The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-08

avAlpent with due Of Its magnitude, and . Arm
determination to seharge It with 6dsy and usefulness
TO make laws and properly govern city like this,
h duty As responsible and onerous In its performance
as il il high and honorable In character.
The extending and the increasing population of
New York have already surpassed the ability of the Law
making power to provide for their interests Oar pros
periy has been rapid that local legislation hitherto
been unable keep pace with its progress The many
and varied nteress-the vast and complicated
Cons existing between ourselves and every other section
Of own well ss Of most foreign counriesthe po
suiar character Of the population and the
which continually developed, demand of us to exert
every effort to make the provision mperativey demanded
- present position well progressive great
fear, however we do not realize even pre-
greatness much less that plainly indicated in the
future, the mighty metropolis OF confederation
herring humid ed millions ofAmerican freemen.
Upon careful review OF the municipal history of this
intelligent forethought have been displayed in its public
sonnerce, science and education Whilst within about
. baf century, New York, with its immediate dependen
sies from population Of 600 in 1900 has arisen TO
- he third city in the world in 1856 and in all the
Violence educational advantages commercial wealth and
enterprise to position second to yet its form
Gf government, its internal regala ons the integrity
With which Its public affairs managed and in the
adaptation Of it's municipal adminstra ion to public
wants, 1t Is to-day far inferior to other cities in
- Union Of half its population and importance Whilst
have progressed in the accumulation of the elements
Of prosperity have refrigerated in the to
sarve our power and provide for the necessities OF
The idea Of government, whether national State
uncipal is very simple. 1t Is merely government II
- the OF the public interesta provision for the
general welrethe enacng and exactlng of such rules
and regulations viii best protect the rights and in
terests OF ALL without d elimination to GLASS sect.
The federal government is restricted to the exercise of
such have been directly delegated by the States
and to such subjects of legislation specific My
enumerated in the constitution. The powers OF the
State extend to all that aPpertains to the
Commonwealth, conferred upon the towns, countless
b. and Of the city government to everything connected
With local matters under its charter of
government fhe city is far ui tartan and pra,
ideally perceptibe than either Of the other
directly involves and affects the com ort interest
health Of every citizen. is living present fact
We see and feel it daily There none so humble
obscure, powerful and rich, TO be exempt from
- operations. Every man, woman and child OF resi-
dent population is dependent upon government as ad-
nnistered IN this city Nor is its influence confined 70
the limits Of its jurisdiction 1t is wide
spread throughout the land Tae OF thousands OF
Walters from other cities and States witness its opera
ten, and carry home its impressions which in turn
Affect their localities for veal Therefore,
New York and the Conduct of corporate affairs
NOT alone for ourselves and though cannot sayand
I hope ay never be able with truth to say-that New
York is politically what Paris is to France still the fac.
IT, that the influence of its prosperity adversely
much dependent upon its local government New York
Affects wider extent OF territory, Involving VITAL
Louis Napoleon and Queen Victoria together
Am not therefore justified in declaring that our local
legislation and tie management OF executive Offices
10 say no,hrg Of future destiny 1t appears to
Mat temporary expedents and feeble efforts seldom
fisan interest eospr millions to The peopecompri.e
shout ali that has been done for this great CITY, by its
public authorities; aud that with an reform agitation
and assumed close attention to local politics.
stangty deficient in the grasp Of intellect and readh of
comprehension necessary to devise proper provision for
New York 1t is uuch less for New York as it will be-
The introduction OF the of the Croton river and
the projection Of the Central Park about all tina
been done in keeping with lioeral policy.
Ruf MAJ he ked Whp ia ton LATE
10 these respects think not though have
attained the dimensions Of advanced maturity
errors and omissions OF the past by the adoption Of
corresponding with the prospects before
nodeInize the width and regua y of the streets of old
New York, new its extreme southern border; nor
can we now, nor is it desirable that we sho aid
attempt to initiate the great cities Of Europe,
n the ornamental grandeur Of public build
ings, or the magni6cence OF public squares
and parks but in all that is to the physical
veil being to the full development of the trade aud
merce and TO the preservation of property and the pro-
motion of the general welfare is not TOO late to devise
and adopt permanent measure In keeping with our
present well as future condition.
Having in view another communication detailed
IN Its sugges tions, and more recommendatory in its
character do not propose now to go into discussion
OF the improvements required to remedy the defects
supply the omissions Ct the past i is sufficient for the
present occasion to revert to the whence have
derived prosperity and generally to the leading
!ecessary to preserve maintain and increase it:
49, ~ vbat e New York the most indebted an
in what il II that she Is mos. Efficient II in discussing
these questions, 1t seems that an innoya.!n las
kind by the Introduction Of national topics beg you 70
that city i, Of national interest its Success
Of national Importance, and that It's Use down
fall is nseparaby CONNECTED viii and more directly
pendent upon the legislation and policy the general
e-T,ernmeIs than that of any commonwealth in the
Union. Therefore if for the first time an attempt IS
rate authorities upon the general cover nment
by an Official eemand for recognition of our weight,
t ask that the magnitude Of the interests involve.
may be deemed suhi :ens warrant for the inroduc-
ZION of topics apparently foreign to this occasion
FOREIGN COMMERCE
With Its coneomitant, domestic commerce, IS
that interest, the first aud most lastingly bene
6cal Of all departments OF in6usry-he richest 10 lts
ing the mantle Of civilization disseminating peace and
Intelligence and ,od will from man 70 man; as an IN
gtrument in the hands Of Almighty COD by which MS
is carried to the furi hermos ends OF the earth we
indebted for the foundation upon which rests the
erner stone Of all our prosperity.
Our power is derived from commerce. Our geographi
cal petition together with the energy, industry ability
and CAPITA of people, has enabled to outitp
sister cites in the struggle for commeres mastery ana
out commerce could not have accomplished this; i
has added to population half million in quarter
Of century-has drawn TO the capital and enter
prise OF every quarter of the eathhxs enabled us To
lead in of beLevolence, philan hropy aud re.
HQfou: AID sister cities and states in building up
their own localities and has developed the agri:ul
tural mineral and manufacturing resources OF the whole
country. without commerce, the New iosA Oh tooay
would have been but little more populous than the New
York of Il last century II Is commerce that has made
ms what and to il must look to maintain the
vupremacy we possess. Therefore 1t is important TO re-
tain this great element Of power unimpared With It We
san be everythiDg-whout it. nothing Now as this in
Serest like oil ohers, hourshes INST when least sub
jected govern mental Interference undoubtedly IN
full consideration OF the question presented we cannot
overlook he restrictions which have been imposed upon
d BY the fedeI al government.
In nv opinion the mode a collecting revenue by i'm
poets heretofore adopted has been detrimental not only
70 our own interests but TO the of the whole country
The levyrg of mposts upon important Ms Is to me ex-
tent Of the impost hindrance to commerce. AID any
thing that hndrance to commerce adverse to every
other department industry. To declare that every
cargo or article merchandise brought 70 port from
foreign country, shall be subjected to duty, viz: tax
bet 1t be allowed to shore for sale or consup
ton IT, to the extent OF the sum demanded together
with its mode Of collection, obs ructon TO importa
tions and thus far injurious - commercial intercourse
with foreign bations.
49,: l4G dL - %. mo-