The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-29

Ing. sSe csanisisms who are To presae ovsr
ttere several matters shall be appointed without
any regard 10 their viii. and shall hold their Of
l,rs entirely iniependent Of them and of the
corpc~ale su,h,~itsS
Ttere never VAS such m outrage attempted
upoa ne ri.thts and liberties OF the citizens of
free county. II Is aasgonisiio not only to the
syirt and genius Of eli our institutions, bet II is
IN open viosssoa o. the constitution of the State.
Tho principle which, more than any other, en-
tseS into the framing Of that instrument was
use principle OF Decentralization: 10 make every
village. to~n. county aud city Independent of
de State In regard TO their purely local govern
uent SO true Is this. that In the address to the
p,ople Issued BY the convention which framed
the lat Constitution OF this State, Il Is directly
snrmed - one of the leading features of that
instrument thai IL makes all important State off,
csrs elective by the people Of the State, and all
important city and county officers elective by the
pcoese Of the respective locslltica And no mat
ts how we may differ ~ 70 tho necessity for
change In cur city government AS to
the Necessity for divorclng police from poll
dcs-~bch wS TIE lying excuse for the
rev MerspoIsaa Police bill-we ought
nos 10 ssbuis tanely 70 dcprivssoa Of our uu-
questionable ishtA We ought to guard With
great jealousy every one Of our municipal privi-
legs, end 70 resist the sligAtest encroachment
upon them. Much more ought we to do 80 when
that ercrosehmeut Is not mere matter Of form,
but when Its object Is TO quarter upon US q lot Of
obscure politicians, "a commissioners, st an ex-
pense 10 the Treasury Of two or three hundred
thousand dollars year.
Jrs look at the consistency of these misers-
be, corrupt pda.isaical, niger worshipping le-
gs,ssors at Albany. working under the influence
Of VIM H. Seward They profess a great and
conscierHousrespect for the personal and political
rights Of the poor African; and yet they have no
respect ct Ill for the rights Of the million clti-
sens Of this metropolis and suburbs They pas
cint resolutions In favor Of amending the consti-
tuition 70 % TO extend the franchise to the colored
citizens Of the State, and place them on par
With white men. 30 far a. their vote goes
snd they disesanchise the enlIghtened citizens Of
this metropolis. and tel them that they are no,
Ct 70 exercise the franchise. even for their own
iocA odhcem Could impotence end ignorance
70 farther.
The fact Is that such Of these Laws A. create
ecmnixioaers 70 be appointed b. the Governor,
with or without the consent OF the Senate. are on
their face clear violations Of the Constitution.
and will. We have no doubt. be 10 declared by
the courss. The Legislature bad just about ~
much right 10 vest the Governor ~lth the sp-
pointment Of tAes city oncers - they would
have TO se~t him with The appointment Of Mayor.
Aldermen and Counciimen, OF ~ Congress would
have 10 give TO the President the sppointmen, Of
COR State Canal Commi~acoerS The principle Is
exActly the same II thsrefore behooycs AL Of our
citizens who are disposed to be jealous Of their
political rights and privileges. TO interest them
selves In this important struggle The State
Legislature, no more than the general govern
ment, must never b. allowed 10 rsrrp righe ex-
cluslvely belonging TO the people Of this city.
We must always be prepared to resist such
usurpaticn not only by recourse TO the courts,
bat by recourse also 20 other constitutional
means First among these Il the rigst OF publicly
assembling and protesting against such mes-
sarea We hope TO see our best citizens bcstlr-
ring themselves and getting Up q tremendous
public demonstration Against the Infamous Legis-
lature Of 1867.