The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-04


bsse' matter" so to discharge the duties Of his
high Office as to command the approval of the
American people, and that envisble position in
history of On honest, faithful, fearless and ncor-
ruptible public servant
The Recorders Change.
Fired by Dob'e emulation of the District At
torney, Recorder Smith has thrown his drebrsnd
into the muoicips arena, in the shape of an in
c.noiary charge to the Grand Jury. Mr. Oakley
Hall wss content With professional hint to the
burglars and pickpockets; he clipped them the
wink, If NO may use such an expression In speak
ing Of such exalted personages leaving them to ud
out what obstacles they would encounter at the
hands Of the public. Mr.. Recorder Smith goes
artherh he not only inviteethe dangerous classes"
to make hay while ihe sun shines, but be seeks
to comfort the timid among them and encour-
age the faint hearted by strenuous assurances
that the police are all on their side. II, after
this, all Of Us have not our houses robbed, and
soue Of US our threats cut twill not be the fault
of District Attorney Hall or Recorder Smith.
OF course, when we come to compare the Re-
y
treated the latter after the Talleyrand method
when they did not agree with his theory, he de-
cided that 1t was $50 much the worse for the
facts" Thus, he states that crime is on the in
CIT ase In this city The very reverse is the case,
notwithstanding the disorder and anarchy produc-
ed by the usurpatons of the Legislature, ana not
withsanding the invitations addressed by various
high officials to criminals. There have been some
startling murders committed Of late, and several
girls have been decoyed into lonely places and
abused and made away with; but we do not know
that these crimes are more numerous tnan usual;
ard certainly, so far as robberies are concerned,
and OPEN assaults in the Streets whether by CARO-
ters or by rowdie they are less frequent thao they
have been. Three years ago, there was period
when it really was unsafe for people to walk the
streets at night unsrmed; and for many months
about the same time, it was madness to walk
from the South TO the Hamilton avenue ferry in
Brooklyn. Even 20 late as three or four months
ago, the earroters threatened the life of every
one who was exposed in q lonely place at night
Where are they nows Where do we hear, now,
Of respectable persons being attacked 10 the
street, ana robbed or beatenY Where of houses
broken open and robbed, in the face of the
owners? Where of the savage brutality which
shut ladies out of even the most respectable
streets three years sgoi Where of quiet, peacea-
bic men wearing revolver as naturally as o
shirt collar?
No, Mr.. Recorder, crime is not on the increase,
and you know IL There U.s. however, one por.
ton Of your diatribe that IL true: we mean
that part which shows the dspropor-
ton between crimes committed and con-
victions obtained 1t is true that not one
1.-THE Of the crimes committed are avenged; and
equally true that of the criminals arrested and
brought to trial very small proportion are con-
victed. Whose fault is this. We cannot tell In
all the cases; but one thing Is quite certain. when
the police-whom Recorder Smith calumnlates 80
bitterly-brought up one hundred and fifty lead
ing gamblers, Recorder Smith let them Off on
some legal bubble Judge Russell, by his ener-
gy, vigor and decision, set an example of legal
ccaerity and prompt punishment which for time
struck awe into vagabonds, and completely crush
ed out the earrotcrs; but We have not heard OF
Recorder Smith, otherwise than as judicial OIL
Ger so prone to indulge In technicalites that II
WINS next to impossible to obtain conviction be-
fore him.
The Recorder INDUCES himself in a ferocious
TRADE against The police, many of whom he says
are affiliated with the thieves and burglars, and
no. to be distinguished from them The police
are much obliged TO Mr.. Smith; but II they be
really the scoundre)s he describes them, how
came BIO TO appoint them, and retain them 10 their
postsg Perhaps over half the present police force
have been appointed since Recorder Smith was
elected TO the Office be holds; IL they are thieves
and burglars, how does the Recorder justify his
appointment OF them, and his calm acquiescence
in their behavior ever sincef One Of two things:
either the Recorder appointed them knowing
them 70 be thieves and burglars and In tnis case
he ought 10 bo impeached; or he nov calumni-
ates them falsely, in which case he ought TO be
sent TO Coventry. He may take bis choice.
We apprehend that Recorder Smith. like Dis
trict Attorney Hall, u a man Of small ballast
whom the gusts and storms OF the pending conflict
have cspsized. When he has time aud leisure 10
think over the matter, he ~iIl regret that be ever
wIo,e this charge. A more effective Indictment
of Recorder Smith as an inefficient Judge. aud of
the same Recorder Smith as Police Commissioner
1T would not be easy 70 frame.
TwEEDIxDtM AND TwEEDLEpEE.-Thcse emf
ncnt jurists, Mesps. Tweedledum and Tweedlc-
dee who are nov permanently attached IN tho