Year: 1874

MAYORS OFFICE, NEW YORK, Sept. II, 1874.
To JOHN KELLY


SIR-Un the 10Th OF June last letter by you ad-
dressed to me was published IN the daily papers
of this CITY, You afterwards made and procured
to be made various charges against me to the
Governor OF the State IN the hope OF procuring my
removal from the ONCE of Mayor In my answer
10 your charges l stated to the Governor that the
necessity OF combining 1t to the record presented
by my assalants had imposed upon me con-
straint which, at some not very distant date, I
might think 1t suitable to break had your let-
ter in my mind when made that statement, and
Inow propose to answer it. AS your better was a
mere personal paper shall exercise some latitude
of reference and comment in the consideration
! shall give it. Your letter has never been
delivered to me. You will not assume, however,
that take any exception to its transmission to
me through the public press. On the contrary
rejoice tnat you sent to me an open letter by
messenger OF such power. mention the fact
merely to explain why return an answer through
the same channel In my answer l shall include
many facts which am desrous that the bearer
OF your letter should know and communicate to
the great public which is behind all OF US. trust
you will receive my answer with the same equani-
nifty with which l perused your letter Beyond
that make no mpialnt against the newspapers.
Sometimes have thought that they were rather
hard upon me; but / remember that when
schoolboy l wrote from a copy. "Many men OF
many mnds,n and / do not expect all men to
look at matters through my eyes. Indeed, the
pressure OF my of1cial duties upon me has been so
great that l have been able to read but little OF
what the newspapers have said about me. re-
main in ignorance doubtless Of many raps that
they have given to me, perhaps deservedy.


THE MAYORS MISTAKES.


am not ignorant however, that the criticisms Of
the press upon me have been mainly based upon
my appointments to ONCE. 1 frankly admit (by
way Of parenthesis not to you but TO the bearer
ofyour letter. that have made some mistakes in
that respect. do not claim to be perfect, and
there may be some ground Tor the accusation that
Isometimes give too much credence to represen-
tations OF persons in whom / confde Indeed
know that such is tue TACT, and am going TO
prove it. premise, however, that do not claim
that all OF my mistakes were. based upon false
representations but acknowledge that some OF
them were errors OF my own.


MARSHAL RICHARD CROKER.


The first appointment OF mine that was received
with pubic disfavor was that Of Richard Croker
TO be marshal. Alter entered upon the duties
OF my on1ee you we're among the first who called
upon me to solicit patronage You asked me
to appoint Croker, and you were warm in his
commendation. did not suppose from your re-
marks that he was member OF any church, but
did assume that he was young man whose
merits had failed TO receive iul appreciation and
whose appon tment would secure to the public an
excellent servant. And there were especia! rea-
sons why in ignorance OF your real character, 1
was desirous to oblige you. When Croker's ap-
pointment was announced was overwhelmed by
torrent OF public Indignation. That unlortu.
nate act, indeed, into which was betrayed by
you was the keynote TO the attacks which were
subsequently made. l ascertained that, instead Of
being a man OF uprghtHess and peace (Which
above all things else marshal should
BEL Croker was one whose career had
been notorious for violence and dishonesty.
j learned that re was first brought forward BY
James O'Brien, with whom be qudrrelled; mat he
then attached himself to william NJ Tweed, 10
whom he was as devoted as he now Is to you; tnat
upon the downfall OF Tweed he sought your pa
tronage; that In the desperate rivalry between
FOu ana O'Brlen, involving contest iof the cons
troll OF the Eighteenth Assembly district, you wei
coined him to your favor by reason OF the innu-
h2ce he was reported 10 have with the rough and
vicious portion OF the inhabitants on the eastery
side OF that district also became fully satisfied
mat croker was the leader OF body OF men VINO
lad been frequently engaged in acts oil violence
and fraud, both at primary and general elections
IN TINS city and in Long Island City. In word,
Instead OF being ft man for the Office for which
nave been considered. II, as said, / sometimes
listen TOO readily 10 man OF only pretended
Iosesty, never after discover my error, repeat





and ! never trusted you aiterward; hence your
erI.4ty.


"You AND JOHN MoRRIssRy.v


...., your enmity has not been merely that Of an
i. yIduaL You and John Morrissey have been a
4, oer IN this community and your Joint efforts
hay c placed judges upon the bench and otner men
IN onces OF more or less Importance all OF wnom
YOU cain to own-falsely, trust; at least as far
as the judges are concerned. TINS combination OF
patronage and q supposed ability 20 distribute
more. yet to come have given 10 you and Morris
sew great power TO accomplish results. his have
had opportunity 20 observe In respect TO my own
case. il Is q power dangerous 10 the pubic wei
sare 10 guard my fellow citizens against " and