The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-12
The New Police BIN.
REPLY OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO THE |
LETTER OF MAYOR WOOD. |


REPLY OF THE LHurEANr GOVERNOR TO THE
LETTER OF MAYOR WOOD.
SENATE CHAMBER, ALBANY, March Q, 1856
Hon. FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor OF the City Of New York
DEAR sR-The receipt Of your favor of the 5th inst,
soliciting my aid in defeating the bill now before the
gislsture for reorganization Of the Police Department
in the city Of New York. would have been promptly
acknowledged but for pressing and imperative engage
ments. beg you to believe duly sensible Of the
honor you have done me by this request and ready at
all times to do whatever may be in my power within the
proprietes Of my official position to aid in such lega.
ton will promote the welfare Of the city where
reside.
need scarcely say that with you to the full
est extent In your estimate Of the services you have
rendered the city during that small portion of your
official term which has elapsed. In the particular to
which you direct special atention-the cosing Of grog
shops Sunday and the general decrease of vice. tur
bulence and crme.consequent thereupon-you have
ainly accomplished results which the of the
munity had come to regard well nigh impossible.
indeed in view Of past experience the public al
most much ast0nished to see the attempt made,
they were to see II succeed lean also understand and
This success to the vigor and fidelity with which your
orders have been executed by the members of the city
any legislation which shall threaten to weaken the eff
cheney relax the discipline of that department
have not been able to examine with any spscal care
the provisions of the bill to which you refer; but
far as cursory perusal of it enables me to judge am
Inc to IL ts the to make IN
rious than you may have been led to suppose.
Under the existing law, which you have found eff
consisting Of three personsthe Mayor, Recorder and
City Judge-by whom all laws for Its government are
all penalties inflicted The bill proposes to enlarge
the board to dvethe Mayor being one, and the other
@
persons elected for the special purpose OF performing
the aborious and exactins duties OF such position,
should perform them with more viRor and n1ety than
two who elected for other objects and are of neces
sity burdened with other duties.
Your objections to the election Of these officers by
the people are undoubtedly entitled to weight but they
apply with at least equal force to the feature Of
the present law And, indeed If the ABSOLUTE and un
vested in the Mayor alone these objections would stii
apply. unless indeed, the power Of eectng their Mayor
the that follow division
and OF consequent responsibility In executive Offices
but it has not yet been found necessary in federal
state or municipal governmentsnot in the city of
New York-to vest all power in the hands of man,
and still less to deprive the people of the right Of elect
yisor and fidelity the part of the executive New
York may enjoy the benefits Of good government,
ment in board f officers elected periodically and by
the ordinary machinery bad Is which controls our
municipal elections and which, under your adminstra
regard the pending law therefore, not differing in
principle from that now in force under which you
tions Of the public, quite much they have your
own. Whether its details essentially different,
H. by its provisions you allege the Board is to meet
daily of course at an hour when the Mayor cannot be
present. Pre- that clause a; Of II which oonfers upon
Of the department is contemptibe falsehood" if
It does actually take away the means by which you
Of your office, should have hesitation In saying
that ought in these respects to be amended before It
becomes law. But am not sufficiently acquainted
with its provisions to speak decsvey of its character in
these respects. Nor, although have known something
the members be- Of the Lessat1re b whom IT has been
with or to differ from you in saying that had its orr
gin in personal interest rather than public advantage
can, however, and do agree with you in opinion that
the disposition far too general procure from the e
gsature the enactment Of laws for the promotion Of the
private interest for the enhancement of the official
powers, of those by whom they are solicited
AS desire to confer with you in this correspondence
ring to point in connectonwi,h this subject of which
mention was made in the conversation you invited
upon IT. shall be doing nothing which you will deem
unjust or improper, when say that you have been
member Of the political party with which you con
position you now fill with much ability. / said to
You then that had heard approximations expressed
that the claims and interests of your party would not be
forgotten neglected, although they might for time
be Kept in the background apd that the absolute
ment might possibly be used to convert It into an To-
strument OF pc tca favortism and control had not
on t ssd a aage not any to
any regard whatever had been paid to political
sideratons in removals or appointment and of your
declaration that you would act upon any such
motives. But political emergencies change and men In
power sometimes change with them; and every is
liable to be Influenced more less by sympathy with
those with whom he acts and BY regard for
already incurred well avors in the future that may
be expected Besides, may not always be fortunate
enough to secure the services of Mayor free from
party bases and prede stions yourself and! laws
muft be made for general not for special cases. they
must be SO framed as to protect against their being
abused by bad men, even II compelled for that
purpose to cnrta the power they confer upon
the good Absolute power which you might use with
exclusive reference to the public good might be welded
theory Of all institutions implies and assumes the
necessity and the policy OF restricting the exercise Of
civil power; and much admire the energy and
nest vigor which has made the ten weeks Of your ad
pal government of New York, should hesitate before
yenturng from the brief though brilliant experience
discard from the city charter important and vital
principle Of all free government.
should become law, you will find your appreheuscns
Of its maligD effects to have been without foundation;
that the Police Department will be quite much under
your control for all the legitimate purposes of good
government as II Is at present. that the liquor shops
may still be closed Sunday; and that occasion
will arise for your relnquishment of the position in
which you have achieved much distinction and
dered such distinguished service to great and grow
ing city.
submit these views with entire respect and Difference
TO your judgment, which am well aware is far
likely to be correct than mine inasmuch you far
more familiar with the subject. / presume that you
will have objection that this communication should
be laid before the public through the press to which
you very promptly communicated the interesting letter
whic II 10 intended to acknow Wedge.
lam, very respectfully, your obedient servant
HENRY ]. RAYMOND.
The Times Contempt q se.