New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-11
FERNANDO WOOD.
To the Editor Of The N. Y. Tribune.


SIR: Mayor Wood has sent forth, by way Of excuse
for his anxiety to be reelected to the Office, letter
addressed to Moses Taylor and others, who for some
unaccountable reason. have been induced to commend
his pretended virtues.
The document which those gentlemen signed could
not have been written by either of them, and out Of
common charity itmust be supposed that they didnOt
know its contents II carefully prepared, for the
purpose of enabling him to come before the people
with his answer which contains scarcely one truth
Itmay be that he set about it in good earnest to re-
form some of the abuses Of the city, such as did not in
terfere with his interest.
What has he done to put down the spirit of gambling
in lottery policies What has he done to suppress the
sale of tickets in foreign lotteries Nothing. What
has he done to give efficiency to the Police Nothing.
The truth of which the gentlemen who addressed
him are more gOnrant than the schoc-boys along the
Shawangunc Mounains is that the efficiency OF the
police except in a few places along Broadway, was
never more inefficient than it now Is Extensive rob-
berries and burglares almost nightly committed
the thief is neither caught the stolen property re-
coyeled. Instances innumerable OF large robbie
RIGS by which the citizen has been beggared with no
restoration. =.
Where are the proofs of an nhexible determination
to enforce wholesome maxms OF economy ana integ-
v in the municipal legislature Isl to be found in the
nomination of such james Irving "a butcher(
10 the Office Of Superintendent of Repairs and Supplies
Ia il TO be found In the Controller Report tor carnage
hire In the illegal and outrageous expenditure for ras-
ing the Joseph Walkerl Is it in the signature to the
warrants to enable the Superintendent head of the
Department Of Streets to take $500 900 in six months
for cleaning streets? Or in his attempt In the form OF
tax to take out ofhe pockets Of the citizens S2O OO0
BY an illegal tax? Compare his acts with his prcten.
sions. His example gives the lie to his xofessons.
But he complains of want of authority to do his
duty and excuses himself by the assertion OF down
right and absolute fasehOOds. He complains that he
has not been able TO close the rumhops on the Sab
bath by reason of the act OF the Legislature known as
the Maine Liquor law. This Is untrue; That law dd
not interfere in any manner with the laws ior tne oo-
seryance ofthe Sabbath. He has the same power now
in regard to them that he had. He finds it con:
yepien to obtain the suffrages of both the good ana
the vicious portion of the community by charging upon
the laws the fault He complains that he cannot lock
up the poor degraded and wreched prostitutes Does
he EXPECT by this catch the votes OF real ChBtians
If he does they ought first to knor who the women
were that he did arrest and chO were, by means OF the
habeas corpus, taken from bis unhoy and unnghteous
grasp Let the inquiry be made, or let him answer If
he can-How many of his policemen and officers now
live with and fed and clothed by the wages OF the
iniquity of these poor, degraded women! Why did he
not begin to clear the Augean stable at home!
The indscrmlnae arrest of all females who had viO
lated no laws but those of nature and of God with
those who acting in obedience to the stern require
ments of poverty required the interference Of the ju
dical power and because il was afforded to protect
the innocent and not the guilty this woudbe poten
tate cries aloud against the action OF the Judiciary
When be charges that such rere again sent at large
"to outrage decency he utters foul mouthed caumny
Nontssuch were dscharged-such as had Outraged
"deceney were then, and now are subject to the ex-
ercse OF his power and to punishment. Thanks to
the Lower House of last Winter, that they defeated
this modern hero.
He SAWS that the gambng-houses wire broken up
of this cannot speak-but In the causes noI proper
10 be discussed under bis interference to prevent
the proper punishment.
Let this modern hypocrite who thirsts after more
power and who "rould rather be the Chiet Adg'arHf
''0( this c1ty than hold any Office IN me Stdf, the
next Legislature will clothe him ruth s.tctenf legal
oufAQsty to carry ont the reforms Which ne hds I'M
fi1h answer few questions
Have you not authority TO inquire what members Oh
your Police Department of which you are the mead,
consor with and are fed or clothed or supported oy
common prostituesl How many and which OF them
are or have been thieves Have you not power 10 re-
fuse to turn out an Aperican to put In foreigner
Have YOU not the power to close the runshoPs ON the
Sabbath TO punish those who sell rum on that DAY
to keep the peace of the city by the arrest OF al dsor-
DERBY persons, whether prostitutes or Others! have
you not the power to withhold your name rom .h
rant upon the city treasury, when you know the
money has not been earned; to punish vice; 10 re-
ward virtue to appoint good men and true 70 once;
10 refund to a bank money that may have been ms
placed to your credit; to make restitution when your
gains have been ill gotten; in short to do all tna al
honest man ought to wish to do!
You speak the truth when YOU say that the moral
power OF your station has enabled you to do much out
will fail TO convince the people tnti tne e"Ity
and sriU" which the Almighty has planted In your
natrre ought 10 be gra,ifed by enforcing upon you
more power. 49,, ..-.o, .rrba5
You failed in your unholy effort to become head Oh .ne
State and if the people true to themselves !ou
will no longer be permitted 10 disgrace the ciiy
Tell the people the name OF ore who mas aPp
hi, name TO your call who Is engaged Id any IL
save that of making money. Does any one OF taem
employ any portion Of hir time for the public, e. as
any ono Of them ever given any portion OF his Tune 70