Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-25

The Black Republican Legislature of New York,
following the bad example Of the Democratic Leg
islature of Louisiana, at its late session enacted
law taking from the city Of New York the ap-
polntment and government of its police force, ana
transferring these grave matters TO the Governor
at Albany, and such creatures as he might select
The Mayor Of the city, deeming this transfer un-
constitutional, has resisted the authority OF the
Governor and bis commissioners, and the conse-
quence il, New York has two sets Of police
Conflicts have necessarily followed. On the 18th
instant it was announced by telegraph that Mayor
Wood bad been arrested, together with Sheriff
WiIlet. The preliminary events to this movement
on the part of the new reign, appear to be as fol
lows:
Joseph s. Taylor, Street Commissioner, recently
died, and each psrty-the State authorities and
the New York city notwithstanding different
views Of the existing Law upon the subject
claim the right to fll the vacancy. The Gov
ernor, siding with bis party, and sfter taking
legal advice, appointed D. D. Conover to the otce.
Mayor Wood, still claiming the right to fill the
vacancy, ordered Mr. Turner the Deputy Street
Commissioner, and Sheriff Wilett, to keep Mr..
Conover out Of the premises, or TO elFct him It he
succ eded in obtaining admission. These orders
were carried fully into effect by Turner and Wilett
assisted by members of the old police, who had
been instructed to support them by the Mayor.
Then. upon application of Conover, the Sup rior
| Court issued an order for the arrest of Mayor
Wood Mr. Turner and Mr.. Wilett and directing
that they should be held to bail in 50, 900 for
assault upon Mr.. Conover, and obstructing him in
bis Office. Recorder Smith also Issued warrant
for melting to riot and it put into the hands
! of MT oil off ha nlio ho thi
Mayor in his Office, and, laying bis hand upon his
shoulder, said, 81 arrest you, sill" The Mayor
seemed TO be asstonisbed at this, and turning to
some Of the old policemen in his Office ssid "Men,
put that man out" and they did so. Coroner Per-
ry next charged with the execution Of the
warrant, and large detachment of the new police
was detailed to assist him. In the mean time the
Mayors Office had become surrounded by a large
number Of desperate characters Towards them
Coroner Perry advanced with his fifty men. The
roofs Of the houses and windows were filed with
intensely interested lockers on, but so great was
the curiosity to s g how the men would besr them
selves that it checked ell expressions of leViIy,
and breathess stiffness marked the anxious mo-
ments
The Park was throngPd. The City Hall was
6lleo with Mr. Woods police The main gates to
the hall we're closed, and the srcbway Grained
with a corps de reserve. The other entrances
were equally guarded. The advanced guard of
the new force, with Metropolitan Police" upon
their heads, under Lieut. Serring approached the
rear entrance of the City Hall. The crowd made
rush upon them, but quickly repealed.
Then he proceeded to ascend the steps, and was
met by the old police. Many ''roughs,p not of
the old police, charged upon the new, who fought
with great determination Many fell on both sides,
and blood flowed freely from many comhatant.
= For moment the Metropolitan force oVerwhelm-
ed by superior numbers, gave way, but soon
formed again, and again attempted TO ascend the
steps; but they taken in the rear and in con-
sequence Of turning to defend themselves in that
direction, their line became split The scene now
, was terrible one. Blows upon naked heads fell
thick and fast, and men rolled helplessly down the
steps, to be lesped upon and beaten until life
seemed to be almost extinct. Six of the new
police very severely hurt from blows with
clubs the head and ten less severely hurt.
The plumber of the old police, and their allies,
hurt, has not been ascertsned, but the impression
was that none on that side had been fatally hurt.
! Coroner Perry aud bis officer Serring reported
to the Recorder that the force under their COM
mand had been cut TO pieces. The Corongr then
made reQuistion on Major Gen. Sanford for ten
companies Of militia. By this time Sheriff Wlett
bad shifted sides, and avowed his determination to
support the execution Of the law against Mayor
Wood; and the warrant was now amended and d.
l. rected to him or bis deputies, and in an nour or
q two after the bloody anray sooVe described, the
Mayor quietly permitted the warrant to be served
upon him in his Office. His expectation, however,
was that he would soon be discharged upon hat e.
+ as corpus, but it unluckiy happened that Judge
Russell, who was supposed to be Disposed to render
this kindly service, had gone out of town, and
I and the Mayor had to remain in custody all night
9 There is no doubt that the appearance Of the 7tt
Regiment in the vicinity Of the City Rsl unques
tionsbly had some effect upon Mayor Wood ant
his party, and perhaps was the controlling influences
in inducing him to submit TO the arrest. Sever
regiments had received orders to be in readiness tC
act, and FIVE were under all night. Tive
thousand citizens of respectable standing bad vol
unteered their services as aids to the Order Sc
far as preserving the public peace was concerned
A warrant issued against Alderman Wilson
for being one of the foremost in the fight on May
, or Woods side. At O'Clock on Tuesday evening
while IN custody, Mayor Wood issued prociama
ton, deDouncing the "usurper'," claiming that
had only been through his efforts that the city ha'
not been deluged with blood, and recommending Il
all citizens to respect persons and property and
avoid excitement and collision.