Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-09-30

searched personally, and that too,
without warrant or process, and this
too, in the presence of respectable
and law-abiding women and wives,
sisters and sweethearts of these men
who were gathered together with
them for an evening outing.
Now let me say to you, with all
due respect for the position you hold,
did not and / do not approve Of
your plan, nor of the method of its
execution The more / think of it
the more am convinced that the
disgraceful scenes enacted in those
places where the representative of
the county did go, we're Illegal, in
violation of the constitutional rights
of the individuals thus searched, un-
American and a disgraeeful abuse Of
apparent authority. 1t is my opinion
that in the absence of any formal
complaint having been made, or even
the slightest proof or suspicion hay
ing been charged against any individ-
ual that / would be violating my
oath OF office to thus so wantomly
attack peaceable people assembled
for the purpose of honest pleasure;
| 1t seems to me that 1t would be a
most arbitrary and unheard of exer-
else of authority and the act of a
tyrant. l have my sworn duty to
perform as well as you, and / am do
ing 1t to the best of my ability. Had
you consulted with me before decid-
| ing what should be done in this mat
ter, l feel assured that you would
not have given your approval to the
committing of such illegal acts as
were committed in Middlesex county
last Saturday evening by Mr.. Peltier
and his posse. At least / would have
disabused your mind of any expecta-
tion of doing such things In the city
of Perth Amboy, If in my power to
prevent While /, as mayor of this
city, have in every legal way within
my power used every effort to sup
press the practice of carrying con
cealed weapons and intend to so con-
tinue, yet / also hope that l may con-
tinue to realize that this is America,
not Russia.
What becomes of the principle Of
our constitution that no mans liber-
ty can be taken away or interfered
with except by due process of law?
This does not come under police reg
ulation. The raid contemplated in
your letter is the most remarkable
attempt to search men without due
process Of law ever heard of in mod
ern time Your zeal to clarity the
county is one thing in which / sur
render to no man, but your method
suggested, If attempted to be carried
out, would be the annihilation of the
inalienable rights of our people.
Let me say to you that / know the
people of Perth Amboy personally;
am with them daily. l know their
fears and ] know their wants.
know their rights under the federal
and state constitutions and propose
to uphold them. /, as head of the
police department of this city, Will
direct them to keep within the letter
and spirit of the law In the discharge
OF their duties and to act only upon
proper complaint is made or proper
information given them; and l will
also further direct them that If any
attempt is made by officers under
authority assumed by any person
outside of this city, to invade the
lawful rights of the people of Perth
Amboy, or insult them while engaged
in the pursuit of honest, peaceab1e
pleasure, that such officers shall be
regarded as malefactors and be treat
ed accordingly Perth Amboy is the
largest city in the county of Middle
sex. It's population is second to no
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