Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-20
Letter from New York.


vites investigation. Let The South 10 it jus,
tlce.
-
Letter from New York.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Ehquirrr.]
New York, Jan. II, 1850.
We see that the Hon. Mr.. IIaSkin Of West
chester county. in this State, accused the Hon.
Horace F. Clark, OF this city, Of having been
circus riding" The majority of the consti-
tuents Of both gentlemen, consider that they
not only have been engaged in "circus riding"
but in ground and lofty tumbling." Neither Of
the gentlemen, if again before their dear con.
stitucnts." could again be returned to Congress
by 1000 to 1900 votes. When in their late can.
vass before the people, neither could have sue.
ceeded without tue most ardent professions Of
Democracy.
The Albany Legislature is again in session
with u large Black Republican working majnrl.
ty. This party is in possession Of the Exrcu-
tive and Legislative Departments Of the gov.
erninent, and Of course can do just as they
please. They have again taken mp the ''old
lobby jobs" laid over from last session, such as
introducing bills 70 chc9ucr the city with rail.
roads, in the stock Of which members and
'iog-rollers," from the interior Of the State are
to be shareholders. Also. bills 10 black mail, or
damage existing corporations of this city and
Brooklyn, and the renewal Of 4 bill or propo.
sition make . loan Of some SI0,00 or SO TO
the Susouehanna and Albany Railroad. To
read the motions and bills introduced, one
would suppose that the only business before
the Legislature was that Of providing a multi.
tude of laws exclusively for the control Of this
city and vicinity; and that no other portion Of
the State was to be looked after. The reason
Of this is that the commercial wealth Of New
York in1ilcs spoliation.
The pay OF members Of the Legislature is
ridiculous. They receive three dollars per
day for ninety days. If they remain longer in
session they receive nothing for the additional
service.
Now it is next to impossible that any man
qualified for Legislative duties, can throw up
or neglect his private affairs for three months
for the paltry pay Of three dollars per day
considering toe that he is compelled to p,.r.
chase his nomination from 'prctoriun bands"
alias nominating conventions. and to spend nd.
dilional sums to secure his election. \ man
who submits 10 such n course to reach Albany,
it may be supposed will not in all cases be
proof against temptations promising reimburse
mcnt, if not decided gains to his purse. Such
persons become the most adept profcien;s in
the Albany Regency Schools, whose teachers
and professors are too gladly receive and hon.
or them with their social esteem and conf
dencc and finally enroll them among their mos;
promising elsees. Having graduated in the
schools Of the Regency and especially in that
Of which Seward is president and ThIrlow
Weed the active official head. they are pre-
pared 10 start for Congress, where, if elected,
by tactics, peculiar to their teachings, they
soon give proof Of the proficiency they reached
under such tutorship.
The taxes Of this city have now reached the
enormous sum Of about 50, 1887. 0D0. The esti-
mate to that amount, or q little orer. has
been sent up to the Legislature by the city
Comptroller, and, it appears. they exceed the
estimates OF the city revenues, from all sources,
including nearly two per ccsit. direct taxes on
personal and real estate, by some GS.000.
1t takes near q million Of dollars per annum
TO support all the persons at present under the
charge OF the ten governors Of the almsh0uSc.
whose numbers are about 5000, and not {, 900,
as stated in a Former letter. Another gulf in
which the city revenues mc swallowed up, is
in the Central Park, on which near one
and 4 half millions have been spent, undcr the
rule of Black Republican commissioners and
superintendent and they will soon require a
million more. The superintendent aud his
subordinateS employing often, in summer from
two to three thousand men. have been in the
habit Of paying them off in orders on stores.
kept by Black Republicans, and other favori'c>.
This proceeding has been brought to notice by
Mr.. Mcleod Murphy, q Democratic Senator
from this city. in the Legislature, who has in
troduced a bill to abolish the practice. The
Black Republican police system Of this city,
also involves an annual expense of about
81, 1926, 900; to which is to Uc added at least
$50, UU0, 00O for salaries OF city officials, with
the sun of $224,70 for salaries Of the Judi.
ciary, and large sums besides for city and county
expenses, and purposes Of education. Where
else, on earth, is the people Of a city so taxed
and dcspoilcd:
The Albany Republican Solons Of the SIRE
pressi6te conflict side, have already given no.
tice Of Personal Liberty Bills, in favor Of which
petitions have gone up from Bcccher, Cheevcr
& Co. One OF these bills is Indignantly beaded
as all act 10 prevent slave-huntins and kiinap-
ping in this State. They, however, arc not,
and probably will not, be pressed to nnv lie.
cided action. 1t is u mere party fetch" that's
ull. An honest and straight forward member
from the interior, has very justly introduced Il
direct tax bill, in which watches, fast horses.
carriages, &C., are to he taxed, and the personal
salaries Of political Office holders, to tue amount
Of 9 per cent.
1t il certainly right, if the State is to be
c~ternally engaged in borrowing money 10 pay
canal debts, that, instead of taxing people with
heavy railroad tolls, which would drive traffic
to the Grand Canadian Trunk" route. or 10
the roads Of Pennsylvania and Maryland, to
tax the people direct at once. If the State
debt must be annually increased, direct taxes
must, sooner or later. be resorted 10.
Among the items Of city expenses sent up to
Albany, was the charge Of $1e5, 900 FOR cleo.
ton expenses, growing mainly out Of the exc
cution Of the absurd registry law.
Our energetic and worthy Mayor, the Hon.
Fernando Wood, has already recommended the
adoption Of many Sa!utary measures OF reform !;
among which, is the establishment Of an Emf
grants Bureau, for the protection of cmigrants
and strangers thrown upon the city, and who
so frequently become the victims Of unprin-
cipled vagabonds, known chiefly as enisrant
runners and boarding. house keepers, one of
whose practices is, to sell fraudulent tickets for
Europe, California and the West. The same
Bureau might also safely take cognizance Of
the mock auction gentry, who boldly carry on
their disreputable callings in the most public
parts OF the city. If clothed with the necessary
power. we should witness = scene OF EMERGENCY
and general reform By our city Executive,
,rh;cS would ,rove rafrnshinr in these DAYS OF