New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-28


nvOcatjon with the operative OF any class, and
vou must agree with me that yours Is tar SUPERIOR
whether viewed profitable. q moral or pnysicai
condition Again, the uniform Is compialneu %, on"
SAIL TO be By some badge OF degradation ana serNi-
tude How erroneous IA this impression. "hat
badge OF seryitude which Is really an emblem OF us'
and honor a mark Of degradation to carry npon
xour rraop an official insignia don0tng that you have
ieen selected by the Mayor, the Recorder ana the
Civ Judge the three highest cumna! o'hceTs SHOWN
~ crr awsl ss WORTHY 10 be inrust5G with dellcate
and important duties and prerogatives nvoNlhg the
care OF the lie, liberty and property OF the o'uzeh
No sane mind can 80 oonstrue AZ anu oene'o nv ~
Iow-otFcers when tell YOU that the man who can per-
petrate such an absurd theory Is dangerous eompan-
ion who should be avoided as your enemy. mere Is
no degradation in the uniform OF pohceihar'
more than there IS IN the epaue'ie OF an oil
Ger in the regular army; no greater oalge OF
seryitu6e IN the star than there Is IN The 6shoH
so highly przei by the Navy. The degradation
is rot IN the uniform 1t l. IN disregard OF
duty by him who wears 1t. The policeman more
frequently disgraces the uniform than the uni
form does the policeman. II is a badge o; cegra-
daiioz only wien made so by the misconduct
Of the wearer. As the uniform Of military officer Il
suled By cowardce or treachery 80 yours be ony
hv conduct unbecoming policeman and disgraoeiu
t0 vour position az such. No member Of society has
better opportunity to distinguish himself or To ce-
serve well of his fellow-ctlzens than yourselves:
TIE line Of duty Is PLAIN, SIMPLE, weu-dehned ana
eusv Of perfo-nanee | have no desire 10 exact 100
severe labor. | ask man connected with the corps
~ devote half as many hours TO lis service as 10 N.Y.
slf: and while am ready to demand attention and
obedience to orders am alsowiiDg TO recognize ana
reward uertorous services. Tie only road 10 the
Good onuon of TIE Head of the Department and of the
public is faithful and vigant discharge OF the trusts
contded: this IL all that lie desired and Il within the
power Of every mar 10 give. When yoI Assumed the
Off ice II was with full knowledge of this obligation. II
these duties are you should not have under
token their fulfllmen. II they are toe onerous and
exaciinc YOU should not have agreed To perform
them. Ii they appeared to deprive YOU OF per,
soual rights, you should nave SO stared ana
declined the compacts entered into. Your POSITION as
member o. the Police Ii the result OF an agreement
between yourseif and the authorities voluntarily male
b. YOU IN which YOU agree To gave up cfeih lersona
rrivilcrcs and rights the public as custodian
of their interests. You not forced TO take me
nos and are not now forced 20 retain H. but SO ons "a
Won do retain and draw from the Treasury its COM
ponsation il Is my duty TO exact the nhilment OF me
contract your par or endeGyor 10 MI your place oy
those who will Every public officer yields up per
sonn rirhts No man can assume office, whether high
or low, without giving up something TO ne pubhc II
lie does hs Guty. am SIMPLY the agent OF the people
in the surveillance exercised over your conduct NY
petition in relation to yours Is Ike that OF the head OF
an amy actually in battle-for we are always on
duty-always in engagement-our campaign
against the enemy is always commencng-a-
ways continuing and never enaihg' Il
continuous fight against the crime and the
wrong doing Of the vicious of this community. Eter
nal vigilance is the essential requisite IN pocemans
duty; and as he relaNes so does ne depart rom
what shall be required Of him, so long "a hoid
tie uosiiion of Commanding General. In conclusion
| cannot do better than TO call your attention TO
tLe pretatory TO the Rules and Regulations OF
The Der artinont which comprehend what really
constitutes your duties and the theory OF the
Police Department now organized. The con-
fdcuce placed in the Department and it, menu
hers, and their consequent responsibility are e1
treme their duties and powers, such as demand
special and peculiar qualifications IN those who com
pose the force. II Is difficult 10 specy esch
and every of these duties and power, although rules
and laws may be made and are made to comprehend
them; or to designate with precision the manner IN
which these powers shall be applied md these duues
performed in each and every case that may arse.
iolicemnns duty includes careful attention m us per-
iormaucc careful industry 10 acquire an intelligent
and correct sense Of II, OF bodily health. sOoo
hnbts habits OF neatross and cleanliness prorey Oh
behavior, of dress and address. IL inclulei Kan
command OF himself and Of his temper, passiOn3 ana
fr1uities forbearanco under prOyOC alton, Kindness,
modestY and Civiity Of department. me avoidance OF
haIshness ID temper or bad anguage ana the example
cludes 4 ieuc, to all lawful orders, respect for officers
and fellow members OF the Department. and unwayer-
ing fidelity integrity and truth. An action he should
be firm, fearless calm and intrepid DISCRIMINATING
discreet anu iudicious, employing r'soluteiy All the
force that Is nee sary and prompt IN ia dpphcaOn,
,et emuioyinr Il with decision wisdom and skill, and
only to the tent requircd-unyIeidIg though quiet
and energetic in the performance OF hs task IN case
Of eU1e
bic Le must be brave without rashless, courageous
aud rcrscyering without needless temerty and en-
ploy that degree OF judgment, which denotes olas-
iened ard nynCble valor On post he should DC ever
yigilant, active and in motion, avoiding oil haDiS OF
stessncfs Of lOungng orlGe cOnyes atom, emu every
hlp by which liz incessaui attention 20 hs duty may
euen ior u moment be impaired; and when on duty
lie l. sentinel whose whole mind AMI abilities should
be directed to the task imposed on Inn. Nhen on
duty the embems now prescribed for both officers and
xeillh a axpfr A ed % ~
non, and uat they will be kept neat ana becomingty
fitted 70 the person, for the taste ana tdness WIN
which policeman attires himself Is material aces
sorry the esteem and respect IN winch ne Is held by
the public. The oriicers ot Tie Department are all
empi aly eni0ined not only 20 accomplish Them
selves il iull knowledge Of their duties and OF the
rules and laws which relate % them, but by every
urCrer means in Their power TO instruct those under
Their commend IN their respective duties. A cor
rect and exemplary moral conduct and eihcient
Ierlomance Of duty, on tie part 81 the respective
members of the force, will not only Jusiy the CONN.,
dence reuOsed IN it by the public but must elevate inc
Department to the highest degree of respectabity'
And now, gentlemen, must repeat me expression
of my qualification with the proceedings Of TINS
day. IL has been no empty pageant-io hoHIay'
in 8hch 70 show You 10 the crowds OF citZehs mere
assembled. liz designs we're 10 give me an OppOfu-
nifty to inspect your appesrance-o observe your inn
pToyement IN the dll exercise, and to see anu con-
verse with YOU the important subject OF your du-
ties. have doubt the results vii be advantageous
10 YOU as AZ II most uefeeGDlc 10 me sahe MY esFc
with an increased edmratcn for vou as an efficient
protective corps and with a confident belief that If
ever your entire force shall be required for the peaer-
walton Of the peace, it will be found entirey able to
meet and oveTwhelm any anlagoliaiic body, however
great in number or desperate IN character.
The address heard TO the close in silence. The
Mayor then retired to his room to receive the con-
eratulatons Of his friends. Among others Judge
Mech who had been hustled somewhat in the Park,
IN Il no Nav ono &
had nsuIted him by denying him the right to walk IN