Letter of veto from Mayor Edwin J. Kerr, Hoboken, to City Council re $500 donation for erection of Soldiers Monument in Hudson Square Park, Nov. 23, 1887.
Letter of veto from Mayor Edwin J. Kerr, Hoboken, to City Council re $500 donation for erection of Soldiers Monument in Hudson Square Park, Nov. 23, 1887.
Entry/Object ID
2012.004.0070
Scope and Content
Letter of veto from Mayor Edwin J. Kerr, Hoboken, to City Council re resolution of appropriation by City of five hundred dollars towards erection of the Soldiers Monument in Hudson Square Park, November 23, 1887.
Two page holographic document regarding the Civil War Monument now present in park now called Stevens Park. Full text is in notes.
City of Hoboken document with City Clerk file notations.
Acquisition
Accession
2012.004
Source or Donor
Found in collection
Acquisition Method
Found in Collection
Credit Line
Museum Collections.
Archive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1887 - 1888
Archive Notes
Date(s) Created: 1887, 1888
Date(s): 1887-1888
General Notes
Note
Notes: Archives 2012.004.0070
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Mayor's Office
Hoboken, N. J. November 23, 1887
To the Council
Gentlemen
I return without approval preamble and resolution of your session of 15th, without, directing drawing a warrant for five hundred dollars towards erection of the Soldiers Monument in Hudson Square Park.
I have given this matter my utmost consideration. I fully sympathize with the patriotic sentiments as expressed in the preamble. I desire to see the monument erected. I would very much like to have the city [make] a contribution towards it. I believe it will be an ornament and a benefit to Hoboken, expressing the patriotism and devotion of its citizens to the Nations' defenders, who went forth to sacrifice and risk their lives that our country should remain one and indivisible.
That Hoboken through its representatives took no small part in that gigantic struggle the page of History will tell and nothing more fitting could be placed in our midst than the "American Soldier On Guard", as a reminder of how much we owe to him for the greatness of our country and the liberty and happiness we enjoy.
But, Gentlemen, this country, this State and this City are governed by laws. As the municipal government of this city, our powers do not extend beyond those limited by the laws of the State. We have no authority permitting us to expend one cent - however laudable the object - for any other purpose than laid down by those laws.
We have no law for this purpose and I regret very much our inability in consequence to join with our citizens individually in the erection of this memorial, which will do so much honor to our city.
That monument will be erected, and that speedily, I firmly believe and it will be all the more creditable to our citizens that it be so by private contribution. That the city could be a contributor, would be both a pleasure and an honor, and so she would be did the law permit, but it would never do that this emblem of the American Soldier, the upholder of law, should be erected through means in violation of law; the statue would be a mockery.
The greatest credit is due to the press, particularly to the Evening News, and our citizens generally for the interest taken in the movement and I wish it God Speed.
Respectfully
Edwin J Kerr
Mayor
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Com [communication] from His Hon Mayor Kerr vetoing resolution to appropriate $500 towards Soldiers Monument
Presented read and referred to the Committee of the whole.
M.V. McDermott
City Clerk
Ordered on file
M.V. McDermott
City Clerk
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Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2012-12-06
