The New York Herald Newspaper, February 9, 1854, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD, ErT, JAMEs GORDON BENS PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. OFFICE MN. W. CORNRB OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS ataining tmpor- a; if weed. wild Cops mevonDartTs TAL ALE LETOwRG AD mows comamenicationn We do d ith neatnese, sheapnate, ond Am NONOTICE ta mot return thove resect 08 PRINTING deapateh. Volume XIX AMUSEMENTS TOIS EVEN BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory—Uncra Tom's Carew BROADWAY THEATRE Broadway Two 3 4 Mosvewen Nurs Daeaw BURTON'S THEAT: Hicur's Divan—A Pr NATIONAL THEATRE Larriy Kary Evening { WAI LACK’S THEATRE Deve ann ~uRvER—How 10 Make Home Ht aMFRICON MU Vare Gamvcen’s F Chem bers atreet—A™WinsuM MER ¥ ¥ oF Business atham street -Af:ornoon— fom'e AMIN ¥ CHUISTY'S AMERIC(N O way—Rrwio7ran Mex A FOUS™. 472 Broad Masri 's Miner aes. ingtrel sll 44 Broad: BUCFLEY’S ¢ eve Brniorian BANVARD'S GEORAMA, ov vie UoLy Land RHENISH GALLERY 5 BIGNOR BLITZ way. ACADEWY WALL, 843 Broadway—Pranan's Give Ex MUPITIONS OF THE SEVEN VALE SIRROR. HOPS CHAPEL, 715 Broadwey BRYsN GALLERY OF CHRISTIAN ART—S3 Broad way. 696 Broadway—Pancrana Broadway -Day and Brening 653 Broad Sruvyesane Inerirure Jones’ Pawroseorr. Rew Vers, Tharsda. Fobrasry 9, 1854. The News. ‘The intense ex ¢ among the British people at the the sailing of the Arabia, concerning the antitipated action of the Czar with regard to the movements of the allied fleets in the Black Sea, causes the arrival of the steamship Pacific, now in her fifteenth day from Liverpool, to be looked for with great eagerness. Her news will most probably decide the question whether Europe is to be convalsed with a general war or not. The stesmer belonging to the San Juan fine is also abont due, with the details of two weeks’ California intelligence. These yessels may bave been off the coast yesterday, but were unable to come in owing to the violent storm raging in most parts of the country. While large quantities of snow were falling at the north and east, rain was pouring down in torrents ia this vicinity. Before the close of the week we may expect to hear of many maritime disasters in consequence of the un- propitious weather ; indeed, we have already learced that the schoone rty, of Cape May, was wreek- ed and went to p s on Long Branch. Few ves- sels succeeded in reaching our port daring the day. The announcement that the Hon. Edward Everett was to deliver a specch in opposition to the Nebraska- Kansas bill, gave rise to the most extraordinary ex- orement in the political and fashionable circles at Washington yesterday. Everybody was anxious to hear the d’stinguished oravor, and at an early hour the galleries of the Senate were comple#ly jammed with ladies and gentlemen, all desirous of obtaining seats and recuring good places for hearing. Re- gardless of what might be the wishes of the inhab Wants of other parts of the country to ascertain what was going foward through the medium of the press the gentler sex are said to have unsernpntously ousted the reporters from their chairs, munch to their inconvenience. The gallantry of Gen. Honston prompted him to move that the ladies, of whom there were several hundred at the doors, be admitted to the lobby; but to this Mesers. Weller and Pratt ob- jected, the former for the reason that their presence would disturb the quiet of debste and renderit im possible to hear what was goingon. Mr. Pratt based his opposition on the ground that he, the other @ay,saw old and venerable men standing while Women were seated. Bnt, despite all the noise and confusion in the chamber, by way of commence: ment, and the heavy rain storm which materially interfered with telegraphic operations throughout the day, we are this moruing fortunately enabled to give a graphic and comprehensive sketch of the remarks of the distinguished Senator from Massa- ehuetts. Mr. £. being one of the prominent candi- dates for the next Presidency, his speech will be pernsed with the greatest attention by all classes, A large number of nom!nations and varions Indian treaties were transmitted to the Senate, and many of the former were confirmed. Among them we notice the names of Mr. Borland, Minister to Central America, and Mr. Belmont, Charge to the Hagne, There ccenis to bo a screw loose in the case of Mr, Fames, Chazz? to Venezuela, but it is thought he ‘Will ultimately be endorsed. In the early part of the day the Senate passe. bills granting large qnantities of land to ard in the construction of railroads in Michigan and Louisiana. The French Spoliation bill was taken up, read throngh, and an amendment adopted, providing for an attorney to attend the Board ot Conmissioners. Several remonstrances against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act were again sent into Con gress yesterday. Mr. Brodhead presented no less than seven in the Senate, one of which was from the Bociety of Friends in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; and in the House, Mr. Cutting stated, singular as it may appear, he had been se- lected to present the memorial signed by the officers of the anti-Nebraska meeting lately held at the Tabernacle in this city. Objection being made to the document, Mr. C. presented it under the regular rule, after which the Mouse went into committee on the Deflsiency Appropriation bill. A sharp debate ensued on the subject of appointing military officers to superintend the work at the armories, at the close of which an amendmen! was adopted appropriating nearly six thousand dollars for the ¢ ompensation of the commission of civilians and army officers ap- pointed to investigate matters connected with the armories, with the proviso that the officers shall not receive ersalary than their regular pay would entitle them to, Several other amendments ‘of no special importance were made, and then the Dill was reported to the Honse, wherenpon the body adjourned, and most of the members reshed to the Senate chamber to hear the ir. Everett. Onur eorrespondent writes Gacsden treaty will most likely be sent to (b nate today, and without any recommendations for alteration, Gen Pierce is reported to have acqnicsced in this policy, in consequence of @ majority of the members of his Cabinet—M:sers. Cushing, Dayis, Dobbin and Marcy —having favored the project. ‘The temperance project makes bat slow headway in the Legiclatare. A short debate took place in the Senate yester on a motion, which failed, to refer the bill to a select committee to report com plete, The Assemb) rather taken the wind oat of the sails of the Senate on the Nebraska alfair ‘The former pasted a copy of Mr. Dickinson's reso. lutions, and upon their reception in & brisk diseuseion arose upon the y stitute proposed by Mr. Putnam, whioh was even tually thrown overboard; bnt without di the matter the body adjourned. In the ¢ day a number of bills, some of them of to the inhalitants of this city and Brooklyn, were acted on in both houses. Our intelligence from Albany to day is lengthy and important. We publish the report made to the tite} Benate on Tuesday by the majority of the qoint comunittes appointed by the two houses to ent pre’ te of Broadway Lover a MazK— | | the ercroschments upon the harbor in th It is understood that a change will pro | bably be made in the commissioners from those | named in the bill. It is in contemplation to retain Totten and Judge Bronson, and to add Pro’. e, Superinteunent of the, Coast Survey; aud and Joshna A. Spencer. We are informed * Mr. Hutchins, of Kings county, intends to bmit a minority report, thus making the subject, + in reality, an issue setween us and our sister city. The Agricukural and Ponttry Exhibition is said | to have attracted a large number of strangers to Albany, all anxious to inspect the remarkable bipeds and quadrapeds now congregated at the capital. The display of poultry has never been equaled in \ the State, and us for the svine, cattle and grain, they ere highly creditable. Accordiog to the treasu- rer’s report, the receipis of the State Agricultural | Society last year amounted to $12,684 77, aud the | expenditures to $11,882 09, By our report it will be | seen that it has beea decided to hold the comiag fair in this city. Heavy damages for peraonal injuries are becoming t. The administrators of was killed by a collision on t ‘oad last March, have obtained a vi | quite fre¢ Closkey, wh Iwania F dics of Pi'tsbur aa recovered £10,000 damages against the firm of Ciner, Loger & Co. for false imprisonment, Major General Scot presided yesterday at the Mili- tary Court of Inqu n West Eleventh street. Tue ‘n sitting for three days, and pro- bably will continue for two weeks longer. The testi mony of Lientenant Fremont, one of the passengers on board the ill fated San Francisco, occupied the whole of yesterday. To-doy’s inside pages contain a number of very interesting letters from Paris, Havana, and Wri af the members of the chusetts Legislature to this eity ; communications eoncerni Juban Junta and sharitable coatri- butions; and a grea’ variety of local, jndicial, com- mercial, end miscellaneous intelligence, to which the attention of the reader is & ed without comment. quarters of the Coort has now b: account of the v The Nebraska Question-Southern and Northern Slavery=he Constitution. The National Era at Washington, the cen- tral organ of all the anti-slavery factions of the country, says that “the New York Heraup consistent upon no other subject of policy or principle, has ever been faithful to the interests Upon this allegation we have a ‘0 to say. The abolition organ at Washington rests the whole merits of the slavery question upon the fundamental ebolition dogma that the heredi- em of Southern labor isan evil—a mo- litical evil—and that it should e extinguished as soon as possible: This was the dogma of Gen. Pieree in 1846, whep, before a popular convertion in New Hampshire, he declared his opinion that the slave-holding system of the South was a moral and social e Bat is it an evil? and if it be, what do we gain by the discovery? Js not the hireling system of our Northern labor an evil? Is not labor itself an evil, inflicted as a curse upon mankind with the expulsion from ‘Para- dise lost?’ Are not cold, hunger, and aaked- ness, destitution, disease, and crime, great moral and social evils under any government, and in every clime? They are evils inseparable from the imperfections of human nature—they began with the beginning of human history, and will continue to the end. But, admitting Southern slavery to be an evil, we doubt whether it leads to more deplor- able cousequences than our hireling system of free labor, which in truth may be called the white slavery system of the North, in contra- distinction to the black system of the South, Let us judge of these two systems by their fruits. ‘By their fruits shall ye know them” We have been leoking into that prodigious book of the census, as put together by Mr. De Bow, for the statistics of pauperism aad crime in the United States, with a view of instituting a comparison upon these returns between the Northern and Southern sections of the Union. But in this voluminous mass of badly digested materials which Mr. De Bow has thrown upon the government, we find nothing at all of the returns of crime and pauperism. On turning, however, to the statistics of Mr. Kennedy. as published in the Heraip, of December 7: 1852, we find that the number of paupers in the six } Eogland Siates of Maine, New Hamp- shire, Massachusetts, Rhode [s'and, Vermont, and Connecticut who in 1850 were subject to charitable support, was ? 1, while, for the same year, the same class of persons in the six Southern States of Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, numbered only 15,500. Of these, the native , and paupers of the New Eogland States ‘numbered in round numbers 19,000, while those of the six Sonshern States amounted to but 12,000, BECAYIIUL ATION, Native Poupare, 1,008 boasting the highest elements of Northern per- fection, in free schools, free labor, free specch, and free men, have an average of more than three to one of native born paupers as com- pared with Mr. Kennedy's official returns of that class in the six Southern States of Mary- land, Virgi North and South Caro Georgia and Alabama. We select the native paupers because the foreign are an extraneous element, affording uo basis for a just compari- son, And the same advantage will appear to the South in the comparative returns of the idiotic, the deafand dumb, the blind and the insane Why is this? What are the causes of these differences in these melancholy returns of wretchednees in favor of the South, They may he readily explained. The popniation of the nainly agricultural—that of the New States is chiefly ocenpicd in manufie- tures. The black slaves of the South, and the poorest of the whites, have generally enough to ent, and oir cnough for health and wholesome ventilation. The hired laborers of the North are to a great extent crowded into close and unwholesome factories ; and on leaving thoir work they return to still more crowded and un- wholesome cellars and garrets, in towns and cities, reeking with unwholesome vapors, The plain but substantial fare, and the wholesome cabins of the negro quarters of a Southern to- bacco or cotton plantation, are, in truth, more favorable to health and longevity than the honses of many of our Northern working men in towns and cities, comparatively well-to do in the world. With these vital st only to say to all anti-slavery mora consider the slaveholding em of th a social and moral evil, look at home. + with General Piorce, and his speech at New Boston, and going down to the abolition who out tics before na, Begin- nit organ at Washington, we call the attention of all the anti-slavery moralists to the rela- tive resulis of the involuntary black servitude of the South, and the voluntary white servitude » Me- | 00 sgalnst the company in one of the | purts, and at New Orleans e Mr. Gonld | y now in session at the head. | ofthe North. Ifthe one is productive of evil | consequences the other is also; and the evils of poverty and crime are augmented in proportion to the increase of the supply of labor above the | dewand. Hence, to a very considerable extent, the excess of crime and destitution in the North over the same evils in the South, Labor, «6 a necessity for subsistence, in any shape, is an evil; but where men and women willing to labor périch for lack of employment, they sufier from the worst of moral and social evils These reflections have been suggested by the anti-slavery excitement which has been raised against the bill of Judge Douglas, on the ground | that a repeal of the Missouri compromise is a recognition of the great moral and social evil, so called, of Southern slavery, But with this sort of philosophy Congress has nothing to do. Nor have the people of the North or the South. | respectively, any business to intermeddle in the social institutions of each other. The cousti- tution bas recognized the institution of South- ernélavery, the equality of the States and the sovereignty of the people. The powers not vested in Congress are reserved to ihe States and the people. No power is vested in Con- gress over slavery in the States or the tervito- It remains with the people. Ifit is urged that by the repeal ofthe Missouri | line, the Louisiana territory above 36-30 fulls back to the preexisting state of slavery there, we have only to say, that with the annexation of that country, or any other country, to this Union, the Jocal law, wherever it conflicts with the federal constitution, is superseded by it The Missouri Compromise, the result of sec- tional fanaticism and Presidential stock-jobbing was an interpolation upon the constitution, a violation of its spirit and meaning, and should therefore be repealed, with all other compro- mises destructive of the perfect equality of the States and the absolute sovereignty of the peo- ple over their social institutions, whether in the States or in the territories. Not only Kanzas and Nebraska, Utah and New Mexico, but the territories of Washington, Oregon and Minnesota, are, under the constitu- tion, open to the people of all tke States, with or without their slaves. until the people of each territory for themselves shall settle the ques- tion one way or the other. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise involves the repeal of the Wilmot Proviso, which isthe same thing, and removes all obstructions to all sorts of emiyra- tion to all the territories of the Union. It makes a elean sweep of all sectional compacts, dictated by trading aspiraats for the Presi_ deney, and reposes the issue of slavery or anti- slavery in all the territories, as in all the States, directly in the sovereigaty of the people. We discard, therefore, ali moralizing upon Southern slavery as a social and moral evil. It is outside of the question, We must stick to the compact of the Union, the equality of the States, and the sovereignty of the popular will. Let the Nebraska bill be passed, and let us have this issue of slavery or free soil in all the territories of the Union be put to rest at once and forever. ries. ‘The Coming Struggle in Europe. The present position of the European powers, asit has been defined by the force of recent events, is of so singular and unprecodented a character that it furnishes subject for grave and anxious reflection. That the existing com- binations are those into which the antagonistic interests that have arrayed the principal monarchies in Europe in two hostile camps. are finally to settle down, does not seem probable to any one who has studied history or who has watched with an attentive eye the political oc- currences of the last twelve months. They do not, in fact posses those elements of attraction and cohesion which are necessary to impart to them stability, and they may therefore be re- garded as only the first of a series of short lived alliances, which, like the shiftings of the kaleidoscope, will present us with a succession of sartling changes, . There are, however, two great principles at the bottom of the mass of complicated interests and prejudices that at present sway the agi- tated mind of Europe, into which all minor questions must eventually be absorbed, Al- though the conflict of opinions has commenced as it were, npon neutral ground, we still can trace their influence actively at work through- out all the complicated phases of the Eastern difficulty, In this struggle between the op- pressor and the oppressed are involved not only the political equilibrium of Europe, but those great questions which have so long di- vided the opinions and feelings of mankind. Although Mahommedanism may be con- sidered opposed to the spirit ot mo- dern civilization and progress, we never- theless find the liberals of Enrope trug ‘to | their gencrous instincts and those eternal prin- ciples of truth and justice that constitute their creed, arrayed to a man upon the side of the weaker party. The contest in which Europe is about to embark, is, in fact, nothing less than a struggle between popular government and ab- solutism; and in its results are involved the happiners or misery of a large portion of the human raee. In speculating npou the is: 10 of the approach- ing contest, it is necessary to na correct es- timate of the strength cngaged init. Onones‘de we have Russia, powerful in the auity and simplicity of its political system, the vastness ofits internal resources, and the anassailable character of its territories ; on the other, we have England and France, with their govern- ments and people, acting in apparently cordial union, and for the first time for several cen- turies, appearing as allies in a European war. Whatever traditional or personal causes of ens mity may exist against the English on the pact of France and its ruler, they seem to have heen entirely lost sight of in the importance of the principles at stake in the present crisis. These two nations are the representatives of the popu- lar or parliamentary principle in Earope, end they have been drawn together by the bonds of their political sympathies and interests, That their union is sincere there cannot be a doubt, for not withstanding all that is said to the contrary, the aneient prejudices that formerly embittered them against each other have been of late years fast disappearing, the extension of their commercial relations and increased facilities of intercourse having opened the way to better feelings, What the ulterior objects of the French Empe- ror may be, it is, from the character of the man, impossible to divine; his ambition may blind him to his true interests; but judging from the prudence and good sense which he has dis- played thronghout the whole of this Eastern dMeculty, there is scarcely doubt that he will adhere to a line of policy which has so mach enhanced his popularity, The position of the German powers in the dificult conjuncture in which they are placed by this war of principles, is perplexing and embarrassing in the extreme. Their dynastic interests and partialities, as we have already had occasion to show, incline them towards the Court of Russia, whilst the opinions and feel- ings of their subjects (the aristocratic classes excepted) are naturally enlisted on the demo- cratic side. Between their dread of the power of the Czar on the one hand, and the dangers of a revolution fomented and encouraged by the maritime powers on the other, the German sovereigns are placed between two formidable altertatives, which paralyze their action and leave them no other option than to abide the contingencies of war. Pressed, in the meantime, by the solicitations and menaces of the adverse powers, they are either compelled to make a show of lukewarm co-operation,or of ostensible neutrality. It is easy to foresee, however, that the first decisive successes gained by the Czar will put an end to this hesitation and give rise to fresh combinations. In that ease England and France will be left to bear the entire brunt of the war. On the eventual issue of the struggle it is of course impossible to calculate; that it will be a long and a terrible one there is but too much reason to fear. Were its character to be deter- mined by the maritime resources of the respec. tive powers, there would be no question as to the result; but unhappily it is on the land, and not on the sea, that the fute of the contest must be decided. The annihilation of the entire Russian fleet would not advance by an hour the settlement of the difficulty. Whether the maritime powers will be able to bring into the field a force sufficient to neutralize the immense resources of the Czar, or whether their union will stand the test of the reverses to which they may be exposed in a hostile and almost impreg- nable territory, are questions that time only can solve, The conditions of military success have besides been so much altered by the intro- duction of the electric telegraph and railroads, and by numberless scientific improvements in the machinery ot destruction, that it is dificult to speculate with anything like certainty on the eventualities of a war carried on with the aid of these new and untried auxiliaries, Scclailsm in the United States—Its Alstory, Progress and Present Condition, Something like twenty-five years ago, Robert Owen ‘and his son, Robert Dale Owen, with Fanny Wright, a female lecturer and the ante- type of the strong-minded women of the pre- sent day, came to this country from England, bringing with them the doctrine of English so- cialism. This doctrine was based upon the destruction of the rights of individual property and of the institution of marriage, and taught that the true condition of society was a commu- nity of property and promiscuous intercourse of the sexes. Fanny Wright made a tour of the country, delivering lectures proclaiming these doetrines wherever she could, and Robert Dale Owen established papers, called the Free En- quiver, and the Sentinel, in which the same ideas were advocated by himself, and several other writers of the same school, with great boldness and no little ability. They never dis- guised the full extent of their theory, but struck straight out at the institutions of socie- ty, sneered at religion, and ridiculed unmerci- fully the belief in an over-ruling Providence. The career of these reformers was short. The people of the United States searcely hon- ored them or their lunatic absurdities with a single regard. Owen, the father, returned in dis- gust to England; Fanny Wright took a husband, and gave up lecturing; Robert Dale Owen went to Indiana, where he turned politician, started an ultra democratic paper, and was finally elected to Congress, and was recently appointed by General Pierce American Minister to Na- ples. Thus the small ripple of socialism in America subsided, and the broad stream of our country’s life went on. Some years later, however,—about twelve years ago—another emigration of socialism to the United States took place. But this time it came from France and Germany, piloted hither by some Americans who had become disciples ofthe school. The new form of the doctrine was called Fouricrism, or Association; and, tak- ing warning by the fate of their English pre- decesrors, its apostles now assumed a mask of religion and morality—appealed to the Chris- tian feeling, especially of New England, by pretending great zeal for temperance, anti- slavery, and otuer moral reforms, and care- fully conformed to the outward obscrvances of religion. Communities, entitled phalanxes, were commenced in several parts of the coun- try, and a newspaper. (the 7vidune,) just then about being established by a disciple ef Four- ierism, was made the public and avowed organ of the new doctrines, asd a certain portion of i its editorial department was daily set apart for their elucidation, This was done, however, very cautiously and adroitly. Atl the most repulsive and revolting features of these doctrines—such as the abolition of marriage, the establishment of promiscuous intercourse, the denial of a God, and the destrnetion of the rights of pro- perty—were carefully kept out of view, both in the Zribune, and by the other advocates of Fourierism. The Tridune kept continually harping on the wrongs ef lahor, the opprezsions of the poor, and holding ont the most dazzling prospects to the laboring classes under the sys tem of Fourierism—at the same time advoeat- ing, with exaggerated zeal, the cause of tem- perance, abolitionism, and other movements appealing to the religious prejudices of the com- munity. In this way, while being really devo- ted to the promulgation of a doctrine whieh struck at the foundation of Christianity, denied Christ, and laughed at every requisition o morality, it extended its patronage and infu-¢ ence among clergymen and the religious portion of the community, who could not disown an un. tiring champion of their favorite reforms, and either could not or would not see the real charactor of Fourierism, which was the 7'rj- bune's own especial doctrine. The other advocates of Pourieriem, however, were not all of them so discreet as the Z'ri- dune, and the true character of the doctrine began to leak out. One after another the phalanxes broke up, either from starva- tion or the gross immorality of the members— and the leading disciples and advocates of the new creed returned to New York, where they were quartered upon the Tridjune, in the character of assistant editors and contributors, the whole concern itself being eut up into shares and divided among them, something after the Fouricristic doctrine of distribution of property. Of course, the united labors of such a gang of atheists and infidels could not be without con- sequences. All the discontented dreamers in the country, male and female, gathered around the Tribune; and to it may be traced all the the stage—such as Woman's Rights, Spiritual Rappings, &c., &e. Broken up and driven off in the country, Fourierism now turned its attention to the metropolis, in search of some suitable resting place for the sole of its foot, and after much disconsolate wandering at length it stumbled upon the Five Points. The free and easy code of morality pervading that region, was perfectly congenial to the doctrines of Fourierism, and admirably adapted to their growth and propagation. Of course the 7Z'ri- bune, as usual, came promptly forward and lent its aid to the establishment of the “‘in- stitution” to whieh we have alluded, which, so far as we can discover, is carried on upon the genuine Fourieristic principle. As an addi- tional stimulus to the new enterprise, and also as a spur to its own lagging and declining city cireulation, the Tribune pubdlished the “Hot Corn” sketches, giving minute descriptions of life in fashionable houses of ill-fame, and entering into the details of seduction, licentiousness and debauchery, with a gusto ill concealed by the pretence of morali- ty. We have already sufficiently charac- terized this publication, made up from the columns of the T'ridune. although the ex!racts we gave are by no means sodisgusting as many others which we refrained from making from its pages. But the most astounding part of this affair is, that this “Hot Corn” is unqualifiedly en- dorsed in the editorial department of many of the religious papers of New York! The Inde- pendent says of this “Hot Corn” book—*Let it epecd. May its numbers be as great as the leaves in summer! May thousands sit down under its shadow with delight!” The Evangelist esys that “sound Christian morality cannot but spprove” this book. The Christian Inquirer says these sketches “ honor the author and the able and humane journal for which he writes.” The Protestant Churchman, and many other leading and influential religious journals, swell the chorus of praise of this ribald and libidinous trash; and the Evangelist, despite the atro- cious style in which the book is written, and the absolute violations tof English grammar which occur on almost every page, says that “it evinces a dramatic skill worthy of Dickens.” Now, what does all this mean? What is to be the destiny of Christianity in this country, when its teachers and accredited organs are willing, for so much a line, to lend themselves tocirculate in thousands and hundreds of thou- sands, among the peaceful and virtuous fami- lies of their congregations and ‘sects, a record of seduction, licentiousness, and debauchery—a book whose pages they would not for their right hands dare to publish in their own columns or utter from their pulpits? These fulsome puffs are evidently all from the same hand—most likely that of the author himself—and to the initiated contain unmistakeable evidences of having emanated directly from the publisher’s desk. Their cry is taken up and re-echoed in the same strain by the Sunday press, with the usual abuse of the editor of the Heratp, which has become as necessary to that dainty tribe of literary barbarians as train oil and blubber to the repast of an Exquimaux. Thus, a long-continued course of hypocrisy on the part of the Tribune and its infidel gang, and a little money from a publisher, are cntang- ling a large portion of the religious community with a creed which ignores marriage and denies God, inducing the great body of the religious press to endorse an obscene publication, and carrying the seeds of a deadly moral poison into the bosom of every family wherein it is ad- mitted. More “Rerora” Measures—Tue Cnr or Porice.—There is a great deal of public excite- ment in this city at present, relative to the pro- posed change in the method of choosing the Chief and Captains of Poliee. We alluded to the subject some time since, when the first at- tempt was made to bring about a measure which is an utter absurdity, both in a logical and practical point of view. There always have been certain meddling third-rate pot-house politicians, who have a strong penchant in favor of “special legislation” for what they call the “good of the city of New York.” In the matter of the Chief of Police these men are now endeavoring to procure the passage of an act of the Assembly to le- galize the election of the head of the depart- ment by popular vote. The Chief is now ap- pointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Aldermen, and the Captains of Police by three commissioners—the Mayor, the Recorder and the City Jadge—and the officers are responsible to these commissioners. The present system is an effective one; and when it shall become perfeeted by time and ex- perience. it will be the best that we could have. Let us look for a moment at the other side— the new régime that is proposed. The Chief and Captains are to be elected by the people. A number of votes secured will insure the election of the persons who hold the offices at the time, no matter how cor- rupt, how venal, how unprincipled they may he. The Chief and the Captains work togeth or for the same end —the policemen and the friends of the policemen vote for them. The men must have some reward for this devo- tion to their superiors. They get the reward in laxity of discipline and the obtaseness of the Chief and Captains when citizens complain o neglect or insult, The Chief and Captains are independent—there is no power to control them except that of the people, and tho people cannot control them until their terms of office have ex pired. It follows that under the present system of primary elections, the rascals who would do the acts above specified would certainly feel no reluctance in interfering with and controlling. by bribery, by threats, by corruption, or by any ether villanous means, the votes of a sufticient number of electors to secure to them a majority. There is scarcely any person able to read who is not aware of the power which an unscrupu- lous politician holding the office of Chief of Po- lice, with a thousand organized men at his com- mand, may exert in a city like New York. Life and property are in his hands--the very exist- ence of citizens depends npon his prudence, sa gacity, honesty and fidelity. We ought not to throw so much temptation in the way of any one man, however good he may he. There should be some power over him; and by the pre- sent system, there isan excellent supervising board. The above we believe to be a fair statement of the question. The first inquiry that natural. ly suggests itsdif, is why should there he any change? So far as the present system has beea tested it has worked well—the system proposed is fall of dangers, and at any rate mast over- burden the people with elections, which are so complicated now that a youthful elector knows not half the time who or what he is voting for; iems which have strutted their brief hour upog | and this extra pardon will remlt in ne cor responding benefit. It is very certain that the people are not in favor of it, as the following remonstrance has been extensively subscribed ty, and among its signers we find the names of the presidents of all the bavks and all the in- surance offices. These gentlemen havea di- rect interest in the preservation of property, and as they have studied well the subject, they would have been very willing to try the new systent had they not perceived at once how utterly ri- diculous and absurd are the premises upom which it is founded. The remonstrauce is ad> dressed to the members of the Senate and As- sembly of the State of New York in Assembly convened, aod runs thus :— 1 The undersigned citizens, without rey litical di-tynction, beg leave to ne Opi ‘inst the passage of avy act of the Lagislature of this Seate which shall change the mode of ap; antiog the Chiet or the Captains of tee Police of the ity of New Yok, which, by 9n act of the Legislature passed at its last session, was vested in three Com. iis ioners, viz: the Mayor, the Recorder, and the City Judge. We see no reason whatever why the appointmente should be taken eway from those three high, respecte ble and respovsible magistrates, and placed in the hands of irresponsible political, eleetioneering eom. mittees, which would, we fear, tura the whole policg an into a political body. ‘he great de-ire of the citizeus is to separate tha appointment of the beads of the police “ap ion entirely from the dnfivence, Haren ane ay corrup+ tions cf party organization; to keep in office good men when they are vigilant and faithfal in the per- formance of their daties, and to dismiss them fi their neglect or violation, Such object is gained be vesting the appointment in magistrates who are re+ spon-ible to ute public fur the men whom they ap- point and keep in office; but ifthe Chief or other officers were elective, they would be beyond the Soi of aay supervising power during their term of office, We beg leave to reresent the vast importance of @ responsible police in our city. The preservation of life and property, aud freedom from insalt aad injury, depend upon it. We fear that if the neads of the police were mere politicians, the depart- ment would reglec their cuties for party organiza- tious, 87d that from a political body we could not expect the seme impartistity aod energy ia the dis charge of their duties as if they owed their appoint. eee no political friends and hid no tear of polis ical foes. We therefore respect fall; nest that hond: rable body will let the salen lee of the chict and otber officers of the police remain in the hands of the three responsi le mayistrates, where the act of your last session placed it. Now, in the above remonstrance the reasong against the so-called reform in the Police De. partment are ably, pertinently and briefly set forth. Itis to be hoped that the Legislature will allow the dictates of common sense to tri- umph for once, at least. over the machinationg and seductions of truckling. gambling, lobby politicians. The country has given us toa much of special legislation for New York city. The suburban members should re= member that acts which may be benefi- cial for interior villages, are not at all suit- able to a great commercial city like New York. We have a large foreign popula- tion, including many German socialists, French red republicans and Irish patriots. We are aware that the masses of the foreign population are peaceable and orderly citizens; but the revolutions of 1848 brought to our shores many “revolutionists by profession”—people who are never happy unless engaged in a row of some kind. With these diecordant elements in her midst, New York city needs an active, efficient, well-governed, responsible police, headed bya responsible chief, his superiors being responsi. ble commissioners. z For there reasons we trust that the Assembly will throw out the proposed bill. Were we not aware that public virtue has become a very\ rare article in our Legislature as well ‘as in others, we should entertain no doubts as to the fate of the proposed measure. But the restless- ness of some youthful legislators dnd the ras- cality of some of their seniors, frequently_ coalesces and brings about the most unexpected and disastrous ends. Therefore we trust that the sensible citizens of New York will leave no stone unturned to defeat the measure above alluded to. As its friends are vigilant, earnest, intriguing, so must its enemies be firm, watch- ful, and decisive. Organize! Organize! Tue SrrEeTs.—The Commissioner of Streets, Mr. Arcularius, has communicated to the Board of Councilmen the contractors’ unwillingness to fulfil their bargains in relation to the streets, Whereupon the Board communicates to Mr. Ar- cularius their unwillingness to let the contrac- tors off. And all parties are now ready for a good quarrel. Meanwhile the state of our streets is unparalleled in the history of the city. Slime, melting enow, mud and water, from six inches to a foot deep cover every part of Broadway and the adjoining streets. Such is the first frnits of our reform Council! Such the net result of the glorious triumph of the reform cause! —_——_—_—_——___ Droman Warcrrs AN MeASURES, AND AN INTERNATIONAL Stanparp — We referred some weeks since to the impor= tant moverrent now in progress in England, under the clever mansgement of Mr, William Brown, of Liverpool, seconded by some cf the ablest statesmen of the country, for the establisament of » decinal eoinage, ard quo‘ed the admirable report of the special committee ‘of the Bouse of Commons unanimously recommendis g its adop- tion. This movement, involving of itself many and great advantages to al| classes in society, is but Preparatory to & thorough reform in the national system of weights and measurer, s subject which is attracting notice through- out Earope, and ia b: to engage the attention of Practical minds in the United States, Mr. Hickson W. Field, of this city, well known for maay years as a prominent member of the Chamber ef Com. merce, Historical Sostety, Lyceum of Natural History, and other k nd-ed institutions, and who ia now residisg in Parie, has taken @ warm interest in the matter, and revently communicated to the Geographical and Statisti- of which Mr. Bancroft is Presi- - ing the admirable and com- plete metrical rystem now in use throcghout tha French empire, end ruggested the expediency of an early move- ment for reform in our own system, The society has since considered the subject im all ite breadth, and im ascoriance with the recommendation of | cial committee, cotsistiog of Messrs, Russell, Poor and Wadcell, have memorial zed the Simate not simply for a reform ¢f our national system, bat for an effort to secure the co-operation of other commercial nations is the sdeptioa of internationsl stecdards. This is proposed: to be eflrcted by an invitation emanatiog from our gov- erpmert for « congress of scientific delegates te meet at Brurrels, for the interchange of views om the subject, and aisoin regard tos commoa meridian of longtitude The propoval meete the approval, we understand, of the scientific men end s'atesxen at Washington who hays been coasulted in regard to it, and there seems good rea son for believing thst the call would be cordially respond ed to by sli friendly nations, If the step is to be taken, the sooner it is done the bet. ter, Creat Britain has not yet commenced the revision ofber weights aud measures, and there will bo, probably, little diffi culty im England and the United States agresing upon the same «ystem, which woald alone be of iadnite convenience to the mercantile commanity of both couns tries. Oa the Continent, the French ayatem of weights and mensvres, vith ocosrionally some modification, has bees exiended, eh'efly as we tre {oformed, by the szensy of M. Vattemere, to Holland, Saréioia, Modena, Greece, Bel- gium, lombardy, Poland, Switaerland, im part; Spain, Portugal, the Zollvareio, and some progress has been made towards it by Mexico, New Granada, Chile aod Colow bia The Chamber of Ocmmeres ia this city, we hear, aro Iikely fo ‘e20n4 the movement of the Spatistionl Soalety, and the Chambers of Commerce throughont the eountry might advas Jy uate in asking Congress to ar prcmptly io s matter of such general Therely national, but world. wide benefit, A resolotion bas been offered im the House of Repro. / taliree of Virginia, to abolish public executions,