The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-21


Rfoedom and state CcntralAEatso0.
The delegates whom Governor King has ap-
pointed: to administer tho police affairs Of this
city under the name Of Metropolitan Police Com.
misiosers, seem to think that the struggle in
which they are engaged as the antagonists and the
Mayor as the defender Of municipal liberty Is the
very best joke in the world. They have replied
to the Mayors appeal to them to avert collision
between two sets Of policemen In letter full of
smart quips, mild jokes, and sort Of mufled Joe
Millers. They evidently roared In their sleeves
when they wrote it-the rOguee; they would have
their joke, even were 1t on the ruins Of nations
liberty. Modern critics have denied that Nero
6ddled when Rome was burning; but the jocu-
larity of the Commissioners, when all that we
hold dearest is at stake, shows US that there Is
nothing in human nature that renders such hard
ness of heart impossible. Some of the republican
papers intimate that the Commissioner letter
will astonish Mayor Wood. We should rather
think it would. A man would need good deal
Of self possession and GOODNESS not to be very
much startled by letter which, emansting from
body of men in high station combines the flip
pancy of the prig with the frivolOusness of the
collegian.
That other pillar Of the Stats-Mr. Oakley
HALLS not fippant, or frivolous, or jooose. He
il merely weak. Feebleness is his forte-feeble-
ness and procrastination. Like Aaron Burr, he
never does to day what by any possibility he
may DO tomorrow. And, in this crisis, he is
true to his character. He throws his mite into
the pool of discord in the shape of "card, " in
viting burglars and incendiaries to avail them
selves of the conflict of authorities at present
plunging the city into anarchy. What an act for
District Attorney! How can the party ever
repay such self sacrifice!
Meanwhile the desire among the Substantial
citizens and people of the city to see the late
scts nulli6ed, and the self-governing rights of
this metropolitan city maintained at all hazards,
grows daily in strength and power. The people
you meet are all of one mind; there is no differ
ence of opinion among them: all-even the usual
opponents of the democratic party-agree that
the Legislature has committed shameful usurpa-
ton, that it would be disgracefal for us to re-
linquish our self-government to the miserable
ton must not be allowed to remain at rest
whatever be tho result of the appeal to the
courta People are beginning to feel that this
contest-which the silly Commissioners treat as o
jokes really a life and death matter for all Of
u.s. and for the Queen city of America.
A general inquiry-among persons who are
not politicians and who merely oppose these acts
because they see that they involve a partial
Acknowledgement of New York, and consequently
initiate against it's future commercial welfare
is: Surprising that the Commissioners prevail in
the courts, what can we do them
We can answer this question.
By the charter act passed last session, it was
expressly declared that the old Dongan and Mont
gomery charters were affirmed, and were not re
pealed They are still the law of the land. BY those
charters complete and full powers of self govern
ment were granted to the people Of the city
powers which have never been relinquished, or
even in part given up. 1t follows that by these
old charters, which are still law paramount, and
which were re-affirmed even by the very Legisla-
ture which is trying TO disfranchise us we are in
vested with all the powers of municipal selfgov-
eminent with which the Governor and his clique
at Albany pretend TO have been clothed by the
various unconstitutional acts of last session. And
assert these powers Of self government, in virtue
Of the old charter.
We therefore suggest to the corporation Of the
city the propriety OF acting upon these old (and
newly rc-ailirmed) charters at their earliest
convenience. They concede to them, az the
chosen representatives of the city,
complete exercise of municipal govern
meDt. Let them act upon the concession. Let
them reappoint all the police, and swear them
rs ''watchmen" under the old charters; for this IL
evidently part of municipal government Let
them make a contract for the building of new
City Hall; for that evidently IL city matter,
over which control was granted them by the old
charters Let them engage men to lay out the
Central Park; for nothing certainly could fall
more precisely under the head of municipal
business than this. Let them appoint Port War
dens; for their duties are peculiarly municipal
In fine, let them perform, under and in virtue of
the old charters, each and all the acts which
the unconstitutional measures OF last session en-
trusted TO the tools Of the Albany clique; and
when assailed let them plead the old charters and
the clause reairming il in the charter Of 1867 as
their defence. That will be q position which
will puzzle the Albany spoiismcn TO overthrow
THE QUARREL FOR THE SPous or THE
CuBAs FuIBUsTEKs.-We publish in another
column n curious and interesting erPost Of that
portion Of the materiel Of flibustcring expedi
ton which Commodore Law calls "hardSarc,"
and which win serve 81 a guide 10 the manifest
dostinarans for future operations We arc To-
debtcd for this valuable Information 10 quarrel
that has sprung up between ex-Gen. Goicouria
bud bis late friend ex-Ainister Appleton Oak