The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-17
Democxstic Meeting In tho Fifth Ward
spxech OF Aon. John g. MAther.

After Introductory remarks in which he pressed
the pleasure Afforded him by opportunity OF meeting
bis constituents and Ieno.rug account OF his
acs as their Senatorial representative in Albany ne pro-
Ceeded TO cay
There never has been period 10 our political history
when the essential duty of vgant watch OF the con-
Duct ana principles OF our opponents was 30 nportAnt,
and the danger 80 imminen "a ut the present me 10
the rema ks which propose TO offer ON !his OCCASION,
brief imperfect they must be, shall endeavor TO
enforce this TRUTH and point out what IN my
ia tue duty OF the party at the coming cleo
tons And rst let me AJAX your attention to line OF
policy Indicated by the dominant w. during the oret
period in which has mistn,ed tno ana sns ask
two houses of Legislature have manfuy stood forth
In the defence Of popular rights against the
OF power There subject in reference to which the
people of great ana growing STATE oaght TO
feel mere jealous than that aie,ting its dnan-
ciAl condition, and the nature and extent Of the
obligations sought to DO imposed s treasury.
So deeply has this subject been heretofore impressed
the minds Of the people OF New York, that years ago
radical cnsnse was made in the constitution which forbade
the creation debt without at the time providing
tie means Of payment rbe democratic policy has been
clearly cedned-"provide the of payment beror
you plunge State into tho other party
uniformly adopted ~ their tavorie theory TO spend to
pubic money freely and build up gigantic State debt 70
postery TO nqndate ION this point Mr. Mather referred
to the canal dert OF the stse which has been swollen to
sSb COO ooo and destined soon % reach $40 900 ooo
ADDING the Of 81 600 900 for the completion Of the
pubhc works, and $500, eco to meet a temporary
loan, and the interest on the new caual debt unprO
the end Of year will amount forty millions Of dollars
come said he, follow c,tzens TO topics virtually az
iectDg your personal interests and rights as free and
telgent community aus all who hear must feel the
deep Of wrongs inflicted sought to be inflicted
your constitutional privileges Within the preceding three
years, under of party which borrows and desc
crates the nonored Of republican, measures
have been concocsed and sought to be eDgaed the
statute book Of the STATE to some Of which shall aude,
directly violating tho vested rights OF the city of New
York and trampDg upon toe sacred privileges Of every
citizen Of this proud metropolis u .ne fvst place viii
refer briefly TO the Metropolitan Police law By ACT Of
the LeRs ature passed April To- 1857 the counties OF New
York, Kings Richmond AID Westchester united in
the State Of New York; The We Com nssioners appoint
cd under that Law all chosen from among open
and avowed opponents OF the democratic party. Tue
joriiy OF tie people the political population Of
those counties was clearly ami whemipgly democra
tic, and strongly mbued With the principles Of democratic
freedom. In the city Of New York. with fair represen-
tatoD Of the popular will the majority Of the people OPP
posed TO the law would not have been less than twenty
Thousand YET In the face of these facs-n direct and
shameless violation OF the wishes and the rights Of
large majority, vas this measure thrust upon the peo
pie OF the city, with the accompaniment Of horde Of
pulous POLITICAL party There has mover been under any
government claiming to have constitutional basis
monssrous an exercise OF arbitrary power 30 gross
Mr. Maher here referred the unsuccessful efforts which
he bad made to have the Metropolitan police law repealed
and continued: With such la~s and such adjudication
under them, the principles Of constitutional are
worthless indeed, and far better adapted 10 the out
onarchies of the Old World than TO the freshness vita
lily and unguenchsbie energies people who know the
meaning Of the word liberty. But for the credit Of the
expounders of law In State subsequent action of the
principles involved in the law The recent decision OF
the Court of Appeals has restored TO their just rights and
POSITIONS portion OF the police force who displaced
by the act OF 1857 Justice SLOW but sure. Yet justice
does not always remedy the wrongs committed In
offended name The Law still remains on the statute
book aDo Is your province In the future to apply the
corrective 10 an evil which, while continues is subver
sve Of the rights guaranteed To by the constitution
under which you live Another act Of oppressive egsa
ton to which must ask your attention is the law passed
at the last session. under the provisions of which every
voter required register under SUCH regula
ms ctadaDt IN
c,rcumscribe bis rights Tho language Of the con-
stitution On this subject is clear and explicit;
admits Of neither question subterfuge. Every citi
zen OF che State has the right at his UNRESTRICTED
pleasure, present hmseH polls and give vote
free from all questions ave as to the fact Of legal qua
caon prescribed in the article Of that instrument
Whence them derived the right 90 beyond the
stutson and compel FREQ citizen to take other steps and
acquire other qualifications than those contained in that
fundamental isw-that law which every legislator binds
hmse by his official oath MAINTAIN nvioatep Fellow
citizens cannot express TO you in terms too strong my
detestSton OF the principles involved this arbitrary
law II strikes At the very root Of all freedom of suffrage
you taney submit. to this aggression your rights
where let ask, wiling stop in the dscredit
able path c submssioo? Who to declare you what
70 oe the next step in your degradation Is IL your
duty, while as law abiding citizens you obey the enact
mens which find place the statute books TO resolve
that no further encroacbments shall be upon your
70 the repeal OF such unjust legislation This project
for registration OF voters is public policy has
frequently been mptedonce before with temporary
success-but whenever the popular sense has been
brought to bear upon the unsghty monster has shrunk
away into dayknets The more sagacous leaders of the
opposition party have more than placed this project
under the ban Of their dsoeasure Gov. Seward, who
approved tho law of ls40 which bad brief existence Of
one year, n his published works expresses In forcibe
terms his dnapprova Of the Gov Clark under
the advice of the amented Ogden Homa an, vetoed smi-
lar BILL for this among other cogent that the
Legelsure in exercising the power to ascertain who
titled to the right Of auifrage s bound to
1t not 70 aordge the right Of the citizen add any ad
dtonal qua dcaton to thoee provided by the constu
ton" Yet, in defiance Of principles 80 plain this, in
open violation OF soemn peoges made to defend the con
stutiOn this shamless project for the perpetuatOn
of political pos covered with the sanctity Of law 1t
in, however, which, in sef defence aud for the
preservation Of your rights in the FUTURE you must obey
Mr. Maiher referred 10 report which he had submitted
to tho Senate the subject Of the Registry law and read
the propositions which be had there laid down. He passed
10 speak Of the act passed by the 10 house of the
same Ieeature but lost in the Senate I" to define and
prescribe certain powers, duties. terms Of Office aud
ernoum.nts the departments of the municipal govern
mept Of city of New York. lie described being
in reality measure intandet to enable the republican
party to seze upon the powers and umunities of the
city government, to override existing laws and 10 set at
aaught no. only the provisions OF the city charter but
those also OF the constitution Of the State. He paid
high compliment TO the memory Of his deceased colleague,
Mr. Dohsrty and referred outrage committed tho
people Of the Eleventh Senatorial district by ejectng
pom ms seat 10 the Senate their able and faithful
also to the arrest OF Senator vSpnola He also COM
"mented upon the measure recently adopted by the
people Of Massachusetts ia restricting the natura'iza
1ion laws, and this, he said, to be the future
policy Of the republican party of the Union. He then
proceeded TO speak Of the Presidential election of 1860
but general election aad he utervenes before the
people Will be called upon u select from their number
togude tre national through the next Presidential
term Tfe coming contest 10 this State will mate
rial influence upon that which to follow The greater,
therefore, becomes duty consolidate strength
and prepare manfulIy for the strife which is be-
fore us SupineDess discussions or over confidence
are ali equally dangerous defeat Of tho de-
Docratc party at the ensuing election will be
disastrous in the extreme to the hopes Of the future
To inquire success however, harmony OF action must pro-
vail IN the city as we'll in the State. Taere
sues before the people in watch here any dvers
ty of sentiment among democrats In the exercise OF
spirit OF cepc,liaton every cement Of irritation be
soothed sbd unity Of acton secured that Will carry
throughout borders The Importance of this
consideration should press itself upon every mind
sacrifice OF personal feeling or private views be too
great The influence of such Of action the
cart OF the democracy Of New York will be con6ned
TO the City State, but will extend throughout the Unon
end may be felt upon the interests aad welfare of the
democratic party and tho country for years to
The motto Of a party when opposition to every
principle Affecting the public welfare can only be "rule
RUM, and 10 accomplish either alternative would, in
the language Of OF It's leaders, willingly let the
Union Side" Tuere every to believe that their
standard bearer the great 'nest OF 1850 will be
oc f~Cup Ckuto