The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-08

grievances Either the one or the other OF thes, rival
Of magistrates should DO abolished Tho burden Of
this double governmcnt-the jealousy and the contests
bLs engcnderedarp sufficient sock deliver
nce from 40 absurd stem All the functions required
q body 10 pefufm the dsties imposed q county le-
isature might b. discharged previously, by one ~
the Boards OF the Common Council. The motive for
creating this county corporation doubt political
that the minority OF the electors seud rcpresente
10 the exeot as the majority thus subvertng tho
sound republican maxim that he majority should govern
Even the erection Of new City Hall could not BIO per-
formed without the intervention OF Board Of Commits
tioncs Two acs for this purpose have been passed. the
former utterly rceabe with the slate consti.
toon that u had 10 be gven up and the latter ne
cacioJs that necessity called for mperatiyey by the
wants of the People sn1 fo lack OF which tho admintra
ton 81 justice cannot be dccenty carried appears
be uLALtainabie
1hr supervision the safety Of the buildings and edi
fees the city should be part OF the municipal govern
meIt and under the control Of lis authorities. Bot this
department OF pubic regulation has been placed tbs
ha,ds of board headed by superintendent, and
neced loosely with the city that Is to be wondered
Why their salaries are drawn from its treasury.
The laying out OF the beautiful and diversified strip OF
elevated forming northern strip of the island was
called for and felt 10 be desirable that this orna-
meut OF the city Should not be dsAgured by vandalism
ana III taste. II was entrusted TO commission whose
poinm mt Of course, not entrusted 10 the city Tn.
,rct yet, the wish will be that however Objectionable
eir creation, they win discharge their task faithfully
III. satisfactorily.
Pr 1860 to isC0 the expenditures OF the city govern
have Increased from 50 $50 AZ to 80 OT 49,
and the rate OF taxation from 10 70 100 10 90 4s 1000
hoagh the property subject TO such taxation during
period has augmented in value from $3.50 OG 6y6
to ShTT go Csc Tho state legislature tho passage OF
the laws referred 10, have seriously enhanced the bur
dei OF taxation without correcting any of the
evils and corruptios connected with existing system
OF municipal government.
The authority Of the legislature has been Invoked TO
secure power not reform, and special covcry
introduced aud adopted every session egsizrg corrupt
violations oi the wholesome provision the char
ter and ,norcing contracts and obligations the ju
dioal tribunals have Investigated and repudlated.
Admitting oil TO be true alleged az INST TIM mmou
Council yet find persons appealing 20 TIA legislature
with the expectation Of finding body Of virtue
The power OF patronage existing Under the city CHAR
ter has from time to time contrary 10 sound policy been
concentrated and conferred upon particular officers md
confusion ard exravannce naturally ensued In tho u
dicai, well "a the executive departmental, abundant
examples might be found Of such legislation.
The numerous grants OF railroad franchises 70 poll.
tcians and spectators which were traced ovcr tbs
city and through every Incorporated avenue ana
leading thcrougbfMe completes the hasty review I
have taken 81 tho leading features OF Legislative IN
shsiss Have the chartered rights Of this city been re
ysasn II this tho "free city Of tsef that Governor
MoDlgomerie designed should thus remain Have "a
arcses, emoumeuts, privileges free customs pre-.
n p Of Io charters Which was H not TO BE- ao0n S
been FILTERED away in detail and made void and OF no
eject even tho most rigorous and unbensn ntoteta.
ton of its provisons1
Thus Il viii bc seen that the political connection be
tween the people Of the city and the State has been
used by the latter TO our injury. Tho Legislature In
has become the instrument by which we are plum.
derod TO enrich their spcculators lobby agents and
abolition politicians laws passed through their
maign influence, by which, under the forms q legal
enactmelt burdens been increased, our sub
stance eaton out and municipal liberties destroyed
Self government though guaranteed by the state consti
taken from by this foreign power whose dependents
have been sent among destroy liberties by sub.
verting political system.
How shall rid osrseives Of this osous and opprcs.
sve connection, II Ia not for TO determine ~ Ger.
tain that dissolution cannot be- peacefully pished
except By tho consent of tla Legislature iAs, WhA,ha