The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-25

We Mrsr HAVE 4 REvoLUr1os-THE STATE
LEGwLAruRE AND THE CRY CouNCL-We are
to have trouble. We are threatened with an
invasion. What shall we dos The Legislature
has the question before it, whether or not New
York city shall manage its own business
whether or not the Broadway railroad shall be
built
Now, we have never advocated this railroad;
on the contrary, we have expressed some OPT
Mons adverse to it. But we like to see all
things done decently and in order" Because
we are not favorable to the construction Of
railroad in Broadway, especially on such terms
as have been proposed, il does not therefore
follow that we give our sanction to an act Of
tyranny-an outrage upon the citizens Of New
York, compared with which the Broadway rail-
road il as the dust in the balance, or as q
drop from the bucket to the ocean. It is o fla
grant attempt to violate the city charter; and
we call upon the Senate and the Assembly to
pause before they adopt the unconstitutional
bill now before them-the only effect Of which
can be, to put the city as we'll as the State to q
large amount Of expense in litigation; for If the
measure should be passed, the Judiciary will,
beyond all doubt, abrogate it as violation Of
the vested rights Of the city charter.
We admit that the Common Council is
composed Of queer set Of philosophers but
the denunciations of the Senate against
that body remind one of the kettle calling
the pot black. When we recollect the bill
against gambling, and the black mail transac
tions connected Herewith, which were exposed
in this journal, and when we think of the canal
lettings, and the amount of wholesale corrup-
| tion with which the Senate is mixed up in rela-
| ton to them, we come to the conclusion that q
charge Of corruption and prohigacy comes with
very bad grace, indeed, against the Common
| Council of this city, all whose populations are
as nothing when weighed in the scales against
the gigantic jobs Of their accusers. That the
present city officials are as bad as any that
ever preceded them, we do not deny but that
is the business of the citizens of New York, and
not Of the Legislature; and it will be time
enough for the Legislature to pass laws regu-
lating the government of this city when it is
| asked to do 80 by its inhabitants The Broad
way railroad may be a great evil; but the es-
tablishmen Of the principle ofspecial legislation
in reference to our local affairs would be an evil
Of an hundred fold greater magnitude, and
would open wide the fOodgates of corruption
in the Legislature itself The people have the
power in their own hands to regulate the cor
ruption ofthe Common Council, by turning them
out, and by electing good men in their stead,
and if the Broadway railroad be contrary to the
wishes Of the people, the next Common Council
will have the power Of tearing up the rails and
restoring the omnibuses. As for the right of the
Common Council to pass the ordinance, for the
present that question is before the Judiciary and
not yet decided. Till it is settled, it is not only
indecent but indec0rous for the Legislature
to interfere.
If this matter is pushed any further, it
will be for the citizens of this island to con-
slider whether it would not be for their interest
to apply to Congress for division of the State,
and to make the island the State of Manhat-
tan. Its population would amply justify such
an application. There are sirteen States in the
Union ,chose population Is smaller than that
Of .Ne,o York city; and the population Of
this city alone Is equal to the aggregate popu-
lation of Texas, California, Rhode Island
and DelaWare-.fce sovereign States. Let
not the application, therefore, be provoked
Meantime, let the newly elected members of the
Legislature, who have never been implicated
in the frauds of the canal lettings, stand firm to
the interests OF New York and its charter.