The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-03
First Movement OF Governor Seymour
Removal or the Police commissioners.

movement O0veEuOF
Removal or the Police Commissioners.
The first official act Of Governor Seymour
after his Inauguration will probably be ono
of high importance to this State and to the
whole country. 1t will be likely to inaugurate
q new era in which the outraged constitution
will be indicated, and that sacred instrument
elevated to its proper position, where the
above all executive or legislative authority,
whether in peace or in war. Henceforth we
expect that the rights and liberties OF the citi-
zen secured by the great American charter
will he respected. and that the laws of the
land will be held paramount to all arbitrary
edicts issued from Washington or elsewhere.
The guarantee of this is the prompt action
which Governor Seymour will undoubtedly
take in the case Of the Commissioners of the
Metropolitan Police, against whom charges
have been made and copies thereof served
upon each Of them, with a notification to appear
ut Albany this day to answer the complaint.
In another page we publish the charges, which
may be briefly summed up as follows -
First.-That they permitted the police to
make arbitrary arrests of citizens, not only
without the authority of law, but in palpabls
violation Of the constitution of the United States
and the constitution and laws of the State of
New York.
lSecond.-That they permitted the prisons Of
the Metropolitan District Of Police to be used
FOR improper purposes-to wit. the illegal incar-
ceration Of persons against whom no charges
were preferred, and who had committed no
offence known to the laws. The case Of Mrs.
Brinsmads is an example.
Third.-That after an investigation Of the
conduct Of Superintendent Kennedy in OBTAINING
Mrs. Brinsmade for several weeks in duress
without warrant or authority Of law, the Com
missioners reprimanded him, but yet sustained
his course, whereas the facts were sufficient to
justify his removal from the service.
Fourh.-That they caused or permitted Jshn
A. Kennedy to issue an order to the police pre-
vions TO the State election On the 4th OF No
vember last, which order was published for the
purpose Of intimidating voters by threatening
their arrest at the polls, and their detention At
the station houses subject to the orders Of the
Secretary of War;" thus interfering with the
freedom Of suffrage and holding in terorem
over the heads Of the voters the vengeance of
federal official at Washington who had neither
authority nor right to NEEDLE with elections in
this State, or in any other.
There can be no doubt as 10 the course Gov
Seymour will pursue in this case. He has the
power to remove the Commissioners for cause
and there could not by any possibility be a
stronger cause than wilful and deliberate viola
tion Of the constitution and laws which Il is the
duty of the Police Commissioners to support.
There is no dispute about the facts. They must
be admitted, for they are placed on record by
the commissioners themselves. Governor Sey.
mour is constituted the sole Judge Of the sufii-
cheney Of the cause Of removal, and from bis
decision there is no appeal. What his decision
will BE- cannot be doubtful. But we trust that
he will act promptly, and this very day remove
| from the trust which they have abused the
unfaithful guardians Of the freedom Of the
| people.