New-York tribune., 1867-07-29
WHY TILLAINY THRiTES ~ OUR CITY.
The Citizen, under the title of Crime and
"the Ballot says:

IHc titccn, Unuer tUe Ullc oi NlHh' anu
the Ballot says:
"Our present gifted and genial District Attorney Is TO
hc renOmnated unanimously by al me pIltCaI l
the CITY except the Democratic Union In the language
Of the lamcncd Artemus, Why Is thus thus Nhat N
there that should unite IN harmony hnn i0N, w. I'i ~,
many Runp. the Mozart faction and the Mrhe"h rplt,
nrts ,crirs coumand This respect from party Does
patriotism reap this reward from tho public W. ieAr
this effect and doubt whether VIII Shak srcaTc Wo1d 't
ceiye unanimous nomination M THIS city Tor Whtu con.
stable. No. It s neither mental nor hoial ,in'" &C. ', ~,
produces this wonderful concord Of sentiment hht to
thousands Of indictments lying uuiriod in The Dstrci
active local politicians IN our city; against Keepers oi
houses Of prostitution hnrsiat go go 81
and Influence among us.
III the leading men Of the nominating bode. Of
CITY were 20 refuse To select Oakley Hall as the man oi
their choice half of them would Dee in prison within
week; there would be- dcArth Of membcrs Of County
Conventions q quorum would have 90 bo hunted up be
hind iron bars There are thOu,lnds-huW many We 30
moi knoW of indictments IN the Attorney Office
thatarc only meant % be- used political pressure aud
which will never hc brought 10 trial unless the acsu'td ~
false 10 ms duty by ss friend the public prosecutor We
do not select this as an exceptional case but presume
that the facts may be stated 0f every District Attorney IN
The state only in this county the criminals more
powerful OF course, where the member of "a committee
has either to vote according to order or 10 TO prison he
chooses the former alternative; and Legislators happen
10 among the number against whom indictments are
pending they are exceedingly liberal III Their measures
affecting the representative Of the majesty OF the law
We utterly discredt the possibility Of
Oakley Halls nomination by any Convention
calling itself Republican, unless it be Thurlov
Weeds private convenience that impudcntly
assumes that title; yet is very possible that he
will secure a pretty unanimous vote from
the very few rowdies and sharpcrs who find it
convenient to be called Republicans. That he
will have, if he chooses, the run of all the
Democratic machines we take as matter of
course.
The CiG:en proceeds:
"Therc is one way TO cure this dsgraceful state OF
affairs Deprive party convicted OF any moral crime oi
lot any conviction except for the most trivial Ocure,
have this effect and let the second conviction for any
points beyond the reach Of the Governors pardOning
power let them be in the Constitution absolute and
political morals. Thcn public officers can enforce the
laws without fear OF adverse votes; then the criminal
will not govern the moral portion Ot the community.
strip crime OF power let no man take part In making laws
against which he has shown willingness TO commit
serious breaches and give To the innocent the rcns OF
public government a discretion like that OF hold
Ing back criminal trial should not De trusted 10 any
and although our local officer may meet with gem
eral approval IN the use TO which he Is putting his power
and feel that the city cannot do without his valuable
keeper put bad men Ia office. II our Constitutional Con
venon will correct this nquity and II they do nothing
eseand the less they do further the subject of the
ballot the beter-they Will be regarded with affection by
grateful innocence.
end To elevate politics and deprcss the dangerous classes
AZ present. tho thief rowdy and pckpOcket know that
their crimes And even after conviction, the same pO
lcal influences may obtain pardon that will restore
the franchise but let the Criminal and above ALL the
great CLASS OF petty criminals feel that conviction
loss OF political existence and they viii hesitate ere they
break The laws. The truculept rowdy, haunting
stf5at t5fisfs threatening C6nv6nti6ns Insulting
ladies' will find himself in different position when his
pleasant performances have no longer the protection
The votes OF himself and his friends The criminal ele
ment will be eliminated from Our politics, and may
enter upon happier and moro successful career"
We cannot regard this as practical rem
edy for the glarng abuses complained Of
What is the complaints That half the crimi-
mails in our City-the more astute and danger
Gus half-even though indicted for their crimes,
are never tried. The Cit=en does not urge that
these be disfranchised- those who are or
shall be tried and convicted SO the
power of the District Attorney would be
Immensely increased by the proposed
disfranchisement as he could then say to tho
indicted, "Vote as | say, or | will stop your
"vOting evermOre" Then our TOmbs lawyers
would appeal with immense effect to juries-
Don't convict my poor, young, friendless,
tempted, beguiled, momentarily erring client,
"and thus deprive him of his right to vote
"evermore." On the whole, we fear there
would be many fewer conyicts under Tile Ctti-