The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-16

UAAGEROuS CONDITION OF CTArES i5IANp-
The public are not generally aware that matters
on Staten Island are approaching crisis COM
pared to which the late riotous outburst was
mere teapot tempest. Military despotism and
official oppression are slowly paving the way
for q state Of things which Governor John A.
King will not need to draw on his imagination
TO call a estate of insurrection."
We have already related how, in defiance of
law as of common sense, the Governor directed
the Eighth regiment New York State Mill
tia to repair to the island and encamp there
There had be zen no exhaustion of the civil power
of the island and therefore calling out the mill
tary was illegal; there was nothing for the mill
tary to do there there being no hospitals left to
guard, and therefore their presence was absurd
ly useless. But it was the purpose of DR.. Thomp-
son to revenge himself on Staten Island, and in
Governor King-and for that matter in Mayor
Tiemann also-he found facile tools for his
spiteful purpose. The only object for which the
military were sent to Staten Island was to an
noy the inhabitants. That object they are most
completely attaining.
1t seems that though but mere fraction
of the people Of the island were cognizant
Of and could by any possibility be
charged with completely in the burning of
the hospitals. the whole island is under what is
called martial law" AS the laws and con-
stitution Of this State take no cognizance of
any such law" as this, 1t is not easy to dis
cover what " martial LAWN the State of New
York-may mean, and how it affects people
living under it. The Colonel of the Eighth
regiment has answered these questions for him
self. He is understood to have declared that
he is the sole surviving authority in the county;
that there are no longer any magistrates, town
councils, boards Of health, constables, SHERIFF.,
coroners or policemen-no authority on the
leland that must be obeyed except that Of Colo
mel Lyons, his officers, sergeants, orderlies aud
sentries. He Is entitled to take any property,
real or personal, which he fanciee; thus he has
forcibly occupied the land OF one man, and
threatened TO rife the barn of another. He
himself Is subject to no laws; he violates with
equal indifference the Quarantine statutes, the
ordinances Of the town Of Castleton, and the
constitution Of the State Of New York. His
negro servants break into gentlemen's gardens
at any hour Of day or night, and soldiers with
arms charged threaten to shoot any one who
molests them The public highway Is blocked
by sentries, who stop passers by with the air of
footpads and the insolence Of ruffians II
seems doubtful whether the people Of the county
have sny rights, civil or political Lawyers
express doubts whether they can sell real estate
without the sanction Of Colonel Lyons and bis
superior officer. Their right to vote at the
November election is gravely questioned.
Such, without figure or exaggeration, Il the
condition Of Richmond county at the present mo-
ment. When 1t is remembered that sending the
soldiers there was In the origin purely illegal,
ard that no law Of this State recognizes any
such law rs martial law" some idea may be
formed Of the evaporation which this outpouring
Of the revenge Of Doctor Thompson is exciting
among the islanders. We are glad to hear tha,
the older and more prominent among them pro-
pose TO meet on Saturday next al Richmond to
take counsel on he matter. 1t Is to be hoped
that they may device peaooable method Of cor
rectlng the lamentable errors Of Governor King.
II they do not, the worst is to come. The oys-
termen Of the western part Of the county are
outraged at the assumptions of the colonel Of
the invading army; they are men Of violent
temper, great daring, and unruly instincts
They could raise five thousand lighting men at
a few hours notice II will be well for Colonel
Lyons 10 keep boats at hand in number sufficient
for the escape Of all his men in case they ale
attacked by a force which il would be folly to
resist.