenu except alone hn' Of this City. Here tle
snne dtrict elect representative ~ both bDiri- Of
the Common Council and hence the cheek intended by
the Fathers Of the Government On the part ~
branch Of the Legislature over another not found in
our local government This departure from rscoy-
nized system needs % be corrected Into Ansr-
elective department OF the Government has been Justly
Incorporated One Of ts principal objects hse been
the people against haste aud
IN legislation In order 70 do this, aud YET not impair
the efficiency Of legislative action il has been made an
elective power and more votes are ordinarily required
20 overthrow veto than originally necessary %
pass the measure on which II has been exercised In
our City Charter the has been much degraded
that greater number Of votes is required pass
law after than beorea feature which takes from
the Executive Department all power 70 protect the
pc sgsnst abuses hsve been perpersied in our
City Government, under the forms OF legislation
We respectfully urge that this departure from rec9g
nzed and valuable principles msy be corrected and the
veto restored 10 what IA usual and reasonable The
pfoviso in our State Contribution requiring twO-thrds
Of all elected TO pass measure after veto, to be
reasonable and proper in local Government eonsd
eInr the tendency 20 abuse which prevails,
Our municipal elections now take place the same
day which the State and general elections held.
In a populous City Ike this. where a vast number Of
officers 10 be voted for, and where the vote Is also
large there is great Inconvenience and confusion arts
ing from the necessity OF voting for both sets AZ the same
time which prevents that discrimination which aims 10
exclude improper persons but the overwhelming in
fuence OF the general and State elections the local
elections, Is feature rom which the most danger re-
suits The amount Of expenditure in our local Govern
ment equal Is shown in the Controllers late report
to the joint expenses Of all the Stae and the numerous
important subjects OF local legislation. require that our
municipal officers shall be chosen exclusively for their
hosefty and cepabity which is impossible at fall cleo
tons, except in particular instances. The objection
thatprOper persons will az the spring elections
is answered by the great interest excited IN former
times al those contests and by the still greater interest
manifested in local afairs from the great abuses which
have been recently disclosed.
The great truth has been clearly unaffected TINT "a
eternal vigilance lie the price Of liberty, so II j. mpOs-i
bic to the great blessings OF good government
without constant wstchiuness the psrt Of the people
The ground that nj spring elections for muncipai
Cers no sufficient Interest will be manifested Is
inst aspersion upou cur people aud form of government
1t will be difficult procure proper reform IN our local
affairs without changing the time OF municipal elections
from the fall TO the sprng That change Is unhesiiains
y recommended.
II l. clearly within the power of the Legislature -
submit to the people the question whether or not the
term of newly elected Board shall commence 1t the
ensuing spring the end Of the term OF The present
incumbents The President of the United States has
wisely stated that Offices can bepropery 5ard5d only
in the light of aids for the accomplishment OF public
objects" The present Charter In the matters specinei
has been found TO be clearly detective aud there would
seem TO be no Just for continuing s operation 10
crafty public officers the expense OF the public inter
est The Charter adopted IN lci9 was prepared by =
Committee of citizens passed the Legslaure IN April
of that year submitted for approval on the second
Tuesday of the month IL provided that those Al
dercn and Assistants who should be elected un Ter me
preyous Charter on the second Tuesday OF April should
hold Office only until the let OF January ensuing. But
further proviied that the amendments approved by
msoiity of the eectOr should 90 into ehec on the rs
Tuesday of June following. new frame OF govern
meDt was thus adopted In about two months nom the
first passape of the act through the State Legislature
The Charter then adopted contains many new AMI
wise provisions but there are detcieelea when eApe
riencc has made apparent, aud the amendments now
proposed are merely intended to carry out the msn y
Objects then sought be accomplished and they are
necessary 20 give the Government Of the CITY that
cbsrscr which stamped upon all our STATE Constti
tons Ssch being their nature, Il would seem 10 DC
prorer 10 give them immediate effect. II would be M
lust and inexpedient to postpone ther operaon mercy
10 rs,f, thofe now ia power and who elected q
render service not TO themselves hut 10 the public
iii. not expected nor l. il desired thst these changes
in cur Municipal Government shall take place WIN
J OUT the concurrence OF the people. The people o
This CITY are wholly compe,eut 20 manage their own al
ia r. and viii pass upon any amendments bnt tneJ
have no power 90 snend the Charter except with the
authority OF the Legislature. They apply Tor tns au
thorv in the ful confidence that the voice OF grea
/ cOmmuniiy determined to escape from the evils o
. mispovernrnent, and from the disgrace which attend
Il will not be unheeded by the assembled wsdom and
I power OF the state
Tbi, address was very cordially received
J,sW. GERARD. Esq was now introduced tC
the meeting, ana spoke follows: ! see the people
around me my fellow citizens. have around me men
ali shades of party, Of all compilations in religion AMI
everv station in life have before the wealthy mer
chant and the laboring carmarl who earns his tw'
sbiDinrs load in. his employment You have tn
LAWYER here. am told and am glad 20 hear that w
have n goodly representation OF the Clergy also
Now. why is this, my friends What has brought yo'
here, There are no bannSshere, around which sian'
he members Of the various parties There Is no pup
lie enemy at your door. Why, then. are you mere
your country Is prosper0us-your City preeianenI
60 Why, then, do you come up here 20 night IN mes
united firm, and determined niessesi IATs " 'o"'
ding rrosg 4, home! [Applause You have near
an address, calm tempered, dignihed' and mod
e,ste. In the same spirit, as far as am con
cerned shall this meeting be conducted lAppiAase
W. are here to preseut our grievances DC
bv personal abuse and denunoiaton nut IN we ca
spirit OF reason. We have come TO TgoT~ - -
stbs,pAiize. We have not come TO hold an indsi'-'o
meeting. Why, then have we come, Ter err N N
80 ber some object which has brought y mere. ~
esrSs there is something thAi has drawn us tostn.
~ IN yrsnd masses from al the various pursuits n "
snd from every shade OF parry agreens wiz one '-,
80 Ne heart You come here, AMI are siinp! 80
ir S 81 tbe rest party Of Public Opinion snd t
PTbSc Opinion il now around u, al oyer ar ". \
isnse NV friends in sncieni rmes the Gree lal =
ka,-I r.. IL Anc--fhe erlherl Of " lrlLuA =