The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-09-14

Nicn'oh hcuncStru'
THE Metropolitan Police il "a grcat nstitu.
iion-for good or evil. That is, it. powers arc
extraordinary AMI enormous. There il no won
der tina, among people jealous of liberty, a
strong and invetcrate opposition should be main.
tAined against the existence ola system which
places in the hands Of tho State Executive. a
standing army Of picked, organized and drilled
officers, holding every foot Of ground under
patrol, and welding absolute and arbitrary au-
thority, for police purposes, over every nl-
vidual, in a district Of n million inhabitanl.
Nothing but the extraordinary exgcncics o.
great and densclv crowded city, rotten to the
core Of its political organization, could force
this community to tolerate ~ IA an anom.h
among republican institutions. Aud noihiu.
hut stern purity, a stulious regard to law.anl
righta and rigorous accountability for mi-
conduct, in the discipline Of the force, can pre-
servo such de.potic system from carly H.
tructiOn.
We think that with all It's faults, the admin
tration Of the State Police system Of tai, civ
has bcen in the main '-intcntioned 50 f,r, aud
productive Of vast AMI Increasing good. Under
tho present Suporint,nl'nt the police force II
constantly improving, in minscrs and morals,
in physical superiority and Ella ractor, in gentle
manly appearance anil solCresp'ct. We have
much and growing reason to feel proud &C the
appearance and conduct oil this fine body Of
mon.
But this is not enough. Much remains to he
done in the way OF discipline, which the Super
intendent cannot touch, and which the Police
uu..il1tu.y 20 s,,t,h
is also \ settled tendency in the nature Of the
systcm towards the two carluil dan ,ers ~ cor.
ruption and oppression. which must bc contend I'd
against with sleepless vgor anil vigilance by
the Commissioner, If they would perpctua,e the
existence and usefulness Of their department Of
public service. by making ii as perfect, as bo-
nedcent, and as harml, "a, as il Is possible Gr a
human administration to be, they can secure it
in public favor, against all the enoits of dem
gogues for ever. BY allowing it to degenerate
in personal character AMI discipline, or to he
come arbitrary, oppressive To ndvi lua liberty,
and practically irresponsible they can arouse a
hatred against it which will know NJ bound,
and will listen to no Plea on argument for It
continued cNi ,tcncc
Our purpose in these remarks is one Of warn
ing-ytry serious and pointed warning Tho
dangers We have indicated are actually rife
both in the nature AMI present administration o.
the system. To q certain cytcnt the tendency
10 CORRUPTION and oppression i, in C.ct realized
already, AMI must be arrested. or in its ultimate
ITogrors We shall lose on Of two things; either
our admirable police system, or our personal
liberties. Evidences not unfrequcnty tran
.spire, OF gross misconduct and abuse of mower
by policemen, sustained in the Board OF Police
Commissioners by the grossc-t iavoriti,m, and
sometimes by a stolid and supercnious ab,o.
lutsm.
One of thCSe evidences we are about to hrinr.
before the public, in the thrccfold interest Of
private rights, of public liberty, and Of sn eli.
Gent and permanent police. 1t is our nur.
pose to watch these mcu Who rule over u,
with such fearful authority, more shnrp.
ly and consciously and keep them rigor.
Ously Oh their defence before tl.r pcoplo
for everything in their official conduct
Hght or wrong, which is not open, clear and
above suspicion. We shall begin tomorrow,
with story of recent outrage which will make
the cars Of every ons that hear, it to tn.l,.
This outrage, not only urrelrc-sri but susl tincI
by the spirit of iavori'.-m or ahsouti,m in the
Police Board, ought To move tue million inhr
bitants of the Metropolitan District nav thc
people of the whole state, IL Necessary. one
man, 10 demand redress and punishment
through the removal Of the whole Police Beard
il they refuse H. AMI II that be refused, through
"A revolution in the Executive OF the state it-,lc