New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-10

TIE GoVERNMENT or THE CITY.

PROTEST OF GERMAN CITIZENS AGAINST THE YIGOR-
OTIS ENFORCEMENT OF TIE EXCISE LAw-REPLY OF
MAYOR uoFTAAS--HE CONDEMNS RIoToUs PRO
crEDINGs. BUT pENoUNCEs TIE LEGISLATIVE COM
MISSIONS.
large delegation Of German citizens, over 100 in
number, called on his Honor Mayer Hoffman, yesterday
and after appropriate remarks from their Chairman Col
Abraham Long, presented the following petition;
To The Honorable The Mryor and Common Council OF he
Guy q NeV-Ioik: ., =,
The undersigned citizens WERE at public meeting OF
CITY of New-YOrk. the 9Th day OF May 1907 duy APP
Toiyted delegation TO lay before you the grievances
hereinafter set forth BY recent acts OF the Legislature
of the State OF NewYOrk the Police and Excise COMMITS
TO the aws but of late these powers vested In the Police
Commissioners and Excise Boards have been greatly
abused by certain unjust and Outra measures passeu
by said Boards under color OF law BY these measures
they Cypress large class of business men, the tendency
being 10 endanger If not totally destroy the means Dy
which thousands of fellow citzensmake an honest NV
ing. Said Police Commissioners and Excise
have nder color OF said lav adopted certain rules ana
regulations which are entirely unusiabe and mos hl
initiating Under their orders citizens are lnsulteu, ar
rested and treated with brutality their rights outraged
ard they treated like and locked mp u cells with Grln
nails who guilty OF the most heinOus crimes Undef
color sad laws and the rules enacted by such Comms
soners the Police enter dwellings under all sorts Of pre-
Where an entry can be effected by stealth u Is do
but force Is necessary to break doors In order 10 gam
an enrace into our private dwellings even TINS ~ re-
sorted to- The undersigned hail with Joy the resolutions
in to these questions lately introduced no Lhe
Common Council The undersigned respectfully ask tnae
yOu the Municipal Authorities OK the City OF
will aid aud assist the undersigned in all legal measures
which they may ae to bring about reform po oil snG
Illegal acts committed upon them by said Commissioners
We call upon you and through you upon all peaceful
and law-abidng citizens who love freedom Of action TO
aid in resisting these yrannca enacments ana make
despotc officials answer before the proper tribunals lor
their illegal and wrongful acts
Dated, New-Yorl May o. 1867. .....,.
JULIUS KOBN,
and about 10 others
REPLY OF THE MAYOR.
MY FELLowCITIZENs: am glad'to see youi am glad
for advice and COUNSEL have listened the statement
OF your complaints regret TO say that have no power
20 relieve you. The same radical and ntoleant spirit IN
State legislation which has forced upon the people Of this
portion OF the State law which, with all its good pro
has deprived the Mayor OF this city Of the privileges and
powers which Of right belong to him as the chosen Chet
Magistrate OF the People The same intoerant spirit IN
legislation which has conferred extraordinary power upon
the Ioee Depal ment mailing the LoeS Conssi0n
has made that Department independent Of the Mayor and
Constitution OF the State has teen violated and the right
Of the people Of HewIo and Brooklyn to regulate their
own local affairs has taken away from them. Both
cities have been placed under Commissioners appointed
by state authorities, and tho Excise law has been
made, not FOR the state at large, but for 2
Under that law what is lawful Ia other parts of Me Sdf
crn,io hsTe In regard to this law which Is here en-
forced with 80 much unnecessary rgor and hnrslnes,
some time ago / need not repeat it. We are all OF
M coed citizens favor OF iudlcous Excise law. to
be mly administered, but We are opposed to intoler
ance and bigoTy IN whatever form il may appear do
not hesitate to say that in my opinion tho Excise Com
harshness They are unreasonable aud unjust in these
exac;ons When demonstrated with by those who have
interest except 70 reserve popular rghs ana tlSl
ORDER their answer Is that directly affected by the
law makes any objection They seem ~ Their conduct
10 be 1lOng To- create excitement and. provoke resist
They make the perfect and complete submission OF
The people The preteXt Tor rev cxaG'ion ah Hoy sSfy
believe 70 be most influential, but 70 no puFpoie.
But you ask me what YOU shah dn. Will give you tho
best advice can IN the ilrt place You mus COZ ,h4e
to obey the law, "a 10 is, until YOU can modify It, obcd
men talk ~ resistance hut siucce friend OF the people
viii couutenGncc that. The papers Of this morning an
soncrs that Violence Is Threatened aud riot
plated hope IL - not trueI believe it Is not trIe
views OF riots and rioters are vel, known, and TO the eX
tent OF my power should deal with hom Ia the future
precisely have IN the past. Your opponents would
Ike nothing better than to be able 10 provoke you 10 VIC
are strcugcIrc every day; disturb the peace and YOU
turn them against you at once The friends OF today
| would be enemies tomorrow. Thousands Of
| gnod citizens who sustain You now would oppose
sacrehy the peace and fro|n down inc ist atom,
Of friend.. EepafeHt But yon With prudence and
| with safety G5i'a'e. Hold your public meetings Let
your speakers be well Hud your resolutions be well
considered. Keep clear OF dcmlgogues, who Will strive
10 use your movement for their own adv anc mont Look
at tho inionse denoIAtlens Wh!ch are being heia IN
| England end see how Rapidly they arc chanGlng the
bile events. - john BTchf SAID NJ Brniug
ham, neither L"a nor commons can Ust th ptnccl
expression OF public opinion. You can do the people
make OUs Of dononsrtionp Rc Nil aatoSs GT tc
people o. the sigte think have not vt reached tho
point when the right Of tho people to assemble peaccaby
You another piece Of advice. let your demonstrations
be- on week day Instead ol Sunday, has been COnem
plated Thousands % your irclds-th0se who condemn
nlko tho odOus raues ~ The EEcisc Law and the IN
tolerant spirit ~ the Commi,so1crslovc the quiet Of
Sunday, and while they conccde 10 al men tho right to
spend the day according TO The dictate OF tIGr own con
sciences, they would regret 10 see " disturbed by the
noise aud confusion OF q pdbio demonstration;
sentiment of tho community You can have and Keep H.
and viii be sustained by all except by those who have
idea OF the befy Of others la conscience Ia conduct
beyond tie liberty To lnk ahu act accorupg To their
peculiar notions. have spoken 10 You plainly aud
frankly. You know ne, ana know that VIII not give
rot speak pleasant words 10 ntaty applause.
DO NJ have told yOu and you Will drive even tho Excise
and Police Commissioners 10 course Of moderation and
fairness II. on the other hand. Won or Others follow the
cOunels W excited or udis ncr, VII 1~c every
thug Re prudent and pof rt and Won n soon secure
al executing b iu ,c hands o.. cn WHO can DE- iu-t aud
iiun without hcir- tyranuitll and opnr i've the time
! IS fast approaching when tho people ~ NewGork ana
! BrooLyn VIII nave tielf Hshth lhere Is 10 poNIF III
the city state which can withstand the popular VIII CH-
acknowledge that local governments IS better Than Albany
! government The experience OF the past Winter has
taught people tata corrupt Legislature can increase
and our burdens, but cen furnish no remedy for
municipal OF local ey.s. This ispOt subject IN which tho
people OF Now York City alone arc Interested Il cQpcg5
! the people OF the state. IL involves the right
1 OF counties and cities aud towns 10 regulate their
local Affairs You must organize with reference 10 It.
and for the present make your political combinations and
regulate your political conduct so as To secure always the
election OF opposed 10 consolidation Of power In
missions appointed 0t Albany. The turning point hes
hero 90 bo almost unit in aYOro local sefgovernmen
and against legislative osson They viii Insist that
whatever Excise law shall b. In force shall apply to the
whole state and not to one section OF IT, They viii re-
bike that ntoeran sp which, makes rigorous Excise