The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-06

Curious ReSclts OF the Charter Election.
Lest the put%ic should not be aware Of
'fe fact, we lake i:is opportunity to inform
them that we had charter election In this city
the day before yesterday. On this occasion
the voters OF the metropolis were summoned to
elect the men to govern 1t for the coming year,
20 disburse It's finances, to make its municipal
laws, to educate its youth and to attend to all
Its interests in far as they fall within TIE nro-
vince Of the thing called government TMs
duty was mechanically performed, according %
law, by comparatively small number of votsss
who are not politicians, and q pretty largo
number of those who are; but the citizens ct
large, the merchants, bankers, property
owners and taxpsying portion Of the public
generally, neither participated in the election
nor took any interest In II.
This fact will strike any one as very extraor-
binary, when we consider the position which
the city of New York occupies In the Union,
and, indeed, we may say, in the civilized world
itsimmeDse wealth. its overshadow wing influence,
its large population, the intelligence of it,
people, its rational character, and the vastuess
of the interests which hinge upon all these.
New York, in the present political crisis, IL
looked upon with anxiety from every quarter
Of the country, from the known national and
conservative character of her people, and
should the difficulties which surround us termi-
nate in division of the two sections of tho
country, che will have prominent part to
play and large share of suffering to endure.
The assessed property within the city in real
ard personal estate amounts to six hundred
millions; the commerce can be counted by
hundreds of millions annually; the taxes
amount to ten millionsa year; the youth to DO
educated do not fall far short Of quarter of o
million, at an annual expenditure of nearly.a
million Of dollars and the population, COM
biDine resident citizens and strangers, is never
Iese than million Of souls at any one time.
Looking at all these facts, one would suppose
that the election of persons to fill the places in
the government of so great city would be
matter of momentous importance TO every one
who bad voice in 1t, and that the selection Of
proper and efficient men would be duty OF
the first coDseque nee TO every citizen within its
limits. Yet, strange to say, out Of the hundred
and twenty thousand registered voters on the
poll books, of whom some ninety-six or ninety
eight thousand voted at the Presidential cleo
ton on the 9th Of November, not more than
thirty or forty thousand voted on Tuesday at
the charter election.
Thousands Of people, we will venture to say,
never thought of the event at all, and many
iUUC hat olo kab
place in the city; and, for the benefit Of such,
we will state that an election did take place,
and that, with very few exceptions, not the
best men il tie community were chosen to
ill the Offices vacant under the charter-to
disburse the ten millions of taxes for the en-
suing year, to make the ordinances, to appoint
or confirm officials in all the departments and
bureaus, to control in a great measure the edus
cation Of the rising generation, and, as an addi-
tional duty. to pilfer large amour. from the
city treasury.
Many OF our merchants and other prominent
citizens who have stake in the city, when
asked on Tuesday If they had voted, inquired
IN establishment II there was an election going
on; they had voted on the 9th Of November,
they knew, but they were quite unconscious
hat they bad similar duty to perform on that
day. In fact there was no evidence throughout
the entire city, except at the voting places, and
but little even there, that VIC we're e!ecLing
large portion of the city government for the
next year. And wha. is the result of this uuac-
countable apathy to their own interests on the
part of our merchants and property ownersG
The very same class Of men. ard in many In
stances the identical men, whose course has been
heretofore 30 scandalons and fsgitious, have
been re elected as Aldermen, Couuollmsn,
School Commissioners, Inspectors and Trustees.
Four Of the Aldermen most notorious In the ia
panese affair have been re elected; and from
the list of Councilmen II is impossible to select
more than three or four individuals Of any "a
pacity or fitness for the position. Tie same 10
true also OF the members OF the Schoo! Board
Now what are 10 be the consequences OF this,
and what does II indicate? The result, u
course must be that the city will be worse
governed than hitherto that the taxes will DO
higher and the plumber larger than before, for
these men will be more bold than ever; and Il
indicates very strongly either that our citizens
are satisfied TO be heavily taxed and scandal
Loudly pluncered, or that they despair OF mend
iog matters IN the least as far as the municipal
government is concerned Viewing it in any
light, the result OF the charter election il very
curious.
THE EFFEcr OF LNcoiN's ElKcnox-It In
estimated that the depreciation throughout tho