New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-17
THE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE PISrH
AVENUE.

We hope our citizens will keep their attento fxst'
upon the Ubiquitous measure now before JON Sps-
cial committee Of both boards Of our Common Coun-
ell proposing to destroy, at ore blow, millions of dol
lars worth of property on the Ffthave, to dash ont
of existence the accumulated wealth of quarter Of
century Our people must realize the duty that
devoves upon them as citizens; they must stir them
selves; and they must keep record Of tho
men who vote for and against this gigantic
scheme. There should be no lukewarmnes
in their opposition to this measure; there
should be no holding back, expecting that
some one else will do the work; but our wealthy
citizens, who have built their residences upon Fifth
ave. and have made them honor and an ornament to
our city, should rally in in which they all are 50
intimately connected, and should endeavor to show
the bad men in our Common Council that there is a
limit to their inquities beyond which they cannot,
beyond which they dare not go.
If this act is reported upon fayorably by tbs
Joint committee, we shall watch closely The
votes it receives in the Board of COunemen OF
course it will be opposed By Councmen White, Rel.
logg, Tying Thomas, Roberts Pullman and Macksy.
and the respectable portion of people look to each
one of these gentlemen do his duty in the premises
over and over again, that Councilmen Keech, Green,
Halloran, Hettrick and INLAY Gall elected rs
Republicans) have backslided. Their conduct
has been such many occasions to justify the i'm.
preston that they have proved false to their pledges
We tell them the eyes of their constituents upOa
them. We do not sleep ourselves in ignorance GA
this matter, nor shall we permit Others TO be in
ignorance
We appeal to these Councilmen, in this matter, at
least, to place Themselves right upon the record. We
appeal to them in behalf Of thes constituents in be-
half of honor of honesty in behalf of the wealth oil
this community, in behalf of all our great CONNER.
cia and social interests to set the seal of their coa
demnation upon this the latest plot of the conspra.
tors who govern us.
But if they hearken not to our appeal, if they turn
deaf ear to remonstrances, if they walk not in
the way of righteousness, then we say it, and we sag
it knowingly, Let them not expect TO escape the
wrath to come. There is now power among us,
thoroughly aroused, that will not rest until poca
ruin is brought upon the head of every So-caed Re-
publican or Reform member of the Common Council
who couutenances by his vote this iniquity OF de-
stroying Ffthavenue The names of the apostates
will be placarded from end of their districts to the
other the proofs of their dereictons will be scattered
in every and stage in city, and they may rest
assured that their power for evil will terminate with
the current year. Their constituents will be informed
OF their conduct; and they must not imagine for q
moment that shall suffer the people to be ignorant
of those among them who are reeking with cor
ruption.
Go on, gentlemen Take your own course BIT
You are walking the brink of precipce! Take
heed, lest you fall
We feel warmly speak warmly on this
subject, because we know that this scheme to
interfere with Fifth-avenue is pushed only for
the sake of plumber. Not single argument can DO
urged in its favcr, and not even plausible excuse
advanced for the proposed alterations whereas on the
other hand. if this job should be consummated, it
would be death-bow to the security of property in
the metropolis of America; private enterprise could
not be induced to erect and beautfy costly buildings
for the sake ofhsving them moved back or cut away
or OF paying tribute to the Common Council All oil
our people are interested in this matter; for who can
tell upon whom the hghwaymen may next set and
demand their property or their money