The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-26
Important Political move mont.

Il
Important Political AOvement.
The outrageous and scandalous course of the
last State Legislature iu distranchisicg the peo-
pie Of this metropolis, aud usurpisg our munich
pal government, has had at least one good and
salutaIy effect. 1t has Disguised the hoaest and
conservative men of al parties with the thing
called black republicanism, and has aroused
them to the necessity of u vigorous aud united
resistance to its further encro achments The
anarchy and disorganizaion that have been pro
duced in this city as the Datlral fruits Of Albany
legislation, have opened the eyes of the people,
not only 0fths metropolis, bat throughout the en-
tire State, to the danger of allowing power to
remain IN the hands of party 50 ready to use it
to destroy their liberties ard iuperil their lives
and property. What has been done in New Yotk
to-day might be repeated tomorrow in Buffalo,
| Syracuse, Troy and Albany. And there is no
doubt that flushed with the success Of the attack
opened on this CITY, the same class Of legislators
would be encouraged, next session, to repeat the
attack on every other city, village, county and
town in the State, and to reduce them to the con-
diton OF mere satrapiss, dependent on the CEN
tralized power at Albany.
1t is the conviction of the imminency of that
! danger that is now producing highly beneficial
effect on the minds of the intelligent masses
throughout the State. Few communities would
desire to be tobias the highly intelligent peo-
pie of this city have been insultingly told-that
they are unfit to be trusted with the right of To-
cal self-government Few communities would
desire to see their Yz9nicipal government de-
prived of every vestige Of authority-to see the
powers Of their chief magistrate stripped from
him and conferred upon set of political adven-
turers in whose appointment or selection they had
no voice-to see all control over matters purely
and essentially local in their character taken out
Of their hands and exercised by an oligarchy, in
violation of every constitutional principle. Few
communities are so degraded as with CON-
placency to see themselves deprived Of AL
share and concern In the laying out Of
their parks, the building Of city hells, the reg7t
lation of their port and harbor concerns, and
everything else that necessarily and constitution
ally comes properly under their OWL immediate
jurisdiction. And yet the people of this great
metropolis have been subjected to all these indg.
mites, and have seen besides the peace and good
name Of the city sacrificed to the incoEpetency
and recklessness of those into whose hands the
maintenance of order was committed With |
their respect for all that has even a shadow of |
law to give it sancti'y, they have submitted to
these encroachments on their rights, resolved,
however, to use all constitutional means to ever
throw the usurpation, and render recurrence of
such things forever after impossible in this State
With this determination movement has been
set on foot to bring together and harmonic the |
various democratic factions in this city, so as TO |
render the party united and all powerful one. |
From the absolute necessity that exists for such |
harmony, there is little reason to entertain any
doubt as TO the final success of the movement. |
The members OF the American organization, too,
are as much impressed as are those OF the demo-
cratic party with sense of the iuperio1s neces-
,ity that exists for vigorous and concerted
course OF political action. Toe liberal minded, |
sensible, conservative men Of the black repubi- |
can organization are also as much disguised as
are the democrats and Americans with the anti |
republican measures Of their legislative repre-
sentatives a. Albany, and present appearances
indicate that they too will range themselves with
their quondam political opponents at the next /
election. The issue then will be between CEN
tralization and despo.ism on the one hand, and |
local selfgovernment and republicanism on the |
other. With such combination Of elements on \
the side of free municipal government there
need not be much apprehension as to the result of
the contest
We learn besides that n is the in
tention of the democratic party Of this city
to nominate az members Of Assembly men who
will do credit TO the position, and to the highly
intelligent community which they are TO repre-
sent at Albany. There has been hitherto far too
little regard paid to the character or abilities Of
those who are sent TO represent this great city,
either AZ the State or national capital. The same
rue applies also to the rural constituencies. IL
has been remarked that Of the thirtyGve mem
bers which the State of New York sends TO the ma
tional Congress, usually lot more than two or
three OF them are, in point Of character and at
tainments. eTeditable representatives, 10 regard
to the sixteen members Of Assembly which the
city sends TO Albany, about the same proportion,
we presume will be found to hold good. The
consequence is that instead OF the representatives
Of this city exercising predominant influence in
the State Legislature by their talents and high
character, they are esteemed Of no account what
ever because Of their want Of both. They there
fore exert 10 sort Of influence over legislation
except by The mere casting Of their respective
votes
We hope that the promise on the part Of the
democratic party Of this city to nominate as
members of Assembly men Of character and
talents will not prove llusory. II isto the party,
as well as to the city, matter q: vital import
ance just now. Let the right sort of men be
l. III IL.