The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-11


contained IN this report They believe they have conclu
evey shown that csyonsi blity whatever should
tnrcvn spon the city authorities. whose functions
simply clerical their acts being subect 10 revision b
che state authorities claim ana exercise despot
powcrs over oven the small appropropria
inc most protests Of the authorities OF thi
city, heretofore made from time 10 time against thes
asurpaicns. hive been unhceded or totally
until previous Conmon Councils have abandoned all ideI
obtaining that consideration 70 which they entitled
S ,Ss we q this State 10 their
made up our liberties, all the nsdicus they
are made under ,hs guise o. the public gooda faacy
winch your conmftee believe they have thoroughly ex
possd In this repo-must be mel and repealed by our
by the exercise Of that constitutional right Of
their liberties are entirely subver,ed-the ballot For
every act Of spcatcn inflicted upon us BY The State the
spectators There can be no question As to the ultimate
result The ballot the most powerful agency Jet known
isevisaSy be Victorious. and the people the city. is
ferventy o. be hoped when tho second sober thought
pcrvsde the Ieope q s0e STATE anI a M
70 make reparAn will again DO invested with our rights
rec reoe aud have restored to Is those clustered
been deprived by the action OF tho corrupt and vcua
Isxislaarcs with which not only the people o. the city
out the entire PEOPLE Of the STATE have boon cursed for
When The management Of the affairs Of this municipality
Ia again secured 20 the ocers chosen directly BY the
people city administer trusts by then Ger
tain % be bcd 10 strict accountability NO may expect
90 rcshze return Of that bcneacent and economical
Legislation that the government Of the city
previous 10 the Interference OF the Legislature Apart
dschrsc e the duties entrusted 70 their public servsns
there 90 satcty no guaranty that such trusts will
properly administered In proof Of this assertion let II
be remembered that 10 no prominent within the
collection your committee has ofcal known dis.
honesty or ncompeency becn returned BY tho people
known was disgraccd BY his incumbency There may
be such persona Is trucs now holding oces Of true,
not by the Legislature direct then BY some OF The
many comm ssions created BY the STATE This feet
alone convincing Ieata'ion q The sapderoas inslqu
viz;that they Incapable OF sefgovcrnment. Noi
capable OF self What libel the charac-
which leg sative placed to overturn the local
OF city In order to give Il the hands
weight tho popular indignation are afraid 10 brave il
IN order 70 attain place and POWER and who Ia order to
proceed Albany there mature and perfect those
schemes OF which past Legislatures have been prolific
and 10 which these identical persons have been and
Much o the legislation directed against this city 10 past
years can DO traced directly 10 the agency Of unscrup
tous mon land there are many OF them) base enough
barter their brthrght for Of potage To secure
place and power these degenerate sons OF our
government OF the city they dishonor, but they would
peril their hopes Of salvation hereafter In order 70
secure Office Having fosfeitcd the confidence OF their
fellow citizens by abuses OF tho trusts c0nded TO their
keeping BY their they dare again present
returned q administer the trusts they had abused well
knowing by experience that dishonest incapable or I'M
worthy public officials although they may impose them
selves upon community for brief period are certain
TO meet with the honest and indignant reprobation OF
those whose trusts they have betrayed and the second
attempt such imposition Il certain to meet with the
condemnation 1t richly merits Tho political antece
dents OF these schenes, taken in connection with the
attending their or rts with former State Iegisla
lures securing ace aud patronage in this city against
the wishes OF It's citizens admits OF other Inference
will justify no other conclusion.
The city and county Now York alone OF all the cities
aud counties OF this state, is the only one that 10
CURED 10 submit the estimate Of appropriations the
int pTft lie
examnatirn OF the State legislature order to obtain
PERMISSION to realize the amount necessary to conduct
such government Why should this State surveillance
be exercised particularly this strictly local
Are not the people Of this city by their
IN the common Council rs well qualified to Judge OF the
required conduct their local government a.
are tho senators and Asscmbymon from the interior part
OF the tates
And Il not much more likely to conducs TO q good
and economical local government by allowing the repre-
scntatives OF citizens to cgslae for them exclusive
ly il order to ,be them TO hold TO strict account
ability those who directly responsible 20 the people
for tbe proper administration Of tho government the
city than Is TO ntrust CHI functions 70 the super
vision Of totally irresponsible persons are beyond
thc rench Of al accountability Tor tho moneys they ap
haps, entirely ignorant o. the requisites city 60
yernmcn Common sonsc, apart from considerations
Justice. equity and constitutional rights win answer
srmavey Yet tne vcry reverse is the case a. evsry
item ~ expenditure made for tho support and main
ssocoo Se ss esssuro bssSrs bs 20 onsy tue
DO realized by the city anc such ems OF appropriation
made TO conform to the supposed requirements
authority AZ be'orc stated the given for such
acts is that tho people Of this city hcompeteut to
manage their own aiasare unqualified for sefgovern
meet What degrading insult to the people OF this
city city that provides accommodation for and
pubic schools with an additional number OF so 900 in ts
private schools. academies, colleges and universities
city that dsburses: through its educational system
{outreiy independent OF the corporate auhoritics)
noary two lions OF dollars annually In educating its
youth and tha pays into the OF the nearly
nalf million dollars annually for educational purposes
IN other ard the most remote portions OF
oipabc Of self government Certainly sad commentary
uop the results II Wanted system Of public nsruc
t,cn the CHARGE however and the degrading re
suit chaeeaoie directly to the State. Our system OF
public Instruction creation OF the State LEGISLATURE
II 70 totally independent OF the city authorities Yet
they held responsible for the alleged ignorance and
are taken advantage 81 TO s further degrade our peo
pie by diminishing the control over other and equally
inperan, trusts o. purely local character But the
OF the globe are better qualified by education and habit
for tho op,oymcnt Of the blessings Of self government
system Of public education challenges the admiration
Of the world.
Your Committee presenting these facts 70 tue notice
OF The Common Council In order that they may be
public and that citzess may perceive the wrongs
perpesrated against them and 70 apprise them Of tho
dangers TO their liberties from continuation OF such
practices, are actustsd by no mercenary unworthy
motives. They do II moro Ia sorrow than 10 anger They
SseIy srch every scs o. .ns g
Che control OF the Common Council the Affairs OF
city. blow aimed at the insenablo right OF segov.
ernmeh The fact that those outrageous and nqutous
acts have not been srenuously resisted in their
operations thus far does not arghe that such mock sub
mission passive indifference will be perpetual. How.
ever, Is zach succeeding moro RIaripgy exposes
their depressing effects upon city aud every interest
cencred in IT, and each succeeding year the OF
taxation. now nearly Intoierabls. increases until be-
comes uncomfortable, II Is to be hoped that appeals the
Legislature Tor justice and restoration our chartered
rights will not be made In vain.
Your Committee however, are much gratiaed 70 note
an apparent change In sentiment In members Of the pre-
sent Stste legislature compared with previous Ones
IN respect 10 the lights OF the people OF this city Thus
Jar no sc.on having tendency further TO interfere with
our Chartered privileges has been favoraby entertained
0v either branch OF tho State government and while
many projects, similar In their contemplated operations
20 those with which this city Ia cursed have been
introduced no likelihood Of their becoming Avs 10 70 be
apprehendcd better feeling seems to animate the
Senators and members Of Assembly from other portions
of the state In their intercourse with the
from the city let Us hope that 10 but the
Of In our Affairs which viii eliminate in re-
storing 70 US the rights Of which have hereto
tore been 90 rushlossly deprived By former Iesis.
iatures. This dcne-tbe sovereign people once again