New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-02

POLICEMEN LIABLE TO INDICTMENT SPECIAL
COMMISSION on ELECTION FRAUDS RECON-
'MENDED-CONPLAISTsA AGAINST THE HUDSON
RIVER RAIIROAD-LAW OF THEIR LIABirfEs
PUBLIC MORALS, &c.
GENTLEMEN: The Judges of the Criminal Courts of
this State are required by law 10 bring certain statutes
and subjects TO the notice of the Grand Jury at the
opening of every term. In the discharge of this duty
call vour attention to the statutes entitled "Of the
interest of money!" No more than the lawful interest
seven per cent can be received the loan Of money
in this State without subjecting the party receiving it
to the penalty of fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or
both, in the discretion of the Court.
desire you to notice also, the law which torbds
e1tortoD No public officer or person can demand or
receive larger fee reward than that whsh is fixed
by law for the performance of the service for which
the fee or reward is demanded Persons vicaungthis
statute are guilty OF misdomeanor.
You are respectfully referred to the statutes which
define the crimes of bribery, gambling and sale of lot
terry policies These ofIenses misdemearors.
will peently solicit the particular attention OF the
Grand Jury to the la relating to the sale of noxicat'
il LIQUORS. The retail of this article without license
in this city is crime punishable by fine and nptson
mert. Ten thousand dram shops are at this moment
occupied for that Illegal traffic 10 this metropolis. Tue
blended victims Of the Illicit trade reelng around
IA ike spectres to haunt the mercenary authors OF
their ruin. or invoking from the cells Of their gloomy
rrsons mprecstous loud and just against that partial
,dmiu,raton of Law which consigned them to desra.
daton and s1row but permits their desuoyers 10 rese
in luxurious pleasure and oven rewards them with Oh
ficial lonors.
During the present year 3i2 convic,s have been re-
corded 10 the Cour, Of general Sessions Of this city aud
2l5n the COur of Special Sessions In the same tine
there have been l acquitas in the former Court aud
a. attic MI
tory asceraled that only "a were sober when the sub
ect matter OF the accusations occurred and ai but lo
Iw,re babitually incorporate! Mote than one-hau OF
his multitude the victims OF sqnaui poverty, ana
their crimes were induced by real want.
Netiye.tou Americans form bat small fraction OF
the whole number OF persons ireo toey pens oat go
and of the foreigners S63 are natives OF Ireland!
Gertlonop ia view OF these stat sites let me impure
How shall the wretched iDebriates among us Dc re
laimsd fro n their degradation ana elevated 10 tne
iprity Of men and women How shalt the humble
hut ,,speetable Door Who are accustOmed To drink
better ieir condition Can 1t be done by all the
oys Of per- uesivn and benevolerce, cdramshops
allure them on every hand While the heTtles pro-
rri,tors are permitted with inpunity 10 deal out
rosonous mixtures under the false name oil rum, ban
dy or whisky, and ella ch their seanty wages, thus
yobbing II ,f food and ratment and siieltee No,
The euporizng political economist may dlssemole on
This subject the cold nofaist may query, aud ths
fnsly iheorist may cay, but, nevertheless truth
" niGl Z. and will prevail" You can remove exces-
sye dsm-drirking Only by removing the opportunities
10 drink TO DO that you must close the dram shops
wheteiLe poison is Sold ard IN the present state OF The
Law on this subject, to cloee those ante-chambera
of prisons, ami-h HOUSES and ssywhs, you m9s.
When complaints properly before you, fndict
the yer ders those poisonous mixtures tina. craze the
brain aid bum up tie vltas OF the dnnkef. ms 10
the on remedy for the evil that The law now an 'rds
and Lis remedy does erist. / am gsre OF the fact
that since paris OF the Prohbory lay were decided to
be unconstitutional by the mere majority vote OF the
Court of Appces out which are still he'd 70 be oher,
wise by large number OF the very soun5est juss OF
this State and nation the suggestion that no iaw exists
in this ~ ate scain-t the free sale of intoxicating liquGs
has obtained advocates but 1t clear proposition
that such consequence can possibly ioo hom tnat
decision. There kao on ne 'nctct ~ such safes,
and The cply sensible inquiry Is What Is the law
Til, is pot appropriate place to snbmt an eluboras-
cd argument on hls question. but feel no reluctance
IN sstume al the responsibilities otmy position for THIS
1vnresion Of NJ option hattke unlicensed safe 20 noe
n mid g1eaaOr But at This point, gentcnen, We en-
countr smother obstacle 10 succtss IN thus greAe-t oil
uefern reforms. la ibis city al, m.'demcanofs are
niaIily liable in the Court Of Special tocssons. aud
The Ger ersl Sc sscns has Lot Jurisdiction 10 such cases.
uIle - the accused party bling brought bet toe
committing magistrate shall elect 10 be tired oy aJuy
Th statute ecctualy depives you o The po sei W cs
in o., mr., mse~ except in the few caes @bch may DO
s1nt nm from ttc Special Sessions, and experience has
bown u at the latter Cop il net burdened Win con-
plants ogaDst illegal vendors OF iatosicaos Ela'is
have thus extended py reuerns on thls "a Y, IN tne
bore that you may be Induced 10 lind Indictments 10
sueh c.scs of its alleged violation as shall come le
m.t.I, before you and that opportunity may De gwen
rt6ll tee u = W 'ir 10" oh
ucicial oecsion. On the question ot conatd1ohaiiy
there are stronger grounds - doubt respec! lne 'a
6it, If the statute comforting exclusive JarSdcn,n 90
the Special "a ssops in cases Of I'll IN tnere
e,,, WA Iespectrg that VI the Pr Jhibit ~ lay.
Ce ,lenf, my a. socatc on THIS bench yefy iolclby
arc ,0uen,ly cellec the a.teLti OF the last Grand
Jr-. cons cutc here 10 alleged violations OF the pow
81, M & the Election Law of IN STATE at the late ee;
II in this city viii press that you have re sd the
Recorders CT srge aid thai hes not failed to make
rstusi CIT mpit s-lol on ycW mnds. III TIE TINE mas
con v en- tbs aw itcompalaby the most I'M Portant
one IN OR statute socks cHa be deEed with imDottu
r, by bofios Of irresponsible rUtiAns, when officials
charged it'll the sacr cgty Of eserylee the integrity
ofibe bad, boz irtel ton.Iy violate Their t'us
sid Id tuIisssne nt follow tier pe1ery and haucs
Wien Ami oi'izsB can be fofeiby hello nom TOE
tts or cu. sero1 ~ their at empts TO reach them oy
orgaIizeo beros Of retained desperation and no a oi
tie Law be effectively raised to rsdTess tie "fong ".u
eter tie esdii1'es for municipal honor arr slins :"
reach IL ycel of ihor ambltlon though Tue pau - -
bt ssrV vith tic blood oftheir fcioH-ciiZens, Dn
Il VILE the d1,y Of those sspifans 70 Pfv,ye1 "u
ytss that Protection TSs gToog iuuy "lhDesn s a.
nS- s,ig-ien DC sttHted sufficiently se4rcus ~ r.
Uiop Tic guilt sud bling The guilty y p,c 70 q
Inlfst, fIom tie eererol spahy OF 'uI sssJ 10
stt.o of she fnanity % tteso outtsg'o, ~ -4oS
rsrTl''Cd 20 pess unimpotsL'' Tn W. T.. 80.
titrs he rea.s. To fear shat the PioPhsey o. ~ b.
y gn,fd - or own Cos,rnneet, as 1t vas O. ihe ''e-
! r-, on go ~ PrplHse s'e nHpstcre6. ti'-
b. cree eaS "1tF. nstiSas soene'i'S - - lI
1,,(oSe,ca ocrturi,s befose trey reEiizo no i,ss
| TIE Ii,,..T q toe weird ytrues toc 7Syhs. Iee DC
- "a I'D lsrpigtS MAJ b. hsoe6 ~ soue sn al
act ar roei-,t zb:oh. 3. ,se. uGe 81 - ocsNserce