The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-19
Our Municipal Observation-Disclosures OF Cow
ernor King.

-
ernor King.
Governor King appears to have returned from
the Bunker Hill celebration wish his ideas of po-
pular liberties and municipal rights considerably
enlarged, for we understand that he does no. APP
prove of the late high-handed proceedings of his
partzans in this city in their various civil and
criminal processes against Fernando Wood. This
information is not matter Of surprise, for while
the Governor is lawyer Of no inconsiderable
ability and experience, II requires a very small
modicum of legal knowledge to discover that the
with the several experiments of Tuesday last to
arrest and degrade the Mayor Of the city.
The Governor appointed Mr.. Conover to Gil
our vacant municipal Office of Street Commits
sioner. The power of the Governor in the pre-
misses being denied by our local authorities, Mr..
Conover, when he applied for the keys, books,
&C. Of the Office, was politely sent adrif By thede
putty in charge. Mr.. Conover, however repeat
ed his application again and again, until
he vas literally put out into the street. He
thcreupon proceeds TO take the necessary steps
for the arr ST Of the Mayor for assault and bat
tery-that is a constructive assault, for the
Mayor was in his own Office when Mr.. Conover
was forcibiy expelled from that Of the Street
Commissioner. Next the attempt 70 serve the
paper for the arrest Of the Mayor resulted ia q
sharp collision between a detachment OF the
Metropolitan police, acting as n convoy 20 the
officer, end large body Of the Nuoic!pal police
of The City Hall. This vs. followed up 10y a writ
against the Mayor for "incting a nos" and with
another for resisting the serving Of a civil pro
cess: when, 10 point of fact, he had no more 10
do with tie aclsc between the two police gangs
Y an with the previous rough trea ment OF Mr.
Conover All these processes against Fernando
Wood were not upon the fact, however, but upon
the mere presumption that Re had ordered or
insiigated the violent proceedings complain
Cd Of
Now, car any one deny that It was just az fair
to presume that the parties in actual occupation
Of the Street Commissioners Office forcibly
elected Mr.. Conover upon their own responsible
", and that the fight between the two hostile
squads Of policemen was the inevitable result Of
the act which brought them face to face, without
regard to vrits or papers Of any sort? And why
designate this collision between the rival police
forces MS a riot?-for il IL scarcely entitled
to that high distinction, notwithstanding there
were some cracked crowns aud bloody noses"
carried away by the retreating party. II was
rather q sor, OF Dogberry tournament or gladia-
torial combat or so at least the fracss seemed 10
be regarded by the "masses of the people"
Moreover, they appeared to like IL; and as they
would have to pay the expenses, they lad the
right TO accept the sceDe as public amusement
in honor Of the day Get apart for the reception of
Gen. Walker
Thus much for ibe assault and battery
charged against the Mayor, and for his alleged
crimes Of resisting civil process" and Gin
citing a riot They were all constructive cases,
resting entirely upon the presumptive guilt Of
TIC Mayor. The arrest Of Horace Greeley in his
Office mp stairs, for an assault and battery on
account OF Che forcible expulsion into the
street OF some individual obnoxious to the men
on The lower floor, would have about as much
law to support il as those civil and criminal pro.
ceases against The Mayor. II is not TO the law.
but to personal malignity against Mayor Wood
I that We must look for these criminal writs and
TIER consequences. The Governor, no doubt, is
fully aware that this explanation will cover the
whole programme.
J Upon the main point al Issue the Mayor re.