Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-11
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

NEW ORR, MaTcu ON, iooS.
The exposure recently made 10y committee
If the Legislature Of this State, regarding the
corruption attending the administration of the
Police department Of this city, has awakened
surprise and Indignation in the public mind.
None We're previously aware Of the existence
of the state of things disclosed by the report.
/! Il is one Of the results of the Black Republican
measures conSumtnatcd ut Albany, intended TO
strip this city Of its municipal rights. The
control Of the police of this city was taken
from the local government, and vested virtually
in the central Republican iunta Of Albany
Having u large majority i'll the Legislature,
they determined TO subject the citizens Of New
York to their tyrannica! rule and to enornous-
| ly increase the taxes upon its commerce, and
upon private property; by creating ncw Offices
with large salaries. These to be filled, of course,
by adventures Of the Back Republican faith
Thus, city and its vicinity. which gave De-
mocratic vote of about 80, 900 majority in 1856,
has been stripped Of its rights, and its govern.
mcnt virtually transferred to Albany. Among
those appointed are whole grist Of political
droncs such as Commissioners Of Police,
Commissioners of the New City Hall, and Com
missioners of the Central Park. together with
harbor.mastcrs and port-wardcns. For the
benefit Of the latter, they imposed extraorti-
nary burthcns on the commerce Of the city
for the discharge Of unnecessary labor
The most vcnal and corrupt Of all these COM
missions and bureaus, according to the report,
has been the police commissioners, two promi.
ncnt members of which consist Of the cclebra-
ted James Bowen (of pipe-laying notorietr in
the Presidential election Of Gen. llarriSon) and
Gen Nye This commission has been cntrliSt-
cd with the appointment Of about 1900 po-
liccmen, who are charged with protecting the
! lives and property Of the citizens. Should 4
citizen be abused in person or property BY
policeman. there is no power TO which he
can appeal for redress. except To the commits
sioncrS; and they owe their allegiance 10 the
Governor Of the State, who has the power Of
removal. The commissioners however, having
the power to fill their own vacancies feel in
dependent not only Of the city, but ALSO TO
great extent. of the Governor. Hence, We
have Black Republican army stationed in
New York to govern it, who are not amenable
to It's citizens, and who only acknowledge the
power OF the commissioners. The Mayor OF
the city is so far stripped Of his authority that
his position, in its government, is little better
than a cipher: while the Common Council are
left powereS>.
The result Of trusting men with So much ir.
responsible power as that conferred on the com
miSsioners of police, is seen by the facts refer
red To in the recent Albany report. This doc
umcnt charges. on what il states to be the clear
est evidence, that policemen serving on the
staff have had 10 purchase their appointments,
and that many men employed as policemen
have been guilty Of the baseSt crimes while
others have been selected who kept houses Of
prostitution, and that others were in the habit
Of lcvylng black mail on houses of bad reputc
and compoundng with rascalS The sales of
places on the staff were executed through
broker, who charged $50 each for the service.
The same was charged to get dismissed mem-
Der restored. 10 propitiatc the favor Of Gen.
Nvc, one of the commissioners, the captains Of
police (his own appointees) Set on foo, aschcme
to present him with n house and lot worth
some 81. 900 or more The captains OF police
had the subscription list; and assessed SergcantS
I Sl5, while the patrolmen were taxed SO each.
When the subscription was first got under
weigh, the city press denounced il rs "a black
, mail operation. This caused pause in the
movement, but it was soon resumed, and lis
! final contamination only interlcred with by the
investigating committee Of the Legislature.
What has been the result Of the movement, or
what has become of the money, is unknown.
Many of the men on the staff are charged BY
the committee with habitual drunkenness
and other gross misconduct. The burn.
ing of the Quarantine buildings is charged
to their iucilicicncv and negligence in the
performance of duty. The report also
charges, that money was raised TO defeat the
repeal OF the law. Superintendent Tanadge
stated to the committee, that General Nyc had
borrowed $3.50 to enable him to go to Albany,
and that he had not refunded it.
The expenses assessed on the tax-rddcn cit;
zcns of New York to support this corrupt ina
chinery of Centralized Black RepuSicaniSrn,
amounted, in 1867, to 1895, 500, which, with
arrears. were increased in 1858 by S2QQ,21i.
And, the report states, that the department
will require for its support in 1859, no less
than 81 ,232,@ee.
Notwithstanding the Commissioners are paid
liberal salaries, yet they charge Sl,sGS 81 for
carriage hire TO convey them from their resi-
I dcnccs to their Office Of meeting. They, also,
charged l,Gl2 5! for stationary. During
the investigation the Committee met with many
distractions Several policemen refused TO
testify.
Wchavc alluded TO this extraordinary ,lcycl.
opment at more length than we should otherwise
have done. except for the fact, that it afford,
an example for and warning TO the people.
who reside beyond New York. and shows that
the usurpation Of local and municipal rights
by 4 central power, is always attended with cor
ruption and tyranny.
Nothing that State can do for herself should
ever be undertaken by Congress And nothing
that a town, or county, or even Justices pre-
cinct can accomplish should ever be undertaken
by Il State Legislature kosSuth, when in this
country, repeatedly declared that the basis Of
English and American liberty was found in
the maintenance Of their municipal rights;
which so greatly distinguished their n-ttu-
tons from those founded on the ccntralizirg
Justinan Code which prevailed on the
continent of Europe Municipal rights were
recognised by the AborgneS Of England, and
are known to hc Of great antiquity; and which
have been, subsequently, largely developed and
established in the principles OF the Common
Law of England.
The death of Col Sandford, the only son
of Major General Sandford, OF this city, in
Venezuela, is deeply deplercd by large circle
of friends. He WAS young man oil fnc pres
tigc and great promise, and rising member Of
the bar OF this city. He accompanied Gen.
Pace TO South America where after ride in
the sun near Caracas. he was attacked III
violent manner with yellow fever, to which lie
speedily fell Il victim Ills body was duly en-
balmcd, and sent under 4 military escort to
Laguayra, whence it will be brought 10 this
city for interincnt.
By the Jura and Europa, at this port, you
will see that the war cloud, which has for
some time hung over the continent Of Europe,
has assumed darker hue. The governments
were all arming with as much energy as ever.
/ The French Emperor was concentrating large
bodies of troops in the South Of France, while
Sardinia was As warlilic as ever. The troubles
on the Danube were also becoming more per-
picking and unsatisfactory. The funds in both
London and Paris felt the gloom attendan, up
ON the prospects Of war. Cotton, however ow.
ing to an active demand for goods for the East