New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-04-25
eoursssIsol create fon Is ealv party, and an

eoursssto create for us enlv o party, and On
electioneering police.
Such are 'tbe fasss We sonclude BY asking
attention III tfls manly protest of Mr. Summers
against THESE NEST rerrehensible proceedings:
Before proceeding further, Recorder Summers,
with leave Of the Beard, presented his protest
in the following words:
: Elected BIZ the people (without distinction
If partly as Recorder Of the First Municipal
District of the city Of New Orleans, Ientered
upon the performance Of the duties of the office
fully impressed with the belief that L would ex
ercise the same rights, powers and privileges,
az Police Magistrate of said District, as had
been accorded to and exercised by my predeces-
sor and the Recorders Of the other Districts, as
member Of the Police Board, constituted OF the
Mayor and four Recorders, having equal rights
with and sharing the responsibility OF the legis-
ation of the Board, being the virtual head of
nv District, and, under proper cirsumstances,
fairly amenahle to my constituents for the cha.
raoter Of said police, its honesty and efficiency
its material, and its ability to- insure just,
| faithful, and impartial execution Of the laws.
q 1 conceive that / was neither asking any
thing unreasonable, nor what was not absolute
| " necessary for the full efficiency Of the nd
| ministration of police, when I desired and
Eexpected to exercise the previously conceded
right Of selecting the entire police Of my Dis
~ was the more satisfied with the Justice of
| my position, as was aware that my colleagues
we're about exercising the same power (the force
Of which fully recognized) for their respective
Districts.
e | had also consented, with them, to vest the
selection of the Chief Of Police with the Mayor.
8 could see no reason, because had been
chosen without the Intervention of cliques, or
without the aid of the machinery fpolitical or
ganization, that my voice would be stihed, my
just rights disregarded and trampled upon, and
the interests Of my constituents, over which
mad been fairly placed as their recognized con
Isservator, made subservient to the Incorporate
behests OF party leaders
g had been made to understand, through
/ the voice Of the people, conveying langnagetha
must have gone home to the heart Of every citi-
zen who had the interest and reputation Of our
city at stake, that if reform was wanted in any
branch Of our City Government, 1T was eminent
/ ~ required in the police department and it
was my honest intention, had the power re-
| nained in my hands, to have dispensed it, to
the best of my ability, with that view.
'sNothing was more clearly apparent to me
than that the voice of the people demanded a
police not for its electoneering tactics, and its
ability to bolster up the lettering political for
tunes of party demagogues, but to faithfully
and fully discharge the duties laid down by the
laws and ordinance under which it was created;
| for, / take it for granted, that no people are
willing to be taxed to the amount Of two hun
| bred and fifty thousand dollars per annum,
where the result Of that taxation is but the
creation Of o standing army of lazy officials,
whose only province is toreceive its salaries, and
nd in sustaining the failing fortunes of it's poll
tical masters. But the majority have decided
| that shall be a mere cypher in the Board, and
| {, with confidence submit to an intelligent con-
stituency the wisdom and justice Of their course.
g In order that may not be held responsible
for the composition of the police Of this District
and consequently for the performance of their
! sluties during the term Of their appointment
/ and in order that my constituents may fully
understand the position am made to occupy in
this Board and in order that the responsibility
If these proceedings may fall where it properly
belongs, 1 make this, my solemn protest, against
the Injustice of the course pursued by the ma
| jority. and respectfully ask that it be entered
| upon the minutes Of the Board, and published
| in its official proceedings
(Signed) II. NJ SUMMERS,
Recorder First District