Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-09
THE METROPOLITAN QUESTION.

The rumor was prevalent on yesterday,
notwithstanding it had been semi-ofiicially
given out that the Governor would make no
appointments in the Metropolitan Police
Board, TO replace the appointees rejected by
the Senate, that Gen. Milroy and Col. Stone
had been commissioned for these positions.
We learned later in the day that the report
was untrue, and that no appointments have
yet been made.
The opposition, which a sense of duty has
compelled us to make TO many Of the acts
and measures Of the State administration,
may cause any opinion which we
may express 10 have but little weight
in deciding the course Of action which it
may pursue in this matter, but we are free
10 say that we think it would be alike wise,
just, and polite to postpone, under present
circumstances, the Inauguration Of the Me-
tropolitan system in this city, until the re-
assembling Of the Legislature at least, if not
until the expiration Of the term Of services of
the present police.
In the first place, the refusal of the SEN
ate TO confirm two Of the Board originally
nominated, raises legal doubt of the COM
potency of the Governor to commission
others in their stead. We know that
this is the opinion Of eminent legal
men, and it affords ground for par
ties who consider themselves excluded
wrongfully from their Offices, or even the
municipal body, 20 contest the right of the
Board thus constituted to assume police
jurisdiction. We have no ground to state
that such a step would be taken, but as there
is no need for precipitancy, all possibility of
such disagreement or collision Of authority
will be avoided by permitting the incum-
bents under the old system to complete their
terms. There is another consideration in
this connection, and that is, that the exercise
of police authority over individuals under
any system when there is pending question
as to its legality, might lead to serious
consequences. Men abused in their persons,
or restrained of their liberty by n police
government which should afterwards prove
to have acted without authority Of law,
have tenable grounds for redress or for the
prosecution of the parties wEo may
injure them, and in this way litiga-
ton and bad blood may be melted.
We deprecate any sort Of police admins
tration which is not accepted for the time as
the only legitimate one, and we are sure that
all the ends and purposes Of police will best
be subserved by avoiding all doubt on the
subject. We opposed the establishment Of
the Metropolitan system and still think it
unnecessary and injudicious. When, how
ever, it is on trial, we should prefer to have
no competing system to interfere in any
manner with its operations. 1t is clear that
if it is set up, as the case now stands, there
will be those who will regard it as Illegal
and unauthorized, and may deem it their
duty to bring the subject into court.
In the discussion of the Metropolitan bill
before the Legislature, it was established
even by the evidence of Gen. Thomas, that
the police government Of this city was adj
mirably conducted, and the friends of the
bill asserted that it was for no fault or ground
of complaint against Mayor Brown and the
efficient corps of officers who obey him, that
they desired the new system. The plea was,
that it was in itself better system, and
that as a necessity existed for its application
TO Memphis, it was proper to apply 1T to
Nashville al the same time. No one, however
strenuously he may advocate the advanta-
gcs of the metropolitan plan, can impeach
the conduct of our police authorities, or al
legc one fact in the history Of the city that
that can Justify its intrusion at this time.
1t is by no act Of the city govern
ment, or of the citizens, that the impede
ment was thrown in the way of the Cover
nor's action which has given rise to the legal
doubt that now encumbers it, and we feel
satisfied that if the matter were left where
it is, until the Board can be regularly
completed, and the present term of police
service be permitted to terminate, that our
citizens will be prepared to enter upon the ex-
pertinent Of the new system more willingly
and cheerlully, than if it shall be violently
thrust upon them without reason or necessity,
and by questionable authority.
We throw out these hurried suggestions
with no other motive than a desire to do
justice and preserve good feeling and har-
mony, and we trust that before it is deter
mined to take the step of Immediately put
ting in operation the metropolitan machin-
cry, these and other suggestions in this be-
half may he heard and calmly weighed.