The New York herald., 1867-04-30

attacko IN the best OF humOr. Therefore we.
advise our military chieftains in the South
Generals Sickles, SchoAeld, Pope and the rest
not to meddle with the press. Let the bad
taste Of one paper be corrected by the good
taste Of another. They will find this much the
best course In the end.
Tho Enerneus Iscrease Of state. and Cisy.
Taxatton-The Cause and tho Remedy.
The gross taxation this year required to meet
the expenses Of governing the city and county
Of New York win exceed twenty million dol-
lars. This is greater amount than has even
before been levied upon our citizens The
State tax for 1867 is also in excess Of any pref
vious year, even during the rebellion. What 4
the reason Of this drain upon our industrial
interests! We are providing for no particulal
contingency we are not suddenly paying of
any local debt; the extraordinary expenses
consequent upon the war have ceased the
burden Of national taxation has been lightenedA
Why, then, is the cost Of governing the State Of
New York and the city Of New-York so largely
increasedi
The question admits Of but one satisfactory
answer. The root Of the evil is embedded IN
the organized anarchy and corruption known3
by the name of the State Constitution Of
1916, which was forced upon us twenty
years ago by . parcel of crazy fanstice
from Herkimer county, who imagined
they had found In the local government
Of their own little patch of territory in the
Mohawk valley model for the civil polity Of
q great State. Under that remarkable and
unfortunate instrument we have lived for two
decades, both in the State and the city, without1
any efficient or responsible government The
fundamental principles underlying our statute
laws have given the widest latitude to dishonest
officials, venal Legislators, SPECTATORS and lob
byists. The city Of New York, a6ording from
its vast wealth and commercial importance the
richest field for such operations, has attained
an unenviable prominence in the scramble fol
plunder. Tho several municipal "rings," and
the politicians and factions connected With tha
various city commissions, have been oorruptinG
the State LegisIaturs year afssr year, buying!
up the members at Wholesale and by retail
and using the public nonsy, for such purposest
until they have swellsd our local taxes from
three millions In ls4s to twenty millions il
1867
It is not only in the increased burden Of tax
alton that the evils Of an irresponsible govern.
ment are being realized. Anarchy Is walking
hand in hand with corruption and threatening
the peace as well as the prosperity of the COM
monwealth. In the State one branch of th@
government is virtually at war with the other
startling charges Of mslfeasance are made
against . subordinate department and the
Executive d powerles 10 interfere. In thd
city grasping commissions and intriguing Corr
poration "rings" are at loggerheads; there ii
. constant conflict Of jurisdiction; the courts
are made the theatres Of indecent squabblesl
between the justices and the police and all
the city laws and ordinances are swept away
in order to prevent the patronage under them
from being turned over from one set Of poll
ticians TO another. The State Legislaturel
passes laws without any regard to the wishes.
OF the people, and, in gross and impudents
violation Of law and decency, extends the term
Of the New York Oouncilmen to two years.t
It b easy to see that this must endt
general disorder, anarchy and bloodshed, un-.
less the approaching Convention Of Revision
shall strike at the root Of the evil by abolishing
The old constitution and giving us . new form
Of government, under which we can have en-
cient and responsible executive heads in the
State and In the city, an elective Judiciary, q
Common Council with legislative authority
alone, and Legislature with powers 80 cir
as to put stop 10 special legisla-
hon and its inevitable adjmcts, bribery and
These reforms are easily secured If the MEM
bers elected to the Constitutional Convention
will faithfully discharge their duty. There is
10 fear Of their work falling before the people
4 II be well done. In tho midst Of the corrup-
ion apparently revelling unchecked In this
'ity there is in fact decided majority Of voters
opposed to the principal spoilers, both of the
Irasping commissions, the Corporation "ring''
md the Tammany "ring," now managed by
hat worthy trinmvirate, John 7. Hoffman,
'eter B. Sweeney and William NJ Tweed, who,
fter twenty years Of corruption practised on
be State Legislature, have managed to survive
nd TO step into the old shoes of the former
hieis of the wigwam. This majority will
tand by the work Of the Constitutional Con-
ention II IL be such a. will entirely remodel
nd reform tho system Of our State and city
ovemments; for the people of New York have
esolved to undertake the work Of reconstruo-
on at home, and are bound to make . swcep-
,g political revolution in this city in the next
III election.
Lighs WanseA.
goyY1n of ~ M IL a exr<u~S