New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-12
THE BROOKLYN CITY JUDGE AND THE
LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
To ne srpe,-l.cr. Of King. County:

To ne Srpey-i.crr Of KiaSr County
GKsTLEsLs: The public journals Of the 9Th inst.
advise NE of certain ecton taken by your honorable
body in relation 10 myself and the City Court lhsve
waited few days t. see If the same molesty which
dictated that action would suggest to you the propeiy
of communicating it officially to me. But i: seems
this was not part OF the programme.
The newspapers advise me tina. you have passed
resolution declaring the Office of City Judge vacant,
end directing the County Treasurer to withhold pay
uent Of my salary. This is certainly very modest IN
YOU and only wonder you did not go step further
ard declare the election OF 1854 void and order new
election. because some Of the men elected did not
suit you. This would have been quite as legal and
much more courageous than what you have done.
Now gentlemen, you will allow me In all good-na-
tuTe inform you, for il seems some OF you have not
been sppsed of it before, that my salary Is neiher
fixed by nor dependent upon you. IL Is nxed by tne
Legislature Of the State, and, happily, II Is p1ced en-
tilely beyond your control. The lie siaturc LOT only
fx ii amour but direct the Treasurer how and when
TO paw And what is little remarkable they have not
directed him 10 ask your PERMISSION "he'hef no
should Jay it NY salary thus far has been promptly
mid wien IL fell due. IL will be demanded the day
next fls due and have no doubt tie Treasurer VIII
feel il safer TO yield obedience 10 the statute OF the
State than ito Your unauthorized, impotent and mpu-
dent resolution. Should be however refuse to pay or
Won 10 audit bis account when paid have no doaDt
u,oye ali scruples of conscience
The Legislature has confided neither to you to
the County Treasurer the night or the duty of declaring
Who IL or who is not elected City Judge The people
have determined that question, and no resolving Of
yours can reverse that decision advise both you
and your outside hackers to submit with becoming
neekncss and dignity. Every lawyer knows If you
do not that lawfully discharging the duties OF
CITY judge that had a clear, admitted majority OF
all the votes cast; that Iay acts are valid aud cannot
be impenched; that my salary, while discharge the
duties cannot be legally with held nor can my rgh TO
tie Office be tried in any such back-handed way IL no
one of your number or any OF your outside advisers
has the moral courage 10 bring suit In behalf OF the
PEOPLE, and put III bail for the costs and expenses TO
ousi ne or try my title think 1t extremely small not
to say cowarGly, i'll you 10 put the Treasurer up TO
foht your battles at the expense of the county. II
YOU really believe unlawfully exercising the duties
OF the office, why do MT you or some one OF your
editorial advisers tender tie bail and bring SUIT at
o. &C | invite you 10 the contest and VIII offer you
every facility for quick fight. As FOR your resolving
nv Office vacant you might with equal modestyresove
tie Governors vacant presume Governor Seymour
would be happy to learn you had that power Ii would
be equally mode st in to direct order TO be en-
tered in the minutes of the Court declaring each of
your seats vacant and directing the Treasurer to with
hold payment of your salary. How would such an
order strike you And IN what estimate would you be
likely TO hold the author Uf such All order
Let me say, gentlemen in conclusion, that while
shall be ready at all times in every proper way to CO.
operate with you in reducing the County expenses,
clearing the jail and dispachlng ali business promptly,
| shall take special not 10 encroech on your
special province, leaving you to apporion taxes on
dogs pay nurses at the County-House, audit consa-
bles' bills, and eet good dinners as you may judge
beet; vet | shall look for equal modesty in you in
letting the business OF Courts the seats and salaries
OF Judges remain where the Legislature has placed
them. While the action of your Board Is confined to
its appropriate objects, II snail receive every respect
at my bands; but when it traDscens those limits to
Join in cowardly hue and cry, it shall receive the
treatmeut il merits. l.. ID. CULVER.
Brooklyn, June IL, 1855