The New York Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1855, Page 1

ay THE NEW YORK HERALD. tA WHOLE NO. 6797. MORNING EDITION—FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1855. THE NEW POLICE BILL. Interesting Correspondence Between J. W. Gerard, Haq, and Mayor Wood, LEPIER FROM J. W. GERARD TO MAYOR WOOD. New Yorx, April 4, 1865. Dxan Sm—I returned to the city last evening from Albany, where | had gone for the double purpose of at- ‘tending the Court of appeals, and of presenting te the Legislature the remonstrence, signed (as! am informed by upwards of eleven thousand voters of New York, citi- zone of all partion, aga nat any change in the Police law Yesterday, a new Dill to reorganize the police of our city was introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crosby, incor- porated into a bill to amend our charter, which gave rise to @ very animated, exciting and acrimonious de- bate, in which your administration of the goverament of the city, and of the police ia particular, were fully criticised by Mr. Crosby aad Mr. Dickineon, (two Sena- tors ot the Seward section of the whig pArty,) who, in their anxious desire to protect the interest of the citi- zens of the city of New Yors, (not satrusted to their eharge,) wish to fasten upon us» yatem, without the consent or soowledgs, much less pro- dation, of avy one of the four honorable Senators who represent our city. ‘ it was stated by these gentlemen, that in offering this new Police bill they carried Out your views and wishes, as expressed L4 you in your commup‘cations tothe Common Council of the ist and lito of January; in de- posing (as this bill does,) the Recorder und City Judge as issiontra with you, and by substituting im their place three private citizens, who, tuey admitted, from ‘scope of the bilt, would n rly ‘be political partisans, would be ex; sly elected as euch by tae two domi- nant parties of the day. At the same time that the two Senators who advocated the bill professed to carry out your supporters in your ot- y the aid of the police, they charges against your political nonesty, in the discharge of your duties as Mayor, and as the hoad of the police, impugning your motives, and broadly averriag (where they got their knowledge from thay did not sey) that you wanted the care of that department to aid the democratic party. Now, sir, as Ihave taken great interest for the last fow years in the police of New York, ami have endea- yore, all @ private'ci tien, to aid very way to elevate its character and respectability, especially by originally urging the adoption of the uniform, which has oreated so great an smprovement im the appearance of w mm, and aitbough J did al) I con) port ¢ office which you now hold, yet will do ail I can to keep you in it, #0 long as you exe- cute the lawa with energy, nd impartiality. I have therefore thought it my daty to state to you frankly the charges that were made against you im the Senate, that yon may. if you think proper, answer them, an also to give your views generally on the ill. I have 20 a8 a party voadjutor, to interrogate you on the subject, as Phare generally been the opponent of the party which placed you in power; butI think that the Citizens of New York have a right to hear from you the truth or falsehood of the charges thro#a out by those who, in one breath, professed in the Senate to carry out our views, and in We next condemned and opposed to elect an op- em. Talo ack of you (if you reply to this letter) whether Imay make 5 use of your answers as I thenk proper, by making it known to the public through the press or otherwise. I am, very respectfully, most truly yours, AMES W. GERARD, MAYOR WOOD TO MR. GERARD. Mayor's Crvick, New Yore, april 5, 1865, Dxa& Sta—Your esteemed tavor of the 4th inst. is re- ceived, I cannot conceive that anything in my mes: to the Common Council, which hav Teter: ato, can be construed into an approval of ¢ positions made at Albany, tis winter, to amend sent law relating to the police of this city. It is true ‘that im both the inaugural and recommendatory mes- en, allusion is made to the present police system, as Gaetan: Was it tase plainly and distinctly set forth as can weil be that the defects lay in the restriction ef the powers of the oper as head of the Police Department, and not that be held too much power, as is the theory of the proposition now before the Senate. In the first of these uments this position is plainly asserted, when I say, ‘‘though ostensibly head of the Police Department, he {snot so practically, in the essential elements of au: thority, that of controlling the retention or removal of his own veyed ses Ce of Process = lt place independent of the Mayor, thst officer having been appointed during ‘good behivior,” by the late Mayor and of they Commissioners, under the law of 1853, which construed to give that authority, He cavnot, solus, appoint or remove the humblest subordinate in the service, nor make the rules and regulations for its go- verance. Of these requisites of power, so necessary to make ao papal nen ne io, bye ot mae Disc) can 01 obtained mainta iy en unrestricted power; besides it is Ri teg TY iple, to make any public officer respousible for the of subordimetes, who are ond his indi- power to remove.”’ is a complaint of the want of power of the Mayor that he should not divide it with others—t he is rea ible for the conduct of the po- oat hence shoul vera it—thet two commission ore ‘and retuovals should not be placed beside him to mamags Hu it of the city government is placed more jer the personal pupervision of the Mayor than fewer bs toappsistaieel and removal,’ which, after ally son: ‘as to ment and removal, which, after all, oon- ute the great elements of control, 1 feel much responsi- ‘concern. And again still carrying out the idea that there should ‘be but one head and but one power of appointment and removal, and that the two Judges, who now form part of the Board of Commissioners should be taken away and Jeave all to the Mayor, the following passage oceurs :— am confident the judiciary is nos the proper authorit; for datormining police matter, nor ‘are ite members quali fhed, either by habits of life or’ train of reflec! mmissioners. The bench and the service benefited by a separation. My eolleagu Police Board fully concur in there opinion! The whole theory of my views ofexecutive government of every character, so far as this city i# concerned, is one head. I am satisGed no good government can exis: ina city like this containing so many thousands of the tur- bulent, the vicious, and the indolent, without a chief wer to see to the faithful execu- tion of the laws, for the protection of life, tiberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No inconsiderable portion of our population think that republicaniem consists in the absence of law and government. The bill now before the Senate proposes to create three , who with the Mayor ez ojicio, are to form a board, who are to <# all the powers now held by the present board. ¢ commissioners are to be ected by the for the exclusive pursose of mak- ing and unmaking policemen. Now, though oppesed to the ina ‘7 Red ified ice, = other officers, stil) if the principle is to be tolerated, Deiter that high’ judicial ‘sdsnes, Whe cae seston oi. sad whore duties as comm! are incident duties upon the bench should be nis associates, than men who will be chosen for the parpore under the election system now in vogue. Great is the dit- Rereuec betweon Felice Commissioners taton from high yey et ome and Police Commissioners mace by t! of party reeking trom the stews of sia and iniqui which at present bave ro much influeoce over party m chinery. How far the lives and pro; end the ord and decency of the people of this city will be protec ‘a board emanating from ® source of this there can be no difficulty m divinin: ‘The Senate proposition is to Jessen my power oF the police, whereas I have asked for ite incre: My mernage cannot be comstrued into any other po T never used any other language, Invtead of giving z independence, ower, to decent a by placing three active politicians alongsiie of him ‘to annoy and worry him into # compliance ith their party behests. It is not too mach to add that the de- ‘ment would soon be filled with men choven for par- nd the pow tionable, but the mole of tne election under this bill ix yet more so. Z ‘ It provides that after the expiration of the terms o' those named in the act, there are to be shoven two at e election, by taking the two candid: ho receive Re kaghact aiizober of totes, im the sarue manner ss the Governors of the Alms House are selected. The alleged gone for this mode is, to reeure ® belence of partisan interest in the Board, because ae it is said each party will be sure to elect a man, wed hence parties will be divided. Now, even admitting thet such would be its effect—which it will not, as there are at least four K litical parties in this city, and of course to do this, would be necessary to elect four Commissioners —yet the theory of the mode is wrong, inaemuch as it election secures the of a Commissioner who has been rejected by the people. Tre recond high: ext would be really and in fact discarded. ‘as unfit to be entrusted with the important and delicate duties Cevolving upon the office. [t is proposed to take thie repudiated 1 and give him «seat ata Board with as full powers a# the Mayor himself, and, in fact, to control the action of the Board item Mayor, inst his efforts to protect the city—it miy be very interests this commirsioner represents. ppose the familers, lottery men and bouser of prostitution combine to elect Police Commiasionsrs, wh can say thet, if not successfal im electing both, they ‘would not at least secure the recomd highest, and con- sequently force upon us ka agent to secure the protec tion of their peculiar intrrest*’ Another no leas serious objection ia the naming of executive officers in a bill by the Legisleture. This 1 5 ment upon the | utive by the legislati The government of , lewinlative and in the Cor _ but of the United Sta in the Cajon. One branch has no tjoual right to interfere with hither of the oth- ers. The Legisiature, in my judgment have no ls. gel authority to perform Executive du! 7 more than it can Judicial duties. And here let me say, that Af the Hiberties of thi ry are ever betrayed. it will ‘be by legisiative assumptions, and not by judicial or executive tyranny. In our own State, the lagial ray Albany brit with it dread and alarm whenever it maencen.. Tor y of lndtviteale ve thin State ie separated into ‘There divimons mn upon in ite sets. Total disre- woh oveee veated rights and every other safeguard which informer times could procure protec. tioa, and eo bold has become this inaovat is now pending a bill to overrule @ recent decision of the Supreme Court. Indeed, the other departments of gov- ernment bave sunk into a mere inferior condition, from Mhich appeal is had to the Legislature, sivers sith sue. cess, if the usual appliances are om peo Sitis este these Seomeacbueenta, Ita wsh only tele city, but every other section of the State,removed far from the capital that is subjected to this wrong. If the city of New York, within four hours of Albany, and in hourly communication, suffers so much from hese legislative fraude, bow ia it with the agricultural and manufactur- ing interests is the interior, which, ia some caser, are removed ‘ur from the danger, and without means to b- covtinuslly informed of its approach’ This bill names persons to Co executive duty. It this can be, why no: abolish our courts and namie commissioners as boards of referees to act instead. Why not, im short, give up all to the two houses of the Legislature, and permit them to absorb the otver branches of government which, by th+ copstitution, are placed independent of the law-makin< power, as thé law-making power is of them? By refer ence la my message, you will see this evil more fully expered, ese and other reasons which time will not permit a reference to, will prevent my giving support to this Senate prop:ation. [am againat it in all its length and breadth, and though concurring in some of the provi- sions of the amendments to the charter proposed, I would reject the whove rather than appear to recogulze the fatel principles declared, atlecring our police system. In reply to what is stated of my political proslivitio ana tbs assertion that { om using or Intend fo use tl pthice for personal or partisan purposes, tt is soarcel, Deceasary 10 allude, he positiaal bomin public este. mstion is not the reault of party machinery. Asa ma- gistrate and chief exeoutive officer of this hey » 1 know no and recognize no political ol ions. The principles which govern my administration are. not in ing with the practices of any party of the day, be the:r professions before election. Am, 1% no originality of ideas, yet the practi- cal application of veteaiyieg of government 60 long pro- fensed, but never practiced, is a novel procedure in a public officer, and puzzles the leaders woaderfull Hence lam at'no lors to divine why partisan desiga should be attributed to me, by men who cannot uncer. stond that popular applause can be obtained in any other way thap by political trickery or the declamations of the demagogue. | understand my own positicn fully. With- out egotin p poral me to say, that Iam conscious of a place in public esteem far beyond and above any party, and to add the belief that if a candidate for the office of Mayor to-morrow, the people would not desert me if every political organization in the city were to combine m opposition, ‘Therefore ia it necessary for me to oct the part of the mere politician, and by prostituting the whole police ‘department to political purposes to jeopard this position? Can apy party make me so swerve from duty and a pro- per sense of ‘personal security, as to throw away the good opinion of neurly all my fellow citirens, whove sup- port is worth haviog! This can never be! The samo principles and acts which have given me the confidence of the community will enable me to hold it down to close of my acministration. Of this I have no fei ‘The danger to the public lies not in any reli derelietion upon my part, nor in my improper nse of tl lice, but in the passage of this bill. The police hi which I have been en n the main instrament by assertion which will be made that as headof the department (though stripped of the power) I have been derilict and have deviated from the present policy. uncharitable to add that some such design Eo, have influenced the projectors of this scheme? That its author's suppose that whilst the peo- le will continue to hold me to a strict accountability for the maintenance of the forms initiated aud sustained would at the same time forget that the moans by which they have been effected were taken away, and thus de- mand a continuation of reforms after all power of en- forcing them had ceased? This opinion of the intelli- gence of the people, though not very flattering, is con- sistent with the motives which bave evidently dictated this measure. ‘The warmth of expression of this I*tter may offend— my language may appear as if beeey a from excite- ment, which is nct the fact. It is true I feel deeply ;hose eflarta to deprive me of by which any im- No man but myself provement in ovr city is effected. ite the critical state of our secial condition, can apprec ifthe authorities are deprived of control of the only means of preventing dangers of far more serions charac- ter than have ever before threatened us. I am no alarm- iet, but believe me sincere when I tell you that in my opimon New York can only be saved from a rule of cor- ruption, engendered by the devotees of the toree great vicen, viz. :—intemperance, gamtng and debauchery—but by the strong one man power, who, with a bold and fear less hand can command the antire police force, without hindrance or molestation. My many pressing duties have not permitted me time to do justice to this subject. ‘This letter ta bastily written and full of imperfections, but without reference to its styie or matter, receive it as the honest protest of your friend and feilow citizen, FERNANDO WOOD. P. §.—In answer to your request as to the publication of this letter, you may do so, provided you deem my views of sufficient public interest, F.W. jupertor Court. Before Hon. Judge Duer. THB INJUNCTION AGAINST THE NICARAGUA TRANSIT COMPANY. Arnit. 5.—Doniel B, Alien vs, Charles Morgan, Presi- dent of the Accessory Transit Oompany of Nicaragua, and othert.—This case (which had been postponed in order to give the plaintiff am opportunity of producing affida- vits in rebuttal of those read by the defendants) was re- sumed today. Mr. Upton, one of the counsel for the plaintiff, commenced by reading the affidavit of the plaintiff, Dantel B, Allen. This affidavit stated substaa- tially that deponent was ore of the original grantees of the government of Nicaragua to the “ American, Ailan- tie and Pacific Ship Canal Company,” and Vice Prestdent of the same; that when the question of the connection of the said company with the Ocean Navigation Company was brought before the directors of the former, by means of « contract with Mr. Vanderbilt for esta- blishment of a lime of steamers between New York and San Francisco, by which the company do igned to pay it Vanderbilt ome-fith of its r ipts, depo depougced any such contract fraud on the stockholders; that depowent’s opinion was overruled, and that in eonseyuence he resigned his office; that after his tion he continue! to hold wtock, and in Decembe: owned 2,500 shares: that deponent was called on ranklin Osgood, who stated that Vanderbilt bad employed him to sell the ships to the Accessory Transit Company; that aaid Orgood asked plaintiff tor bis assistance in this negotiation, and he was prevailed upen by him and Vanderbilt to give it; that pegotiations were commenced, and deponent stated at the outset to White that the company, by its charter, was without the power of ae ae steamships for navi- gating the Atlantic and Pacific, and he would do nothi unless the charter was enlarged; that White answere ze would procure its enlargement, and deponent and ite Hna'ly drew up an agreement for the sale of the sbips; st this time there was a bitter hostility between Vanderbilt and White; deponent denounced the scheme as soon as he found that White did not succeed in ob- taining the enlargement of the charter; at this time White transferred to deponent 1,000 shares, one third of the amount to which he was entitied; tha: in May, 1865, deponent went to Euro revious to which he was sdvised that be did not, forfeit his rights to maintain an action for tho stock be held ia the ‘Transit Company; that on his return the action was bought; that tla falee he instituted this proceeding for bagd ttcar hd trafficking in the stock of the com pany. plainttf, moreover, stated that the aiflderit oft White, Vanderbilt, Dexter & Brigham were (alsa, Brigham being a man of the highest probity. ai numerous other affidavits read by the counsel, Franklin Oxgood deposed that he was acquainted with the facts and circumstances convected with the pur chase of seven steamships from Mr. Vanderbilt aud the plaintiffs relative to that purchase; im 14852 de ponent was interested in the stock of the com- py, and that interest . to Mr. Vanderbilt; that Vanderbilt ved deponent to divers? himrelf of this stock, and declare’ the stock worthless, as | White remained in the com pany, for he w the company to his owa benefit ‘thal 1852 Vi it requested deponent to undertake the business of negotiating the sale of the steamers, in reason that he wae getting ol4, a; bad better close business; that deponent undertook #&id ne- rbilt su i to deposent the that deponeat thereupon called upon Allen, who first declined, but, after being vrged by deponent and Vanderbilt, ne at leet coonented, pened with White: White «poke ‘sl terms of Vanderbilt, and said he would not oposition of the purchase, unless Allen ity; Alien th to obtain from Vanderbilt the sale of the ships, for the purpose of transferring therm to the compady; deponent comtinned the negotiations with White, ax the repre- ¢ of the company, without the co-operation of Allen; White's language was, ‘I ain the Nicaragua Transit Company,” Vanderbilt declared that he would ink bis sbipa at the dock than that White sbould money; the plaintii was not a party to the nezo- tiations; he protested from the first again it the proposed lesue of the stock Atter the reading of the depositions, the argament in the care was postpourd until Maturday morning next. Town Elections. Caraniut News Devor, April 4, 1855. Me. J. G. Bexwert— At the election i a clean sweep, nota man on the ticket has a majority to 251. There were only two tickets ru id ee Know Nothing. Brookhaven, Suffolk Co., N. Y., 200 American majority —clean ticket. American Geographical Society. SKETCH O¥ THE POST OFFICE AND POSTAL COMMUNI- CATIONS OF THE UNION. ‘This association held its weekly meeting last evening. Mr. Puy Muss read the paper of the evening, on the Post Office aud postal communication. After referring to the antiquity of the post, and giving some interesting facts regarding the post in ancient times, Mr. Miles passed to the consideration of the United States Post Office. He said:—It will strike many as not only an important and interesting fact, but as quite an insxpll- cable one, that from the first organization of our oa- tional goverpmert to the present time, our correspon- dence and postal iutercourse—the uses of the Post Office —have increased from nine to sixty times as fast as either the population, the government income and expenditure, the exports, cr any other branch of national affairs. Our population between 1790 ana 1850 increased seven fold, our exports twelve fold, and portal correspondence four hundred and forty fold. The actual per eentuge of in- crease of our letter communjeation by mail from 1790 to 1850, was $43,905. The figures that show most clearly the far greater activity and larger incpease of our poata intercourse beyond the increase of population, wealth, and national income aad expenditure, are these: During each ten years since 1790, the avera crease of the population of the country has been 34 per cent, ports 42 per cent, the expenses ot government 95 per vent, the Post Office revenue 120 per cent, and the num- ber of letters sent by mail 140 per cent. athe ave- rage increase curing each of the six periods of ten years from 1790 to 1860. ‘Thus, while our population has increased in sixty yoars seven fold, letter correspondence by mail has in- creased 440 fold, or sixty-three times as tast as our ar 1790 there were sent by mail, ia ut 560,000 letters, and dering the year 1864 over 100,000,000, After all these gratifyin ‘idences of the increased value and use of our ta stem, how will you be prepared for the tact that Curing the last four years (since 1860) the inhabitants of Great Britain wrote and sent by mail 200,000,000 mere letters than we have sent through our organization of our goverament—more sixty- five years ago’ In this a good compsrison between our government and that of Great Britan—bet populstion, where the benefits of education are ed to all, and the population of the British Isles, wuere at least’ one-hslf of all that marry cannot sign their names to the marriage register, but are obliged to make their mark? According to the official postal statistiss of 1851, 1852 and 1853, the population of Great Britain ad send by mail four letters where our people Each thousand persons im Great Hritain rite on the average 14,760 letters annually, while each thousund of the population of the United States write 4,121. or ouly about four letters to each man, woman apd cbild in the country. In London there are forty: oue letters written to each individual, while in New York there are but twenty-three. This is according to the report of 1862, With the aid of Horatio King and John Manon, Esqs., the able and efficient First and Third A. masters General, I have prepared a table of eatimates of the number of letters sent through the mail since the yeer 1759. The estimate cannot vary from the actual number either way—probably not more than five to ten r cent. The number in 1790 is given as 265,645: in 600, about 2,000,000; in 1®15, over 7,000,000; jn 1325, 10,000,000; in’ 1840, 40,000,000; and during the last year, 119,634,418. In Great Britain, the year nefore last, the number of letters written and sent by mail was 410,000,- 000. During the sixty-five years from 1790 to 1855, the number of letters sent through the mails in the United States, according to our estimate, ia 1,393,930,814. During that time the number of our Post Offices has in- creased from seventy-five to 24,000, and the length of post roads over which the mail is carried, from 1,875 Jes to 210,935 miles. The postal revenue in 1790 was $37,935, less than five times the present salary of the Postmaster-General; and during the year 1854 the in- come from letters alone was over six millions of dollars. Mr. Mites then proved that our Post Office facilities were no better now than they were a hundred years ago. New York has just one Post Office. London, with about three times ‘the population, has 408 Post Uitices; Manchester, with ebout balf the population of New York, has 107; Liverpool has 56; Bristol, 90, and Glas- ow, 17. eoore. Mies argued strongly and forcibly in favor of the delivery of all letters by carriers, as giving a local circu: lation to letters, ‘the drop letters in London in 1851 numbered 40,585, - 952, while the number im the United States, according to the official report of the same year, was 715,428—loas than \s ity sixth part of those in London loos. The entire number of letters mailed in London during 1851, for botlt local and general circulation, was $8,405,461— while in the whole United States, duri same year, there were but 95,790,524, ‘The letter carriers and receivers in London, with their wages, are as followe:— Number. Letter carriers Latter receivers. 2 Salaries. 70,27 91,435 Jear profit of over Grop letters. Besides the vast convenience to the pub- lie, more than one half of the postage on such letters is clear progt to Post Office tment. The follow- ing statement gives the namber and salaries of all the © carriers of Great Britain :— Number, Salaries, Letter carriers im cities and towns. .4,395 $804,515 Letter carriers in rural and suburban districts. . . ween cee hyB20 601,420 pee niet one) Total in the United Kingdom.,....8,721 $1,405,935 Here we see that the profits on the drop letters alone pay mere then six-revenths of the salaries of the 8,721 letter carriers of the Kingdom. The following table gives the population, the receipta from postages, the entire local expenses—pay of post- masters, clerks, — hosing 8 peeves, pee seme tingent expenses—all, ex expenses of transportation =e the covered places ameationsiy tan the year 18S4, the z lust column showing the percentage of expenses, or pro- portion that the post office expenses bear to the receipts: Places. Population, Keceipts, Exp’. Pret. | London. , $6,109,651 $1,078,290 17 482,725 70,145 14 Mai 383,085 6,826 16 | Birmingham 192\768 86,820 19 Bristol. 148,768 90,790 20 38,766 7,000 20 | 36,496 R245 22 27,357 «= 8,405 22 Total, the ¥ citier, 3,610,741 $7,425,711 81,903,520 17 Rest of the K’dom 24,223,700 5,744,012 21030000 25 Kntire Kingdom. ..27/833;601 15,169,723 9,333,520 26 619,143 130,175 21 m1, 801 60,254 26 25 29 Si) a2 4 a 93,737 41 Total. the # cities. 1 $1,473,669 23 Rest of the U. 4,781,027 it The entire U. 6,265. 586 4“ We ree, by the above figures, that eight of the large cities of Great Britain, containing only 13 per ceat ef the opuistion, contribute £6 per cent, or more than one-half, of the entire postal income of the kinglom; while the receipts in these cities amount to 56 per cent, the expenses are only 89 per cent of the entire local portal expenditures, The eight American cities contain six per cent of the population of the country, and con- tribute 22 per cent to the postal income; while the ex- penses are but 13 per cent of the Local post office expem- citures, The following table gives a different arrangement and different dates. The population ia the same, according to the census of 1250; the receipts of the American offices according to the official report of 1851, the number of letters according to the report of 1862, ‘and the receipts and letters in the offices of Greg Briiain scrording to the report of 1863. Reports {oF Wi these piases could not be obtained for the same year, but the conclusions we arrive at will differ very little in consequence of the difference of dates, The last two columns give the sum of money paid and the number of letters written by each thousand persons in the average of the popula Yon:— Number Rec’ pts Letters of Ploces. Population. Receipts. Letters London EYE 6 BALA 75 S87 Liv i) 7a 1a ont M7 TT WA 08 132,173 Go $1,007 ja 20 Total 7 eition, wa 1th Wing a. 12PL 040 410,817,400 402 14,7 ings London 25,461,205 7,290,006 $18,000,162 284 12,912 New York $551,431 12,557,198 $1,002 25 iadelphia 4,700,995 ‘S79 Lon 4,455,005 1 32739 | Ni ORO. ve 1738743 G0 10,288 New Orleans 1ABS708 1,016 16,825 Total 5 cities. 1, $1 178,155 25,171,209 $88) 19,008, Heat of U. S...20,93,974 S802 874 70,019,315 178 3.225 Total U. 8 N86 708 26 4.131 Mr. Miles then argued ia favor of @ uniform rate of postage as simplifying labor, and gave the following stativtics — ‘The entire expenre of the Pritia! 03,399, ont Office in 1853, This was made up of the following Conveyance of the mails... Surveyors (or special agents), Colonial portal ex: ed Expense of the money order office Letter carriers... peeseeries General Post Office and miscellaneous. ‘ompenna| postmasters, sub poxtmasters ad clerks, expense of stationery, rent, fuel, ke, Bapeeet ot the London City Post Offles ‘oral expanse for work, Ac., in the Post ‘fees. vewnd total 130.110 008 999 “The expenses of the United States Post Oflce in 1963 amounted to $7,982,756, consisting of the following Mail tion. ose General misellaneous expenses ‘Total general mail expenses... Compensation to tasters... perm of cerhanee Total for work, &c., in Post Offices $2,372,748 Grand total entire postal expenses, $7,982, 75 We have here $2,372,748 for expenses in our Pos! Offices to go against $1,139,110 in tne Post Offices of Great Britain, but as we have in round numbers 24,000 Yeatmanters, while the whole number of Postmasters 0° sub-Postmasters in Great Britain smounts to but little over $,000, the circumstances are mot equal. We will then deduct from the expenses of our Post Offices two- thirds of the amount of all the salaries of our Postmas- tera ($1,214,316) and that will leave $1,158,432 to go jainat the sum of $1,139,110 for the same kied af ser- vice im great Britain. Now we have taken away 16,000 of the lahorera in our pestal service, and if weonce sop pose that the remaining Postmasters and clerks cou! attend to the work, what do we get as the result of their labora? It ts certainly not to be supposed that they and heteroge- could do the work with our complicat Beous system; but if they could perform it, how does it compare with the results of the tabor in the British Post Offices. In 186% there were 05,790,624 lotters mailed In the Umitec States, and in Great Britain during the same year 379,501,409." According to the above expenses eve- 1h reception independent of transportation-—tee sama and of trans cam ot $12,007, while the #ame number in Great Brisain cost $2,968, belog leas than one-fourth the amount, Were the British meshod of doing business as complicated, laborious aad expensive as ours their 379 mil- lion letters have cost in the ore 5 mailing and handling $14,585,460, instead of $1,131 116, and this bosides transportation and general post exper Un the other hand, were our sytem as simple, unt ‘and in cgnrequence ax cheap, aa theirs, our ninoty: pion later would have ‘cont $287,968, instead of $1,158,433, or we could have despatched four huadred million letters at the same cost and trouble that it now takes for Jean thaa one-fourth of that number, Nothing is said of papers, books and pamphlets, but as they are similar in both countries, it would not affect the general resuit. If we added to’ the expense of the post ofices of Great Britain, as given above, the salaries of all tho letter carriers in the kingéom, (s 1, 935)) it would only raise the amount to $2,646,045, aud this would only be about $6,000 for every million letters: not far from half the sum that our letters Those gigantic route in the British Post Office are moet cer- tainly attained im simplifying isbor by making postage uniform it ma Pat ors all matter, that we bat miles, and another for distances bey may ‘appear to be of litle conseq two methody of paying for our letters, either in stemps, or in money, and that we have three methods of computing the rates of postage by weight, But these are not emall matters or onimportant. In the mailing and delivery of» hundred million letters, and the man- twenty:(our thousand post offices, it in of dollars. 80 long as we goon tbat our Post O'fice must muatain itself, it high or low rates o # in our niformity and simplicity, ingle ri po might to-day be pat at cent and a balf instead of three and ten cents, and have our Post Office revenue and expenses as avarly balanced a4 they are at pree A striking result of the benefits of uniformity in post- ry measure of economy, is shown in the compara- tive cost of attending to the mailing and transporting letters in Great Britain and the United States, and in Great Brisain before and after the rates were uniform. In Great Britain, in 1839, the year before the {ntroduc. tion of uniform gostage, there were 42,470,596 letters, and the grows expenses of the Post Office ainounted to $8,784,007. This shows an expense of $46 for each thousand letters. In 1853 the number of letters sent by mati in Great Britain was 410,817,489, and the gross ex- ‘this amounts to $17 in Great Breast Britain is only a litle over one-third what it was betore there was uniform postage. And how Ia it in the United States’ Im 1so2 the number of letters mailed wa 95,700,524, aud the eutire postal expenses $7,108,469, being an expense of $74 for each thousand letters—a strong contrast to the $17 fora thousand letters in (reat Britein. Can apy one seriously think that there iss financial advantage in having letters between the Atlantis and Pacific States pay ten centa, with letters otber distances paying three. and drop letters one, while in consequence Of these several rates, we are burdened with a varied, complicated, laborions and expensive system’ In there spy reason in believing that there i¢ any other result than a great loss’ Look at the following figures showing the gross amount of postages collected in the States and Territories mentioned, in the year 18 California. Oregon Tertitor. 10,495 Washington Ter: 1,628 Utah Territory, 1857 New Mexico, 906 postage on let- over 3,000 miles, and which {x uble the rate of mail matter sent less than (The late law haw raised this to ten conte. ) this—390,125—may be considered as the pro- Gt of surplu from the shigh rate of postage. If we add to this an equal sum for the pontagen collected in the Atlantic States. on mail matter going to the Pact- fe, we ahall bave $130,646, as the gain accraing to our Port Office cepartment, trom the double rate of Pontage for long distances, And what does it cont to eoliect th: sum of $150,000? Why, it costa at the least calculation, over a million and @ balf of dollars, or more than eight times the sum gained. Mr. Miles then gave hia attention to the {ranking ays- tem, and presented the following + tatistlos:— Quantity of mail matter sent from Washington during the month of January, 1854, upon which pe postage is , and abowing the amount of revenue that would accrue, if the «me was chargeable with postage, and prepaid — Number of letters {ranked by members of Con; pete enn 11,737 youn sane | Amount of postage on the same, if prepaid $4,663 62 Weight ot public documents {ranked by members of Congress, Ibi 693,508 Amount of postage on the same, if prepaid $110,961 20 Weight of letters franked by Executive of- fices, Ibs..... tees Amount of postag same, if Weight of newspapers, Ibs. . newspapers excepted) for one month, provides tt t* prepaid. +, $122,407 22 Total amount for twelve months . Total amount for twelve months, if not Without taking acoount of the newspapers, here we find nearly a million and a half of doliats for free matter that loaves Washington in one year, besides all that arrives at Washington, and all that ia’ sent free la allother portions of the country. A fair estimate would probably give three millions as the amount of postage on the frenked matter annually sent throngh our malls. The Post Office Committee of the House of Reprosenta- tives put it at $2,600,000, vod we are willing to admit it & fair estimate. The late Postmaster General in—during two years endi July 1, 1851, at $4,240,820, being at the rate of 82,120,410 angually. itis thus very evident that two milliona and & half for free Congressional and government mail mat- ter is Uelow, rather than above, a correct estimate Now, in the came of all that in just, why in that moun tax—as purely a government matter as supporting the army and pavy-—why la this nam raised by taxing our correspondence! If we add to the Post Office rev years the eur of $16,060,000 for gov instead of —we shall @ for the last six ment postages, $,917,234—the amount that ree opto riated ‘8 gTOM revenue of 647 wi to go to the amount of $29,385,200 dart me period. ‘This will leave a balance of $3,603, 7 4 sum the Port Office Department hax actually rned during the last six years, over and above all ex pen And yet, in the face of all thin we b law pasved raising letter postage, on that go three ad miles or over, fr x to ten cents, on ihe t the Department does not support itaelf Personal Intelligence Hon Ralph H Metealf, Governor elect shire, is reriously il) at his residence in ABRIVALS. At the Teving say: —Hon. David Tod, Ohio, Col B. i 2) Wright, , Australia; Simon P. ighy, Nason. arr Dr Penn: Ri Forter, Portis & Philadelphia, DEPARTURES. Por ¢ vis Aspinwall a J He mae A Keil child r, wile and inf ov Key Me Lewis and indy Sev Mr Livingston and son, J fe 5 C Horan » J potnston, Mise A Clark, Mr R Key ErConsul Sanders to the Demoeracy on Secretary Marcy. Nuw Youx, April 5, 1856. DaxoonaTs— Maroy, the Aberdeen of the Pierce administration, rumor from Washington says, with plausible earnest, bas determined to let the country ‘drift into ® war’ with Spain. His policy is indolence without prudence, leading inevitably to extended hostilities, only pro. crastinating the crisis to the advantage of the enemy, with the loss to ourselves of everything valuable in the contest. According to the rumor, war steamers are ordered to the Gulf, to cruise gor and capture the in solent Spaniards that have fired wpom our flag and over- hauled our mail steamers. It cannot be denied to Marcy that his plan is as certaia an old fogy way of “drifting into a war’’ of the most extravagant and magnificent proportions as could have been devised by that prince of fogies, Lord Aberdeen himself. But we are a commerciai and eminently « practical people, and in vindicating the honor of our flag, we should not stupidly pass the moment for taking the ovly securities possible to cover the expenres of the contest and save the great national interests at hazard. ‘The imminence of the present crisis makes it widely dif. ferent in character from the conditioa of ich the Mexican war. tative is worne a blu move of Marcy, like the snake wl trodden upom, may give very valuable im- formation to the aggressive fos, but is certaioly « moat naive proceeding on the part of ‘the silly snake—aad Mr. C) It tohbave been hoped that Mr. Marcy would act upon the general wish of the democracy of the nation, and retire trom his piace in the Cadinet, where his cor- adence oa the Spanish and other questions pain- fully showa that whatever his abilities might have been, he had too little vigor left to undertake the severe atudy necessary to the understanding of our immenve and complicated foreign affa! But an his patrio ny was of a character to lead him to give up offices, might have avoided criticism, if he had not touched with his awkward and timid hand the great in ternational and home question of Cuba, What ought not to be done is exactly what he will do, The most the energetic, and what would nd be the moat economic and pacific policy, will never enter his head What ought to be done it in'idle to discuss, so long ax Marcy may be there. GEO. N. SANDERS. Board of Aldermen. Inaac O. Baxxen, Eaq., President, in the chair. minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. COMMUNICATION FROM TIT COMMISSIONER OF REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES, The report of the Commissioner of Repairs and Sup- plien conveying an aceount of the expenses and receipts of his office for three months, ending Ist April, 1855, by which it appears that the total amouat of bilis paid ap- plicable to the Building Stock Fund’ betweon the Ist of Janury, 1855, and Ist of April, 1865, was $21,170. It appears by the report that the amount bee? det Tn January was 87,328 31 The In February. 28,012 08 In March . Foe : 29/586 40 Expenses paid for removing the ruins of ‘tio lew City Hall............ 6,907 26 The communication was ordered on The Commissioner of Repairs and Supplies, in answer to a resolution of the Board asking by what authority he had advertised for sale the property of the late New City Holl, in two separate potices, stated that the offer of the property for sale was prodicated upon the general Jaw governing the department, which he thought clearly implies the power. ‘The following revolution was olfered by the Alderman of the Fighth ward:— Resolved, That the Commissioner of Repairs and Sup pliee be, and he is hereby, directed to atay all proceed inga in relation to disposing of the old materials taken from the ruins of the New City Hall, antil further di- rected by the Common Council, Adopted. CLEANING THs STREETS NY MACHINGS ‘The Commissioner of Streets and Lamps, in answer to & resolution of this Board inquiring by what authority » contract has been made with the proprietors of tl report that elected to. per- form the work pursuant to their contracts, he notified the Board of Councilmen of the fact, and immediately proceeded to clean, and endeayoted to keep clean, the streets, The Commisaioner on to state that he tered into anengnyemeut with the proprietors of the street-cleaning machioes, under the Mayor, to make a trial in the Sixth wards, whioh was subject to be cancelled ia the non fulfilment of the contract. the proprietors of the machines h: clean the streets of those districts the term entered in‘o by the original contractors following prices:—First ward; three months, $2960; Second ward, $1,600; Fourth ward, $1,750, and Sixth ward, $2,250, A debate arose upon the subject, in which several took part, rome advocating the metho! of chaping thg streets by machines, and others were for reverting to the old system of cleaning the streets by the muscles and bone and sinews of elther American born or adopted citizen: The Alderman of the Sixth ward said that he would like to see the machines abolished, and all thelr blue jacket adjuncts follow in their trai Alderman Hxnxick was also in being used in cleaning the streets, Aldermen Brown and WiLiiAK#oN alao spoxe against the contract entered into tor cleaning the streets by machines. Alderman WAxeMan offered the following resolutions — Resolved, That the Comptroller be, and he is hereby, directed not to make any payments tw Mensrs. Smith, Sickles & Co., on account of any agreement mae for the cleaning of the streets of the First, Second, Fourth and Sixth wards Retolved, That the Commissioner of Streets and rye be, and he ix hereby, directed to keep the atraeta of the First, Second, Fourth and Sixth wards properly cleaned, at the expense of the contractors, and that he ix hereby directed to do so by the employment of persona who are residents and citizens of New York. Referred to Committes on Cleaning Streets, by a vote of 11 to 7. THE CRYBTAL PALACK MARKET. The remonstrance of the Hoard of Councilmen against 2, bill organising certain parties In o an sasociation for the purpose of converting the Crystal Palace into a market, for thelr exclusive benefit and monopoly, was concurred in. yt of manual labor SORCHLLAN HOUR. Several petitions for the remiasion of taxes were re ceived and referred. Complaints were received from the Chief Fangineer of the fire ment against various companies, and were referred. A petition ot several property holders, aking for the name of Chatham street to be ‘changed to Fast Broadway, was referred to the Committees on Btreets. A memorial of the trustees of the Five Points House of In éustry fora sewer in Anthony street, was referred to the committee. ‘The report of the Committee on 4, in favor of concurring to allow the sheds around to be used by the country people bri here. Coneurred in. Of same, in fave ith the Board of Councilmen to re build TompkiosfMarket. Concurred in. The report of the Finance Committee of this Hoard in favor of concurring'to donate $600 to the Society for the Relief of Voor Widows with email children. Adjourned to Monday next. Coroners’ Ing Kitten wy Fatiiwo Down Sratma,.—Ooroner Wilhelm held an Inquest yesterday, at the New York Hospital, npon the body of Alice Muldrom, » woman about twenty vix yeara of age, who came to her death by a fracture of the skull, secilentally received by falling down stairs, av the rear house No, 24 City Hall Mace, om the th inat. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the decensed had been to the above place on & visit to some frients, of hers, and being in an intoxicated state, secidentaily missed her footing on the stairway. and was previpitate! to the floor beneath, fracturing her skull in the (all. A verdict in secordance with the above facts wa: renders! by the jury. Deceased way a native of Ireland Farat Acctyest.—Coroner Wilhelm held an inquest yesterday, at 121 Rast Kleventh street, apon the boty of Daniel Kagan, who died the previous day from severe rien received by falling down staire while ip an io ated condition. The jury rendered the following verdict —'' That she deceased came to hie death by frac @ of the base of the skull, accidentally received M4 ing down stairs at the house No. 171 Past reet, on the 4th day of April, 1856—be cated at tl Deconsed was aber age, and was s native of Ireland AxoTIER Boxsisa Fuoty Accimert.—Coroner 0’ Donnell held an inquest yesterday at No. 19 Firet atreet, upon the body of « young lady named Mary B. Sebatter, aged 20 years, who came to ber death from severe injuries re ceived on the Zlatult. by the upsetting of w lighted burn ing Guid lamp upon her person. From the evidence a4 Cuced, it appeared that the decensed, on the evening im question, wae sitting sewing beside « table on which « lighted burning uid lamp was placed, and that while engaged in thie cocupation, some of the children who were playing (9 the room secidentally epeet the iamp whieh Ppp burning fuld was throws all over the head and shoulders of the accused, profacing fright fal lojaries, from the effects of which she lingered unti! Wednestay, when she expired in greatagony The jury rendered & verdiet 17. Decenend wae s mative of this ity, and wee Wo 0 large circle of (rieots and relatives. Teeaseny’ Deranranwr—Reowrm’s Ovrice— in thie office for the in a8 follows — vos0e UTNE The smount of drafts PRICE TWO CENTS. Our New Gricans - New Ontxans, March 28, 1866. City Election—Know Nothings Victorious—Small Vote— Try tt Again—The Chif Aboul—Phe New Trade—Mys- tery— Quitman at HomesOur Gulf Fleet—Vengramce. The city election for Recorder of the First distr et, aed for Aldermen and assistant Aldermen of tlre city of New Orleans, took place on Menday last, and'rewulted im the triumph of the Know Nothing» really, butroformers os. tensibly, The eleetion was remarkably quiet, peaceable, and orderly—no rews, no Aghts, so killing. The inapect- ors were all reformers, and conducted the election to nuit themselves, Fully 9,(00 demoerate declined voting, and 1,000 were rejected, having been, in commovention: of law, required to produce their maturalization papers which, for the principle involved, and that only, they refused todo, The vote stood for reformers, 5,706; for the demecratic candidates, 3,969. The usual whig vote in 6,700, and the usual democratic over 7,000. The vie- tory and Sam's departure for Virginia, were to have bem announced by & ralute of 160 guns yesterday at noon; but Captain #oria, of the Artillery, was unfortunately horribly matilated by premature explosion ere the twelfth gun had added its voice to the clamor Bereft of on arm, an ands of his face, he ia now death, enlisting universal show of bands, in November election occurs. Both pasties bey but a7 for bright hopes and ambitious views, only ction can triamph # reformers say the law ele:tion was all right—aa honor to the country. The democrata progounce tt highly concentrated exsence of compound. villany. Armall f fihbusters, becoming obstreperoua and too loquacious as weil aa indiscreetly laebriate, were disbanded here some fow days ago by the great chiel; but on threatening, loud ani deep, to peach, ap Impene- trable veil of mystery wasdrawn over the whole affair, The new line of steamers in the Mobile and Galvestes leave next Friday. What is koing in and among the army of (invaders, ie kept a profound secret. All reem fully impressed with the importance or the magic word mum, Quitman went to his home, Monmouth, t/other day, and has not yet returned, ‘here is no talk, no excite- ment, about the expedition, Matters more national are engrossing the public mind, The RI Dorado outrage No. 2, fires the people at The Unites States fleet in the Gulf ix expected to the avenging arm at an early day. The public eye should no sleep, the public heart should no longer be insensible— national or otherwise, veageance is at hand, and Spaim miuat and will be humbled, OMS, i “Police Intelligence. THR RESULT OF A NIGHT'S DEBAVOCE. Edward Cantilly appeared at tho Tombs yesterday, before Justice Connolly, charged with having assaulted Edward McCarthy with a davgerous weapos, From the statement made by the defendant, it appears that both these men, who are shoemakers, working in the same shop together, at 7 Cherry street, om the night of the 4th inat,, sailied out from thelr place of business on a regular bender; that having tanted the bad qualities of very indifferent liquor sold in the Fourth ward, they became somewhat elated. but this happy state of affairs wan doomed toa reaction, which fell heavily upon Can- tilly, for, an he alleges, McCarthy in « fit of passion took oceasion'to bring him {o the earth somewhere (he could not say exactly where) in the Fourth ward, and whee in that unpleasant sitaation, administered to o vere beating, putting one of bi Some partien interfering at thls to the finale until t | MeCartby, Cantifly wan en in mending shoes, recom: menced hostilities, Asecond fight them enined, whem McCarthy cried out that he was «1 which exola. stream of the hands of some one. The Mayor's Ofice. A MAN BITTEN BY A DOG. Mr. Morris O'Connor, resid! against Mr. Philip Schaffer, a baker, living in the same houre, whom he charged with keeping a savage dog, It he went into the which caught him by the throat, and mangled it ina horrible manner, He also bit him very severely on different parte of the face, and would probably have ruccemied in killing him, had it pot been Jor & servant girl, who came to his assistance, The dog war attacked to achaln, but it was so long as to rem- der it unsafe for any person to enter the yard. The owner was notified to bill the animal, but he seemed rather reluctant to do #0, and said that his dog would not have attacked O'Connor had he not been provoked by him. He consented, however, to put him out of the way, but in what manner he proposed to do this he did not inform the Jumti MARRIAGE BY A JUMTICE. ‘The ordinary routine of business at the, Mayor's office yesterday was somewhat relieved by the celebration of @ marriage ceremony. Justice Pearcy officiated in the place of the minister, and the names of the worthy couple are Joreph Glacel, of Poland, and Mrs. Hertha Goebel, of Germany. TO THE EDITOR OF THR HHKALD, Weosyapay Monwtna, April 4, 1466. Your reporter, in noticing my arrest om Suniay, hae made several misstatements, whieh you will please cor reet—-Int, that | was viclating « clly ordinances, which je ; and m: by cane was not on the mdewalk bat reven feet inside the limite of court yard. ful W. LOCK Woon, tgaeepotan you 2 Daguerrean artist, Kighth avenue, corner of Fourteseth otreet. Williamsburg City News. “HOD VEAL" — INTERESTING TO THE LOVERS OF IN VANT DREr. The following incident im relation to‘ Mated"! or “Bob Veal,’! will serve to show up one of the tricks resorted to for the purpose of palming off opon the publig om wholevome teod. A man, named Jobo Jenkins, keeper of the “iranch of the Fulton market,” 284 Grand street, was tried yea. terday afternoon before Justin Perry, at the old City Hail in South Becond street, on s charge of selling “Plated Veal,’’ the charge being preferred by Robert Ruwnels, Meat Inspector forthe Kaatern district At the appointed hour, #4 not being present, the Court proceeded to take testimony George Mesinger sworn—l raw nine quarters of plated of the Fulton Market, im the boy sail they were goins to sell it by plaied veal, putting s place of at pork where the kidney cught to be, if the whole of these nine quarters of veal wan tried out, after taking away the pork, enough fat could not be got out to grease ack knife butchers call this ‘bob veal’ im atcher for forty years, I consider thin moat very un holesome it and but very little ter what there was very o He wished t procure the Washingtom t butcher, of whom he purchased the veal, to that it + od lor O tries providing ase «el 1 make the pe would sllow bin to change Unvbelewome meat,’ which ty meet heavier cused if be knew whether the meat veal or dog meat? Jenkins 4:4 not tnow, bal fupyoret \t must be rel, oe be bowght it for that oe men to ool] meet toe ¢ eufheiat | ons produce & woman in Williamsburg that cooked pteaks cut trom the thigh of the pirate Gibbs. who was hung, aad uple eat and pronvunced them the fowt overeat; ing under the impression that it was the fleen of am enmel Accused comeinted not to have the case adjourned, wa oeeording)y ined 610 Paseina Cocrrenrmt Mose’. — Yesterday, «men name t Nicholas Cone, « revident of *arnioge coumty, was ar rested by Fergeant Merrett, of the Vifth distret police, wm a charge Of passing & W) counterfeit bil on Hamue Spencer, gomemith, in weet. Accused gare eppear before Justice Bowwel on Matartay for mination As Acre atone Legt oe Braue The wife of Peter age, reeiéleg in the Vourteeath ward, yeemrtay mate plant (© Captain Gulrchart, of the Fifth disteing on, that hibp Mead, the keeper of « miserable low cory in “orth Dgbth street, lain the habit of sell mt usted at all times of day amd 204 y somnatimnes ‘ays there all ia a be of intexicavon Complainant voye ows sella tor wram’y \¢ mot bremdy bey regular lghtoing OR NO Te eepurate Cmrges have wont Fiward Nevill, keeper of the Kings for violating (ity ortinanes, by ot ‘ay, the pepalty Prine ,O0 tee cack of ‘3 tame op for before Justice vterday afternoos. ot Ony r /’ ‘The defence Sats ae ort, to prove that Mr, not? . * paryou the trisl was sAjouread Oli wer wiek.