The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-18

Ths .ogrsss q Municipal Anarchy.
Il seems that tho gentlemsa who call tdem-
selves . Board Of Metropolitan Police Co@mis-
soners, not content with awaiting the slow deci-
sion Of the courts On the validity Of their claims,
have resolved to make an attempt to obtain,
either by force or by trick, the property and the
functions which they would enjoy were the Met
rop0litan Police act of last session declared valid
and constitutional. Mr.. Superintendent Tall
madge Is understood to be taking "active move
ments against the present administration Of the
Police department of the city" In apprehension
of the collision which must ensue should he con-
tinue to tamper with the officers and men Of the
police force, Mayor Wood hes addressed to Mr..
Simeon Draper letter, which we publish else
where, exherting him and his colleagues to en-
ploy the time that muet intervene before the
Judgment of the Court of Appeals is rendered,
rather In attempting to acquire O knowledge OF
the duties Of Police Commissioners than In striv-
Ing to embarrass tho authorities now In posses
sion. With the experience we have, It can hard
" be hoped that tho letter will have salutary
effect Men bent on ruthless usurpation are no;
likely to be deferred from their alm By mere
considerations Of justice and propriety. And We
confess we look forward, with no slight alarm. to
the prospect of an open collision between the two
sets of Police authorities during the present week
II there were any shame In the leaders Of the
party which has plunged US into our present fear
full predicament, they would surely blush when
they reflect on the novelty they have introduced
into the conduct Of party political strife In this
country. No party before them neither the
democrats, nor the Know Nothings, nor the
wings, nor the old republicans nor the fede-
ralists-was ever so faithless to principle as to
attempt to subvert the republican principles on
which our institutions rest, for the sake of punish
ing their antagonists or rewardng their own party
The honor of dealing the first blow at that cor
ner-stone Of nberty-local selfgovernment-
longs wholly to the republican majority of the
New York Legislature, and to Its leaders, Thur
low Weed, and William Fl. Seward. Other par
ties, obtaining power, have deprived their oppo-
nents Of Offices, and distributed them among
their friends; have enacted party measures, and
drive the public sentiment into their particular
channel and to divert 1t from all otherA But no
pArty-tin these Albany republicans came-was
ever 20 lost to patriotic feelings, and 90 utterly
reckless Of the ultimate fortunes of tho nation,
~ to deliberately take away from their oppo-
nents the cardinal rights Of frecmen, in order to
achieve o party triumph, and to reap party
harvest of spoil
The attempt is unparalleled In all our history
there never has been one like 1t. States Aayo
occasionally had to resist usurpe.iens on tss part
Of the federal government; bat NJ c;E sas
ever-till now-beeu forced toAeless iseeIfasai.ss
the usurpatons of the State authorities; for
never was there, till now In any Ssste, DON'T
nant party unconscious or careless 81 tho crown
ing Importance Of maintaining at all hazards,
the base and foundation Of our free Institutions
free municipal government In our Hercest pollti-
In minoritles those rights which could not be taken
away without undermining the whole free fabric,
and giving the lie to principles Of democracy.
The late New York Legislature is the first exam
pie of body ready TO pull down the house about
our ears in the hope of plumber during the frucas
On what principle do Gov. King and his friend
justify their attempt to step in here and govern
uss Qm fact per oliyn Jaot per s: Gov. Kings
Commissioners are mere deputies Of himself; If the
acts are declared valid he will be the real head of
the police By what right does he dare to as
some the appointment OF our police and the adj
ministrstion OF the funds we appropriate to pay
for thems By what right does Governor King
dare to lay out park hero for Us with our
money By what right does Governor King
dare to build city hall here with
our money! How does he come to have any
thing to do with such things, any more than the
Governor Of Massachusetts, or the Pope Of Romes
When did We ever ask him for anything of the
kinds Where Ii his authority, express or i'm
pliedG Wherein is he better authorized to spend
our money or to appoint our police than Lord
Napier or NJ. de Sartiges? What have we to do
with himY
And this atrocious attempt to usurp our
rights and spend our money leads, as seems like
ly, to open collision between two rival sets OF
police officers this week, with its inevitable con-
sequences of free rowdyism and fragrant anarchy,
on whose shoulders will the responsibility rest
Are there no laws that would reach such scandal
lous stretches Of usmped authority?
Tm QUARANTINE SrATIoS.-Wc are glad to
see that Justice Clerke has issued an injunction
against the Quarantine Commissioners, forbid
ding them to proceed with the erection of build
ines on the Land purchased by them for yellow
fever depo. at Scsuine's Point, Staten Island;
and we hope that the nature of the issue joined
will permit an inquiry into the speculations in
reel estate which are generally understood to
have been the principal motive for the selection
Of this spot, and the establishment of a branch