The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-18

Tor Western mixed Psfk WAS arn vita saies Of about
1880 bbS, incadag mess 81 s2i IS $A IS, and prime
deliverable this month"; buyers o2tou at SCI Sugars
sold 10 the exteai CT about il's hhds Cuba
covado, chiefly reclining GOODS q, s,ycu Ia snoher
column Coaee wss quist aud steady Freight engage
mep,1 moderate and yStes unchanged.
Agitation for Municipal ktghts-W What mas
beeu Done WHO arc Moving Ia the
Matter!
When the court Of last resort decided that
the Metropolitan Police law aid not conflict with
the provisions Of the fundamental law Of the
State, but was constitutional enactment, the
HERALD counseiied the people aud authorities of
the city to conform TO that decision. But the
HERALD at the same time did not abandon the
cause for the success of which it had so long
struggled. The principle Of municipal rights
was one too vital in its character too essential to
the growth and prosperity of this metropolis and
OF every other city in the land, to be lightly
abandoned, or to b. surrendered to usurping
Legislature until every resource had been tried
and had failed.
Such WI not our condition at the time. To
be- sure, black republican Legislature at Al
bany had not hesitated to tranple our long priced
and inchoate rights under foot, by stripping the
duly elected authorities Of this city OF all control
lis police its haJbor, its parks its projected
public buildings, its health regulations, and oil
that, and by reducing these same authorities TO
'the cordition Of mere cipheIs TO he sure the
Supreme Court had, through some tortuous-
ncss OF legal reasoning upheld the Legislature in
this usurpation and more wonderful still, the
Court Of Appeals had affirmed the decision of the
Supreme Court, ard stamped the Metropolitan
Police act the one on which the eight WAS made
with the seal of constitutionalty. Bat not
withstanding all that, remedy stll remained TO
us-s sovereign remedy. The people could still,
through the ballot box, reverse the Judgment Of
courts and OF Legislatures, and indirectly re-
store to the metropolis the rights aud privileges
Of which it had been 10 unwarrantaby deprived.
IL was TO that final and all-suficent remedy
that We then looked forward with hope and con-
fdonoe We recommended healthy and
thorough agitation Of the subject. We called
upon the liberty loving citizens of this metropolis
and Of the State at large to unite in a move.
ment for the restoration Of our right of self.
government We pointed ont the evils that had
already been brought upon the city by the disso-
luton of our police and the Reorganization OF
all authority. We called ia evidence the dis.
graceful riots that were permitted to rage in some
Of the wards. aud TO the increase Of murders.
burcafies, robbcries and sarrotngs, directly re-.
sultinC from the decentralization Of our police.
We showed that a continuance OF this state OF
things was calculated TO ipiurc the commerce and
prosperity Of the city, by producing o wide
spread feeling Of insecurity for lie and property:
and thus showing how all our people were
directly interested in the repeal e the odious
enactments Of The la,e black republican Legisla.
turc, We called for such manifestation of the
popular viii as would teach these unprincipled
Legislators that the liberties OF great city like
New York are not TO be violated and wiped out
10y any unwsuantable stretching Of the provi-
sious and principles o! tic constitution
In this movement The wealthy classes OF the
city, the property holders, the merchant princes.
the manufactures and traders, were vitality in.
icrestcd. a blow struck at the liberties of the
city is blow struck at it, prosperity, and couse-
quently affects The wealthy classes even more
than il does the industrious classes But how
has our appeal TO The interests of these pro.
perty holders and merchants been answer.
ed by stupid silence. By an unsccount.
able lotharpy By IN utter Withholding of
Themselves from the struggle that is being fought
on their behalf, hut without their cooperation.
Some dozen Of public meetings have been held
within the last month 10 yN9Da parts Of the city
in support Of this rerAo0penent; but what
part have our wealthy or intellectual citzenstalxen
therein None whatever they have stood aloof
iron the movement, "a If il did not concern them
or their interests 10 the slightest degree. This
apathy Of theirs is disheartening 10 those who
owe this great city aud who would never consent
70 deprivation of her municipal rights in one
jot " little; for unless the movement I've uuiver-
sal, not ooly in TIE city but throughout the state
a release from our present condition Of disfrsn-
chsemeut and anarchy can not reasonably be
looked for.
We are afraid, too, that those who have taken
prominent parts in these gatherings of the people
have lost sight Of the true object Of The struggle.
The speeches made at these meetinrp and the
resolutions adopted, with an exception here and
there, have had for the most part a totally diff
fcrent bearing. They seem TO have emanated
not from spirit Of love foy municipal freedom.