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This change of police forces alarmed the
local merchants who supported the Municipals. It also
emboldened the gangs to have open warfare, not worried in the
least about how the replacement police would handle the
occasion. The gangs knew that these men were
inexperienced. It was a perfect opportunity for crime to
surface and take advantage of the situation.
From the NEW YORK HERALD, Friday, July 3, 1857.
THE DECISION AMONG
THE MERCHANTS ON CHANGE
The announcement that the Court of
Appeals had decided in favor of the constitutionality of the
Albany Police bill caused a good deal of excitement and
discussion among the merchants on the Corn Exchange as well as
the Exchange in Wall street. Among the several hundred
businessmen who daily report to those commercial marts, an
immense majority are on the side of the municipal liberty and
right of the city, and opposed to the obnoxious law fastened
upon this community and its industry by a reckless combination
of Albany black republican schemes. These laws are
denounced by men of all parties, whether democrat, whig, Know
Nothing, and even by some republicans, who are ready to join in
any legitimate measure which will secure their speedy repeal.
Black republicans who appear on ‘Change are few and
far between; and even they, when pressed as to the character of
the late facts of the Legislature in reference to this city,
including the Port Warden bill, &c., are forced to condemn
them. When pressed on the subject they attempt to make
the issue solely a personal one between Mayor Wood and the
Albany black republican police laws, like a cuttle fish, which,
when pressed, endeavor to hide itself in the water it has
discolored by its own fluid. A leading shipping merchant
was heard to say that if the expenses of Mayor Wood’s
resistance to the tyranny of the Albany law were to fall upon
him (the Mayor), he stood ready to contribute liberally for his
relief, and believed other would make contributions for the
same object.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
BILL IN BROOKLYN.
There was rejoicing among the members
of the First District police yesterday afternoon and evening in
consequence of the decision of the Court of Appeals relative to
the Police law. They were all favorable to the
Metropolitan law in that district; and they hardly knew how to
express their delight when the news arrived. It was the
same in the office of the Deputy Superintendent and Justice
Cornwell’s court. The latter, with the
Deputy’s men, collected subscriptions to fire a salute in
honor of the event, but those having charge of the cannon
refused to part with them, and, therefore, the salute intended
of three guns for each of the Judges who favored the law,
were not fired; the wet weather also militated against it!
The rain did not hinder the members of the First
District police, however, from evincing their jubilant
feelings. They produced a lot of candies and several
flags. The windows eight in number of the station house,
were illuminated – twelve candles in each window.
The door was festooned with flags, and a large banner was
suspended across Washington street from the station house.
The other districts are divided and no
display was made publicly. They appear to feel that the
object of the law was to oust them from office, and they have
no occasion for rejoicing.
* *
* * *
*
No rejoicing indeed. For the very
next day there would erupt a violent brawl between rival gangs
in Lower Manhattan. The bloodshed and anarchy would be
horrific until quelled by the military.
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