The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-18

ysss = beacon guide Ns course in q peYilous
emergency But representative would be recresDt 70
his trust be did not toemnly his constituents
Of an impending daI GER thst they might be vigant and
hIm
Little by little, spgressiors have been male on the char
tered rights Of the cry Of New York; these
have ben submitted TO- not without renonssrance but az
YET ~nbont open resistance Submission
cessfe 10 be vte and becomes vicious weakness that
bTiTg fs OUn punishment.
The undersigned desires not be misunderstood. We
live VI der govern OF laws. When oppressed by
remeoy from another. An independent juaiciary raj
adum before which oppression ahripks and injustice dies
On rmer occasion IN this place. the undersigned felt
bmfen called upon by sense OF duty 70 discuss acd
condemn similar tncoachmen popular rights In the
case farnilarly known the Metropolitan Police lay.
Some Of the views then submitted 70 the Senate SO
tnent ut this time as to justify repetition.
marked Ihen the effort has been made 70 declare now
That
Tbere wss complaint that the local authorities OF the
city were incapable of administering hs vIrnmen II
had abused privileges granted by s ancient charter
and IL usuTped authority which might not rghtfuy
exercise engaged in the government Of iu local
affairs by Of officers Of It's SELECTION aud who
which they discharged their respective trusts. The
pensts OF this government not charged upon tn,
State, and TO jursdccn for It claimed exercised
except within its appropriate limits. IL was, therefore,
with feeling Of deep alarm that the Inhabitants OF this
rcpuous city found their dearest interests assaed from
quarter whence they had right 70 look for protection
against threatened wrong and IL matter Of surprise
II population which had long enjoy ed and hign
ued the rights and privileges Of self government should
have resisted, by all legal means tue effort Of partisan
station TO transfer the administration OF most mpor-
tant arm OF their city government to political
SION over which, municipal BODY they could exercise
control This was justly regarded by the cnizus
OF New York as gross and wanton invasion Of their
rights II was kposn 10 be the invention and d.vce
nfciupuons political party founded upon eIe
motive than that which slim nlates mercenary poll
ticars for place and power.
I'll was the work Of arbitrary wer, welded in an often
W hualal allv chara
terizes such legislation.
The theory upon which municipal corporations are or
ganized and exist necessarily involves the ides that
certain extent the corporations possess the right Of self
ain sense they subject legislative CONTROL but
In another and important aspect they are ndepen
dent soyeegntes to bear the relation the govern
neDt Of the State that the State itself bears the federal
government.
The Legislature Of the State may lmi ard define the
powers OF . municipal corporation But when o municipal
government has been established by law, with the power
Of governing Itself within the limits OF ts charter it is
plainly IN violation Of the first principle upon which the
existence OF such corporation Is based that executive
or administrative officials TO be forced upon it bv
central authority without the consent Of those for whose
Ihs policy, carried out to fullest extent puts an end
70 all municipal or local government.
" II s not local IN any sense Il it is governed and con-
tborty than the municipal body itself.
If the legislature may properly usurp the control Of
one brspch Of the of the city Of New York by
control over the safety OF the persons and property OF s
citizens may with equal justice usurp all the powers Of
municipal government and leave the citizens Of great
and populous commonwealth stripped of all Jurisdiction
their own affairs the observance Of due obedi
ence 10 the orders Of foreign masters and that OF pro-
vdng the requisite means for the support OF any number
of such officials as may be deputed exercise authority
II remarkable lact that the encroachmens bv the
legislative authority Of this State chartered rights
Of ces have been almost exclusively confined to that
city, which, by CONSENT is distinguished by the
tV mt
OF state aone, but Of continen-a city destined 10 be-
ceme wnn the csnuGy now running 70 is Close the
New York ost Its pride as well as its confidence in that
city an integral portion Of its territorys There ev
dence that such feelings DO peade the New York.
II only within these walls under the Of power
that them beneath the shadow Of influence
that s felt though unseen that the honor Of the CITY s
questioned, its rights endangered.
The question might be asked Of any and every Senator
on ,n moor wn' woud Se the feeling In any other Of the
posed in regard to Its local officers and iss
copcerns2
In circumstances ike these, becomes the imperative
duty Of legislators to bring the question home TO their
own feelings Of JUSTICE and to the interests welfare and
set respect If their constituents.
There member of this body who would venture 10
propose such bill as this TO take effect upon the municipal
concerns Of any one Of the eat growing and pepuous
of Rochester Of Utca Of Syracuse, submit in silence or
submit at all to ouch egisatlons The quality Of the
metal Of which those intelligent communities are COM
posed Is greatly misunderstood they would not make
these halls resound with their united and indignant re-
m9Ts,IAuces % against any Us such ssgressive usurpaon
cone, that she is to be outlawed, dsranchised all her
dearest rights set at nsugh In the capital she has
Than defended with her blood and supported
by ber treasure?
Has that city failed to make up season her quota
of the public tax Has she ever been 70 her utv
in the sacred cause OF charity and benevoenceP Has she
been last weakest In her contributions that noble
Of free education which adorns the policy Of the
State, and illustrates tie age in which liver No such
allegation can be made 10 her prejudice. She has aed
rome Of these duties proper and cons stent at
this stage Of the public business and upon this theme to
present full statement Of what the city Of New York has
done on all these great public questions the simple detail
would bring the blush OF shame upon those VINO mis-
judge her actions and strike at her liberties.
II s common occurrence to talk here of the State
charities, and affect pride in them aordiDg evidence
generous State feeling It ought to be better known
whence originated Of the nobest and beneficial
Of those charities. We arc too apt 10 conound the
ing Of the terms use in discussing these subjects Tue
State Of New York has contributed regularly and muni
Gently In the support protection and education OF u
fortunate inmates Of many OF the charitable institutions
dowed themY Yes, whenever they have been ereoted
in the interior; but whenever in the city OF New
York, mol All praise and honor to the State that
Utca the Asylum for Idiots at Syracuse the w, stern
House Of Refuge at Rochester, and other equally com
minded city New York more than one million
dollars has been contributed by the corporate authorities
and by the private benevoence Of citizens whose names
are rot TO be found any embazoned record towards
the establishment Of institutions for the deal and dumb
the bind and the insane Of hospitals sick and
bnim anu OF houses Oh refuge ior the errng and the
vicious
is unnecessary 10 urge these points further When
shall he the pleasure Of the Senate 70 enter upon
the comparison which might be drawn reference to the
topics glanced ut between the State and the city, whoever
shall be honored with the privilege defending the course
and conduct Of the commercial metropolis need not
shrink from the ordeal nor indulge any apprehepsons for
the result.
proper that the Senate should remember that the
city Of New York, as well as the State Of New York. has
written history, the pages Of which may not DO un.
profitable occasionally to turn embraces incidents that
bring the Thrill Of pride 70 the hearts OF its citizens whom
they are recalled
First 10 be remembered Ia the fact that the first Con-
gress Of the American colonies n opposition TO tho ty
anDca acts OF the British ParlaInentv held in the
city Of New York the 7h October 1885, and that of the
members Of that body from the State Of New York four
namely, John Conger Philip Livingston, william Bayard
ana Leonard Lspenard-werc merchants of the city Of
New YORK Having thus given the first impulse to rebel
non against tyranny, In not surprising that the Same
men continued faithful TO the end OF the contest.
tne osIkest period OF the Revolution when It's pub