Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-04-24
NEW YORK LETTER.
New York PoItIics-PrOspect for New
Charter-The Corrupt Judiciary-rhe
Cincinnati OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Defense
Things IN General
NEW NoRIl, April lO. lS1l

NEW YORK, April 10, 1872.
For n comprehensive definition of the
term Reform Legislature" let me refer
the curious to that respectable body of men
known as the Committee Of Seventy"
Under their protecting care and by the use
of their influence and means, we succeed
ed in electing as our representatives at the
State capital q set of men whose watch
word was Reform" and who had agreed
TO give our city n new charter freed from
the Objectionable features of the one now
in existence. So we threw up our caps
and shouted in happy chorus, that now
indeed was the day of our deliverance
nigh. To our Legislature we looked for
the enactment of such measures as would
consummate the good work of publication
which we had inaueurated. Our press had
acted well its role of detective, the Grimm
ais were unmasked, all that was necessary
was the passage of some acts TO prevent
repetition of like ofienses and to ensure the
conviction of the offenders. Well, what
has our boosted Reform Legislature done
for us a.? The hundred days during which
they are in session will terminate to-mor-
row the two houses cannot agree upon
charter for the city, and the prospect is
that they will adjourn either without CIV
ing us any ut all, or else they will favor us
with one hastily passed during the last
fections and unconstitutional sections that
it will be of no practical use. Something
must be done or we shall have anarchy.
There is no money to pay the city's labor
ers, and the Comptroller dares not raise
money lest the means be declared illegal
by his opponents. The men in Office are
afraid to move n finger for fear of being
turned out, and a horde of office-seekers
wait for a chance to create and fill vacan-
cies Our streets are not cleaned because
the contractor has no money, and hot
weather would produce pestilence. Our
Mayor is still under indictment rs n COM
mon criminal. VIM. Tweed, the biggest
thief unhung, is still " Senator from the
FOURTH and the Senate dares not expel
him. OF truth, our metropolis presents
but n sorry spectacle in the face
of the world This is not n pleas
ant condition Of things to write about,
nor is it any pleasanter to witness. Did
the prospects Seem brighter, were the
promises so lavishly made ut all likely
TO be redeemed, one might feel encour-
aged, but |, for one, see but little chance
of any Improvement at present. | may
be all wrong-when proved so l will gladly
acknowledge the corn"
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
suppose that you would like to know
what New Workers think about the COM
ing National Convention at Cincinnati.
It is hard to say but, outside of the press,
very lew Unlnk ABOUT III NJ all. n mass
meeting is to be held on the 9th, when
Senators Trumbull and Schurz will be here
to try and create some enthusiasm in its
favor. The meeting will undoubtedly be
a large one for both the gentlemen mem
toned are able and eloquent speakers.
But that does not mean anything for Ten
ME c. Clafiin filled the academy of music.
People will so to hear Schurz and Trumbull,
of course. Many able men are interested
in the convention so they were in the
Cleveland convention of 1864, and the
Philadelphia convention of 1866. But
generals, be they ever SO able, can ac-
complish nothing without armies and
the leaders in this movement seem to
be without followers. Nevertheless, it will
not do to sneer at the May Convention. Its
weakness lies chiefly in the discordance of
the elements to whom it appeals for sup
port. Free traders and protectionists can
not work tremendously together, nor do |
believe that Democrats and Republicans
can unite on any common platform.
Moreover, the majority of the Democrats
in the city are strongly in favor of an ac-
tive, aggressive policy and prefer to nom-
take the chances of victory or defeat with
them than compromise with the enemy,
even though the probability of success be
thereby greatly enhanced. Charles Francis
Adams is q strong man any faction to
take as leader, but there is very little reason
to believe that he will receive the Cincin-
natl nomination. The present admins
tration has made mistakes, and so has
every one that has proceeded it. So far as
my observation goes, it possesses, how
ever, greater degree of public confidence
than is generally believed. And also be-
iieve that il will receive an enthusiastic
endorsement by the people. And so far the
Cincinnati Convention appears to possess
rather the character of great mass meet
ing intended to act within the Republican
party and seeking rather to influence
that party in favor of certain definite prin-
ciples, rather than to found a new pOliti-
cal organization. There is room for re-
form within the party limits, civil-service
reform and amnesty should be made
planks in the Republican platform. If the
Convention mt Cincinnati merely reiter-
ates this and demands attention to its adj
vice by the regular Republican Conven-
ton, ii is still within the party and from
its composition entitled TO respect aud
consideration. If it goes beyond this and
dominates candidates, it forms q new par
ty and one which do not believe that the
popular verdict will sustain. At present
both parties seem exceedingly suspicious
as to whether the bone has any meat on or
not.
THINGS IN GENERAL.
Our different investigating committees
"drag their slow length along" OF all
these, that of the Judiciary Is the most inn
portant, and it is not unlikely that our
Senate will be convened in extra session