Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-07-02
New York Rebellion.
a HISTORY OF THE rRouBLE.
A Clear s.asomen. of the whole Matter,
IRON the New York Tribune, lsth.l

Tfrom the New York Tribune, lsth.l
To understand the position of the May
or of this city in his resistance to the laws
of the State, it is necessary TO remember
that the great quarrel now is upon the Po-
lice bill and the Charter. The Mayor him
self, with the concurrence of his friends in
the Common Council made official appli-
cation to the Legislature for an amended
charter. The application was heard, the
subject sent to the committee of Cities and
Villages, and there deliberately discussed
by all who took an interest in it. A Char
ter was reported from that COMMITTEES,
passed regularly through the various sta
ges, and was finally adopted in the House
by vote of So to IL, and in the Senate
unanimously, not single voice being raised
against it. This is one of the laws which
Mr.. Wood repudiates; a law adopted by a
majority almost unprecedented in the histo-
ry of important enactments. The consti-
nationality of this Charter has been ques-
toned seriously by no one except the May
or. The Common Council, after some un-
important abuse of the Legislature for
passing it, have gone to work under it,
have organized the departments to conform
to its provisions; and its validity and bind
ing force are acknowledged everywhere ex-
cept in the Mayors office.
The Metropolitan Police bill was not
applied for directly by the Mayor, but it
was based upon his recommendation, fire.
quently reiterated in his Messages to the
Common Council. He says to the Police,
in his Message of Jan, IL, 1855; "While
the power to appoint, suspend "and remove
is political and elective, it will be ''expec-
ting too much of human nature to suppose
that political influence can be excluded
altogether" On his own confession,
that any elective officer having the control
of the police would use them for his per-
sonal advancement, and the notorious fact
that he did SO use them in the November
election, the Metropolitan Police bill was
framed. 1t was long and ably discussed
in Committee and in the House; the lar
gest liberty and the longest reasonable time
was given for the thorough canvassing Of
its merits, while the press and the people
also took an active part and freely express
ed their views 1t finally passed the AS
sembly by 73to %, and the Senate by q to
4: another instance of remarkable unanim-
ity. The appointment of Commissioners
was given to the Governor. on the ground
that he is far removed from the city and
its political broils, while the Mayor HIM
self was made one of the Commissioners.
! This act took effect from its passage,
about the middle.of April. No indication
of resistance was given until the Commits
sioners Except the mayors of New York
and BROOKLYN met for organization. when
they were served with an injunction by Mr.
Wood, restraining them from entering mp
on their Office. They peacefully complied
with the order: it was ably argued and dis
solved. MIR. Wood immediately got out
another injunction, technically different, but
substantially the same. This also was ar
gued; and promptly dissolved, but Mr..
Wood had during the proceedings, obtain
ed writ of quo scarranfo, demanding that
the Commissioners should show by what
authority they claimed their offices-in
other words to settle the constitutionality
of the law under which they proposed to
take control of the Police Department.
This was the first tangible movement tode-
eide the only possible doubt as to the Com
missioners' rights. The refusal of per-
manent injunction was an indirectacknowl-
edgment, on the part of two Judges, that
the law was constitutional. For the pur-
fpose of hurrying the final adjudication, the
writ of quo ,rarranto was passed up pro-
forma, without argument, to the full bench
was made, and after patient consideration,
the Court affirmed that the act was consti-
tutional, and denied the motion to take the
case to the Court of Appeals. People not
thoroughly acquainted with the Mayor
naturally supposed that he would respect
the mandate of the Supreme Court; but he
had no such idea; he forthwith appealed
and the case came before the Court of APP
peals on Tuesday, where it was at once ia
ken up, and is now under consideration.
1t thus appears that, SO far, the Mayor
has failed ON every legal question which he
has raised. Even the matter of taking
public money to pay his costs and fees in
these suits, the ordinance for which was
amended by his own hand so as to increase
the appropriation in his favor by $4,000,
is decided against him, Judge of the Su-
preme Court having granted final injunc-
ton restraining the Comptroller from pay
ing any such bills.
The Metropolitan Police commissioners,
soon after the Supreme Court had decided
in their favor, began active operations
They called for a surrender Of the books and
papers of the Chief; but he told them the
Mayor had removed the documents to his
own Office. They appointed the old Chief
as Deputy Superintendent, and orders were
given to all captains to report to him.
Captain Carpenter, of the Fifth, and Cap
tain Squires, of the Eleventh Wards, and
several captains in Brooklyn, at once COM
piled. Mr.. Wood forthwith turned Car
peatcr and Squires out Of Office. Mr.. Car
penter was made Deputy Superintendent by
: the Metropolitan Commissioners, and soon
after the rank and file began to divide in
some wards, until eight or nine captains
and over three hunder men in this city alone
have declared for law and order. Mr..
Wood, sitting under guard in his private
! room and allowing no one to approach,
{ has gone through the form. of trying and