The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-21

to carry on . republican government in densely
populated cities, but this charter, II passed, would
away from the majority right OF ruling but the
minority ought 70 have the right OF sitting IN the
rms pScs hsa asS Seen no
some OF the executive departments OF the municipal
government, and some friends or the charter 90.
principle was good one: Suppose Mr.. Tweed mad
had four associates with him In the Department OF
Public Works, and one OF them only had been hon.
est would Mr.. Tweed be as rich to-day as he isY
("No no r') No doubt one man would be more
would. it not be better TO have i've slow but
honest men Than one eti1clent Mr. Iweeo ecu,
cs %rhs at aso sny me be brought
before Judge, II charged with misconduct, and
sioner even for slated cause. it had been stated
that minority representation was unconstitutional
put he mad yet to tnis clause in tine constitution
pointed out, ana he did not believe that any man
would ever find 1t. Ithad also been objected that
the Aldermen and other officers just elected would
stitutonal to prolong a mans term Of office,
constitutional power OF the Legislature to
abrldge term Of ONCE. There would be but one
of his apoopees Would be ~ on a
not surprising that many Olfce-hOlders should OPP
pose II on constitutional or other grounds. Laugh
ter) Professional politicians also would oppose 1t,
because 1t took away from them the opportunity to
successfully carry through their states. Some others
opposed II because proportional representation was,
the government Of this city changedS And.
cosnrs urdpe ana NV Wherever II had bee
tried 1t had not been found wanting. Other oDjec-
lions had also been brought against the charter but
the directors, n gathered together would ind them
selves at war with each other and would be alto
getner unable TO agree. Governor Solomon con-
charter that tho people might the leglti-
mate fruit OF the victory they had won at The polls
last fall.
MR.. GREELEY SUPPORTS THE CHARTER.
Mr.. HORACE GREELEY was then introduced and
not framed 10 sHSserve the interests Of any party
II the fear OF its being partisan measure could be
thsre would be very m3cs Sn less stance
charter was that 1t was designed only for the pur-
pose Of keeping certain number Of men in power.
He also approved oil minority representation,
and to the cavil that 1t was not CONSTITUTIONAL
he replied that nothing else was constitutional
The constitution SAID that the people should govern,
but under the old system dominant caucus or the
majority governed. The great defect OF the Old
order Of things was tnat the strong party majority
knew that they could elect whom they Chose and,
OF course, a bad man generally worked much
harder for q nomination than good one would do.
The old system was had, too. because It gave lazy
voters an exclse for not going TO tue polls. A man
would either say he wouldn't vote because
he would be beaten anyhow or because
they would win without HIM. Under inc
new system man could always elect somebody out
payers should fail 10 be in a majority they could
restrain bad men by watching their acts single
That on small matters the committee might give
way In kindly spirit, In order to nave the charter
passed by hundred votes He o believed IN the
enable minority TO bolt to some purpose.
GENERAL DIx's REMARKS.
General DIX was the next speaker. He spoke as
FELLOW CTIzENs-we are assembled under cir.
cumstances the most peculiar. 1t became known
many months ago that the people OF this city had
been plundered TO the amount OF twelve or thir.
tO nj m stert IN
tect them IN their lives and property. At the cleo
ton succeeding these disclosures the people,
wronged, outraged, plundered and indignant, rose
w IN mass and by an overwhelming vote reOuked
the plunderers, and redeemed the cause OF popular
government from the OblOquy neape1 upon II by Its
enemies. The voters have done all they could or
can do TO vndcate their integrity before the civilized
who have betrayed and dsnonored them p The ci
Zens OF New York have burne this dishOnOr, this
injustice, this spoliation, with most exemplary
suffered has never been inflicted upon q com.
munity. under color OF law, since the
no other city in Cbristendom which would not have
revenged itself on the wrongdoers by revolution
the ballot box and the peaceful arbitrament Of law
But our patience Is nearly exhausted. The plum.
gotten wealth In their hands setting public opinion,
In this respect, at defiance. While they nave
fallen under the control Of the most desperate
marauders. Neither life nor property has as much
as ce s ar
plundered ana murdered IN open day. and some
times IN the most frequented horOughfares, and the
perpetrators OF these acts OF violence Ia most
are permitted to escape say, without lear OF con.
tradIcIi0n that there no city IN the civilized world
here to-day. The social decentralization has grown
for the most part out Of the unbridled cupldty ana
we are impatient to put an end to these evils for our
own sake, for the cause OF good government and
no n r saen 'n Wben m f may come and
ing OF redress by legal means, may rise up, as
every community has right to do when Injustice
remedy into their own hands. From such
an en- as mos, this involving conse
desire above all things TO be secured.
We look, then, to the legislature. not without I'M.
CHARTER we nave prepared for It's consideration. /
ma no fault with that body; on the contrary am
thankful 10 the Assembly for the vote ordering the
1t has been acted on In as short time perhaps as
could reasonably have been expected. No one. l
think, viii deny the justice OF this tribute to the
Assembly when we consider the strong and varied
opposition which the charter mas encoun-
OF depreciation which has been for the moment ar
rested; from pacemen ANXIOUS 10 retain their
reform in peril by opposing the charter, because it
contains some provisions which they do not APP
prove; and, finally, through the wrangng OF outside
those OF the country, whose personal alterations
the pursuit OF patronage and power, by alternating
from each other men OF the same principles, are ex-
erting q most perniciOus influence on all public
measures. We now appeal TO the Legislature TO dis
regard all these elements OF opposition and 10 give
us the charter as our best remedy for the evils by
which we are degraded and oppressed. was q
member OF The Committee on Legislation by which
1t was framed. do not say IL Is perfect will not
say would not, II could. change some OF its de-
tails. But this can sincerely say, that 1t was
framed with q deliberation, candid interchange
OF views and opinions, and disinterested regard
to the interests OF the city which could not possibly
be surpassed. say further that it has undergone
more careful scrutiny, In all Its details, than any
other charter care not by whom constructed-is
however enlightened or experienced TO frame
system OF government Tor state or o city
which shall at the outset be perfect We are legis-
lating for a million of people, The constitution OF
the United States. under which we i've was framed
tinued labor from May to september, OF as able
and conscientious men as ever sat In concave and
yet at the FIRST session OF the First Congress ten
amendments of character as important as ever
have been made to that instrument were submitted
to the States, and were ratified by them during
the TWO succeeding years. The Legislature OF this
state meets every year. II anv provision OF the
oh rtar IN n lee IN wor in.