The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-27

The POLICE COMMISSIONERS AND GENERAL Tall
MADGE.-The investigation into the charges
against General Superintendent Tallmadgc has
established two conclusions very different
from those which the Police Commissioners had
calculated upon. In the first place, il has proved
the ineniciency Of the present police organiza-
ton in cases Of emergency; and in the second,
it has shown the incapacity Of the men placed at
the head Of the department With regard to the
exact measure Of blame to be imputed to Mr..
Tallmadge, II amounts simply to this that he
kept within the letter Of his instructions, when
a departure from II would have been justified
by the critical nature Of the circumstances which
called for his action. To judge properly how
ever, of the motives which governed his conduct
II should be borne In mind that he was subor-
dinate, having but limited discretion; that his
superiors were on the spot, or were bound to be
20; that the Board whose officer be was. partook
more Of a political than Of strictly executive
character; and that any unauthorized step
on his part might have been productive Of con-
sequences involving unusual personal RESPONSE
biliiy. Were the Police Commissioners men
" "
and ready 10 back up thcir officer In a liberal
construction Of his orders, there is no doubt that
Superintendent Tallmadge would have pursued
O very different course from that which he did.
His antecedents, fortunately for him. are Of
character which admit OF no speculation on this
point. In the Astor place riots. when he filed
the Office Of Recorder. he showed that he had the
al r..
sion. But what he was called upon to do when
discharging the duties OF civil magistrate. aud
what he was justified in doing when acting vs. the
subordinate Of persons placed in that position.
are two very different considerations Had Su.
perintendent Tallmadgc been acting under tho
orders Of Recorder Tallmadge we arc satisfied
that we should never have heard of the present
investigation. There can be 90 pore whitening
condemnation Of . system Of civil government OF
police than the fact that II makes strong
men weak. and renders the exercise
of Judgment and energy impossible. This
j. precisely the position TO which Mr. Tall
madge was reduced during the recent outbreak
on Staten Island lie had TO choose between the
letter Of his instructions or unauthorized action.
with The chance Of population BY the Commits
sioners in the event Of his proceedings exposing
them TO censurc II is not surprising that with
such prospect before him. he preferred not 70
shoulder the responsibilities Of his superiors.
Whatever deficiencies may be laid to the charge
Of the old police system we do not think that
such concentration Of blunders or such a sbirk-
ing Of duty could ever have occurred under H.
With Fernando Wood at the head Of the depart
ment, and magistrate like Judge Russell to &C.
coud his efforts not an hour would have been
lost In arresting the work OF destruction. or &C
bringing the parties engaged IN IL within The
gasp Of the law
In view Of the turn which this Quarantine
question hs taken, and The forced abandonment
OF the location by the Health authorities, we
cannot zee what General Nye and his associates
propose TO themselves by the prosecution Of the
inquiry. OF one thing they may he certain and
that is, that they will neither have the public
sympathy nor approval in any measures which
they my found on t. This being The case, u