The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-09


,CEMBER 8, l859.-TRIPLI
charter so as to render these officials indepen-
dent, and concentrate more power in the hands
of the chief magistrate. We do not expect
much from the next Legislature, 1t is true; 1t is
q partisan Legislature Of an abolition character;
but stiA there may be few men in it upright
and just enough to relieve this great metropolis
from the legislative shackles which bind it,
from the odious laws which nullify all power in
the hands Of its leading officials leave it Deepen
dent upon foreign body at Albany, and ex-
pose it to the mercy Of band of plundering
politicians.
We want the charter so amended that the
Mayor shall have entire executive power, alto
gether Independent of the Board of Aldermen
even to the matter of confirmation of his ap-
pointments by that body, the evils of which
were 80 shamefully manifested in the case of
Tiemann's appointments of City Inspector,
where the Aldermen absolutely refused to con-
firm any one until they had made their bargains
as to share of the spoils We want the Comp
troller to have absolute authority of his depart.
ment; and we want the Corporation Counsel to
be, in fact as well as in name, the responsible
head of the law department of the municipal
government When this is done we may expect
the affairs of the city to be properly administer
ed, corruption arrested in its course, the public
funds honestly disbursed, and the taxes reduced,
but not till then. Under the present charter
1t is impossible for the heads Of departments to
control them with efficiency, and it is hardly
just to hold them responsible for the faithful
execution of their duties, in the performance Of
which they are continually INSTRUCTED by IRE
sponsible parties.
In the amendment of the charter, then, to
the ends above suggested, we must alone hope
for any prospect of an efficient, economical
government.
The Downfall OF Tammany-Its Causes
and Effects.
The result of the municipal election has
given to Tammany Hall a deathblow. The
council fires are extinguished, the Sachems sit
come chicken-hearted, the braves have been
scalped and tomahawked to man. This
dreadful state of things has extended beyond
the classic precincts of the Coal Hole and the
Pewter Mug. The panic has spread to the
Custom House, the Post Office, the United
States Marshal's office, the auriferous Assay
Department; all the oficeholders, from the
heads of departments down to the lowest tide
walters, are doing an amount of shivering and
shaking in their shoes which must be exceed
ingly distressing to all parties concerned.
They have reason to be afraid They have
cause to howl and gnash their teeth over the
triumph Of the emperor of New York." as
they called Fernando Wood. But they have
only themselves to blame. They have
rushed upon their own fate. It is now
nearly twelve years since the first faint of
negro worshipping heresy was introduced into
Tammany Hall by John Van Buren,. Among
Van Bure4s prime supporters were William
F. Havemeyer, Samuel J. Tilden, Nelson J.
Waterbury and Isaac V. Fowler. A fierce
struggle for the possession of the Hall ensued
between the negro worshippers and the nation
al democracy. When the masses of the demo-
cracy were appealed to fairly on the issue the
victory always perched upon the banners of
the national party. But the negro worshippers
succeeded, ~ "a series of the most impudent
and highhanded measures, in controlling the
Tammany organization, which they made
close borough wherewith to reward their
friends and to punish their enemies. They sue
ceeded, also, in humbugging the powers at
Washington; and during the better part of two
administrations they have kept all the spoils in
their hands, meanwhile trucking and trading
with the black republican lobby, and comfy
ing at their beautiful schemes of plumber
at Albany and Washington. So the Tammany
machine ran along smoothly enough, and the
managers thought, like the French aristocrats
before the Revolution, that this delicious state
of things would last forever-that the flesh pots
of Tammany would always be as savcry, her
fre-water always as invigorating. How they
were mistaken, how the concern ran off the
track and was smashed, how the little niger
introduced twelve years ago by Prince John
comes out as very large niger in the shape
of Hayemeyer and Tilden, how they were
shamefully beaten in an election which was as
holly contested as Presidential canvass, every
one knows. The simple fact is that Tammany
Hall, as the representative Of democratic
organization, is, to use an everyday expression
played out" The masses of the democracy
muster under the flag of Mozart Hall and Fer
,ho hao <1xy k,ru ,rso
fortunes of Tammany Hall to his own advan-
tage, and now stands the acknowledged leader
of the New York, and indeed of all the Northern
democracy.
The administration of Mr.. Buchanan cannot
shut its eyes to these important truths. They
demand immediate action at its hands. Even
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