The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20
THE ORIGIN or THE MUNICIPAL. TROUBLES IN
NEW YORK

conflict seem to be involved in considerable obscu-
rityi and, we have been repeatedly requested TO
state the cause and the progress of these troubles
viii endeavor to give succinct account Of the
matters they stand.
The city of New York from the earliest time to the
present has been in possession of certain chartered
privileges, among which is the right 10 elect her
officers by her own electors and this right is
guaranteed by the present constitution Of the State
Of New York. The police force of the city is exclu.
svely under the control of the mayor; but the APP
pointing power is held By commission composed OF
the mayor, the recorder and the city Judge.
Last winter the black-repubhcan legislature, con
ceiving that the city of New York not governed
well as it should be, had new charter reported
in which the commissioners of police were TO be no
longer elected by the electors of the city" as the
constitution provides, but were to be appointed by
the governor and senate at Albany. The draught OF
the new bill submitted to Attorney General Cush
ing Of the State of New York and he pronounced the
bill unconstitutional and pointed ont to the legisla
ture the section of the constitution which the bill
violated.
To avoid this constitutional difficulty the bill was
amended, and New York city, Brooklyn, and part
of Westcheser county were included in district
and in this form the metropolitan police bill' OBJ
tanned the signature of the governor and under the
well-known and long tried politicians, Simeon Draper.
Gen. Nye, and others, became The police commits
sion Of the city of New York.
The new bill was at once pronounced unconstitu
tional by many of the leading lawyers in the State
Mr. Wood, the board of aldermen, and the common
council, with the old board of commissioners, re
solved that the new bill was a most papable viola
ton of the rights of the people of New York, and
prepared to resist its execution in the way the laws
point out Steps were at once taken to test the con-
stitutionality of the new law. By consent it ran
speedily through the lower court 1t carried
by appeal up to the court Of the last resort. The
arguments have been made, and probably before
this article has been read the telegraph will indicate
the decision Of the court Of appeals
Mr. Wood has in no way recognised the new
board He has not recognised the appointees of the
new board. He has held and will hold, the proper
ty of the city till the decision of the court IL in
his favor, he will continue to hold IL if against him.
we have reason to belive that he win at once yield
the police property to the new commission.
The new commission has lis headquarters in White
street 1t has appointed large number of men,
But these men have not attempted to take possession
of any of the old staton-houses and, far as the
metropolitan bill is concerned no collision between
the new and the old police has ranspired of any ac-
count
Last week the street commissioner, MIR. Taylor,
died. According to precedent aud law his place was
supplied by Mr.. Turner. the deputy street commits
soncr, till the mayor and common council should APP
point successor Mr.. Turner took possession 1t
was r,mored that the governor had appointed man
to fill the office of street commissioner. This rumor
induced Mr. Wood to place the street commissioners
Office under the control of the police with imperative
orders to protect Mr.. Turner at all hazards. On
Monday Mr. Conover came to the office read
his commission from Gov. King, appointing him com
missioner of streets in the place of Mr. Taylor de-
ceased He was ordered to leave refused and
was forciby elected by the police. He again
the next day attempted to take possession of the
private room was ordered to leave refused and was
again elected Soon the board of aldermen elected Mr.
Dcvlin to the Office of street commissioner. He
was qualified and has possession Of the office
These proceedings created great excitement. The
Park was crowded with people The municipal po-
lice mustered in numbers 500 strong
On Tuesday, the 18th instant, it was rumored that
Mr.. Wood was to be arrested, and the rumor proved
true. Mr. Conover made affidavit before the re-
corder that Mr. Wood had committed an assault and
battery on him, by ejecting him from the Office of
commissioner. and the recorder issued warrant to
have the mayor arrested and forthwith brought be-
fore him
This warrant Of arrest was not placed in the hands
of the sheriff, is usual and proper. But as the
friends of Mr.. Wood continued to defend him per-
scnally it was put in the hands of one Of the new
policemen who had been dismissed by Mayor Wood
In fear of resistance the policeman was attended
by about fifty of the police to the City Hall As
the party left their headquarters word was sent to
Mr. Wood that fifty Of the metropolitan police were
coming to the City Hail. well armed, to take the City
Hall by storm. II not known, and could not be
known, that this armed body was ont to serve writ
which the sheriff could have served at any moment
privately and quietly. The assailing party made a
desperate effort to force their way into the City Hail.
They were met by force, and with bruised bodies
and broken heads the metropolitan police back
to make their report to the new commission.
4. Al. H. III .lJ.l-