The New York Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1860, Page 4

4 NEW .YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, MDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. Orrwe . Ww. COmNER OF NASSAU AND FULTON OTS. SRRWS, cach im adecncs Money sent lak of ths sender, Postage anps not 7 ¥ HERALD. too conts por copy. $1 per annwn. fae Waren? HERALD every Saturday, ah sia conte (or 83 per annum; the European Edition We 4 conte per copy, $4 nnn 10 any Bart reat tnolde jhe Fi etait ert er annum. Prk riuitY waRaLD on Wednesday, at four cents per NOE PHT net with neatnss, chaopnees and de- AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. 'BLO’B GARDEN. Broadway.—Coogn’s AL I- eaTiRta’® Shernoon bad Rvesing. OAL Auems BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery,—Macertn—Jack Susr- ann on Hopsmsacs. WINTER GABDEN, Broadway, opposite Bond sireet.— Ouves Twir, “a WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Romanos oF 4 Poor Youre a . LAURA KEENE’s THEATRE, 6% Broadway.—Jaume Dum. NAW BOWERY THEATRE Sowery.—O.v Man or rus Soe Jack, tum Hignwarmaxn—Feway THBATES FRANCAIS, 686 Broadway.—Mizis Jeanne, Ou La Femme pv Pavris. BARNUMS AMERICAN MUSEUM. Broadway.—After- Boon—ALL Tear Gutrens 18 Not Go.w—Oun Fatiow Cumus. Eveuing—Hossanv ro Onpsn—Saercuns wn Ixpia. BRYANTS MINSTRELS, Mechanica Hall, 473 Broadway.— ‘Bourssques, Sones, Dances, 4c.—We Cousz From tae Hits. NIBLO’S BALOON. Broadway.—Gno. Onnistr’s Min- |? am Bones, Daxces, Bummsquas, &c.—Mzz. Dar’s ew Yeas Catss ron 1860. New York, Saturday, February 2, 1860. i The News. The news from Washington this morning is inter- @sting. The republicans carried out their pro- gramme for the organization of the House by elect- ing Mr. Forney, Clerk and Mr. Hoffman, of Maryland, Bergeant-at-Arms. The election of a Doorkeeper and the division of the printing spoils were reserved for further consideration. Mr. Phelps introduced a bill making appropriations for the Post Office De- partment. It appropriates $10,000,000, four mil- fiona of which are for deficiencies. Notice was given of a bill providing for a revision of the tariff. The republicans in Washington were jubilant last night over the election of Forney. They paraded about the town, accompanied by a band of music, ‘and called upon Forney and his especial friends and supporters. Forney, Hickman and Haskin made speeches, and Haskin read a letter of For- ney’s apologizing for the celebrated Forrest letter. ‘The speeches and the letter are published among wur despatches, so that all the world may read them. The State Senate yesterday was engaged in a warm discussion upon a motion to authorize the Committee on nominations for Harbor Masters and Other officers to send for persons and papers. A Bketch of the debate is given in our report of the proceedings. In the Assembly several bills were read a third time and passed. They were mostly of alocal character. Among the bills introduced ‘were two more for railroads in New York. Notice ‘was given of a large number of bills for various Purposes. The execution of James Stephens, the wife poi- woner, took place yesterday morning in the city »n, at twenty-one minutes to ten o'clock. The » died protesting his innocence to the last, and with very little apparent suffering. The hang- ing was bunglingly done by an inexperienced per- gon, who, instead of cutting the rope, merely un- Toosened it, letting the body ascend gradually into the air. A full report will be found in another column. The verdict of the Coroner's jury on the Law- rence catastrophe has just been rendered. They find no fault with the owners of the Pemberton Mill, but censure the manufacturer of the cast-iron pillars used in the building, and cast all the respon- ibility of the massacre upon Charle L. Bigelow, the architect and superintendent of the structare. A synopsis of the verdict is given in another column. Since the terrible destruction of life at Lawrenco, @carcely a day has passed that we have not chroni- eled some fearful catastrophe. Yesterday we gave an account of a steam boiler explosion and the loss Of two lives, in the Eastern district of Brooklyn ; fo-day we publish the details of a similar accident, attended with a greater loss of life, which happened in the Western district of that city. From the ac- fount referred to, it appears that at about half- past seven o'clock yesterday morning a frightful boiler explosion occurred in the hat factory of Ames & Molton, situated in Sanford street, between Nostrand and Park avenues, Brook. lyn, totally demolishing the building and causing the immediate death of six persons, and the inju- ring of eight or ten others—some of them, perhaps, fatally. The building was a new one, and had been .in use only about a week. Providentially, there were but few persons in the factory at the time. The hour of com- mencing work was fixed for eight o'clock, and con- wequently none were present but those immediate. Jy connected with the engine, or whose daties were fo put everything in, order preparatory to com- mencing work for the day. Had the explosion taken place one hour later, no one can foresee what might have resulted, as there were over two hun- Gred persons employed in the factory the day be- fore, and in all probability the number would not have been leas yesterday. A fine of three hundred dollars was yesterday Amposed upon Morrissey, the pugilist, by the court at Baffalo, for his participation in the prize fight be- tween Price and Kelly. O'Donnell and Briggs were fined two hundred dollars each. In the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday, the jury in thecase of W. P. Maynard, who was tried for the manslaughter of J. W. Zilkins, rendered a werdict of not guilty. A nolle prosequi was enter- edin the case of McCarthy, indicted with others for the murder of Patrick Cosgrove, alias “Pateey Cockroach.” The District Attorney proposes to nse McCarthy asa witness. ‘The attorney of the Excise Commissioners has pollected several judgments of fifty dollars each, pbtained for violation of the Excise law, and haa paid them over to the county treasury. We are giso informed that there are nearly one thousand Judgments ready to be placed in the hands of the attorney against responsible persons. ‘The Young Men's Democratic Union Club, who have just taken a building on Union square for the Presidential campaign of 1860, called on Mr. Faulk- Ber, our Minister to France, last evening. Gover. por Seymoar, Mr. Mather, Mr. Crosweil, Mr. Schell and others were with the delegation. Complimen- tary speeches were made and responded to by Mr. Faalkner. ‘The ‘American Central Club held s meeting last evening at No. 187 Bowery. Resolations endorsing Mg. Briggs’ course in the late election of Speaker were adopted. The passage of the resolution, on dcount of the effort of several members to make ‘Zhe resolution embrace the endorsement of Mr. Pennington, the Speaker, caused spirited discus pion, and delayed the adjournment of the guntil twelve o'clock. The claims of two contesting in the Tenth and in the Twentieth ‘words were referred respectively to committees of five members, Our report is crowded out by other guatter. ‘Tho sales of cotton yesterday embraced 900 a 1,000 Dales, The market was waretiled aad prigns somewhat NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1380, irregular. Quotations were ou the besia of Ilifc. a 11.X¢. for middling uplands, with most doing at the in- side figure. Flour was beavy and lower for State and Western brands, whilo sales were moderate. Southern flour was steady and prices unchanged. Wheat was in- active and transactions limited—some California, which was sold for milling on private terms and damaged Southern white at 5c. Corn was leas plenty and prices wero firm, with sales of Jersey and Southern yellow and white at 80c. @ 83¢. Pork continued firm, though lees active, with sales of mess at $18 a $18 25, and mow prime at $14 $14 26, and old at $12. $12 50. Beef was Steady, and bacen, cut meats and lard were in fair re- quest and prices firm. Sugars were firmly hela, while buyers stood aloof, and sales were quite limited. The public coffee sale went off with spirit, and the prices ob tained were quite full, and the sale was considered & good one, The catalogue embraced 3,192 baga of Rio, of which 2,000 were sold at 120. a 12Xc., averaging 12 82 100c. , at which 1,192 bags of the better qualities were withdrawn. Freights were firm, but engagements were modérate. Revelattons of the Biacok Leaders—The Truc Issue In their speeches at the serenade in Washing- ton, which we published exclusively yesterday, the black republican leaders—Pennington, Sherman, Hickman and Grow—boldly avow, amid their exultations, that the true issue for which they are contending, and which they hope triumphantly to carry, is the abolition of alavery and the perpetuation of the Union by foree. Defeated in their pertinacious attempt to force the endorser of the Helper treason into the Speaker’s chair, they changed their colors for a moment, and put forward a more national man than themselves as their standard bearer. Under the disguise of his conservatism they secured the defeat of the true conservative ele- ments in Congress; but the simple comparison of the speech of Pennington with those of Sherman, Hickman and Grow reveals at once how grossly the Speaker elect misjudges the principles of the party which has elected him, or, if he is not deceived, how great is his hypocrisy, and how imminent is the danger which his pro- fessions are used to conceal. In these speeches the black republican leaders confess to the truth of every charge that we have brought against them. They repeat the brutal and bloody social philosophy of Seward while affecting to deny it. They acknowledge their identity of principles with the incendiary and revolutionary doctrines of Helper’s book, which both Sherman and Grow had endorsed, while they brand him as a “crazy fanatic.’ They sanction the raid of John Brown, in urging the conflict of which it is a part, and endeavor to smooth over the Harper’s Ferry affair as a “nine days’ wonder.” In this light expression Mr. Pennington shows how little he compre- hends the conflict that is raging around him, and the party that is using him. But there is in these exultant revelations of the black republican leaders much matter of grave import to every man in this country. In their general tone they are bitter from a sense of partial defeat in the forced withdrawal of Sherman. This gentleman exults that in twelve hours the evils which are foreseen aa the result of a black republican triumph have not been consummated; then he exclaims that “we will beat down their prejudices,” and immediately, as if fearing that he had confessed too much, announces that “we will doit with firmness and love’”’—two qualities which have nothing in com- mon. Mr. Hickman is more defiant. He clings to the sectional conflict of eighteen Northern millions against eight Southern millions of men, proclaims the certainty of conquest by the North, and announces his determina- tion to “first hang him as a traitor” who in the North shall oppose the brutal and bloody policy of hisparty. Verily, the zeal of new converts surpasses that of the old. Mr. Grow is more philosophical, but more to the point of the argument. He proclaims the very essence of abolitionism. According to his ex- position of the doctrines of the black republi- can party, they hold that all men, without dis- tinction, are entitled to their liberty; that there is now going on a great conflict between two systems of labor, or, as Mr. Seward expresses it, “an irrepressible conflict, in which slavery must be extended over the fields of New York and Massachusetts, or free labor over the cotton, sugar, tobacco and rice fields of the slave States,” ahd he claims that the government of the country shall wield its power in behalf of the free labor of the North and the South. Here we have the’true issue thatis to be can- yassed before the American people in the com- ing Presidential election. It is the open pro- clamation of a crusade by the North against the existing order of things, the relations of society, and the foundation of all values, in fif- teen States of this Union. The object is to gain possession of the federal administration, and the legislative powers of Congress, in erder to prostitute them to the brutal and bloody work of destruction, preached by Phil- lips and Garrison, promulgated by Seward, taught by the Helper book, endorsed there by Sherman, Grow and thirty-eight other black republican members of the present Congress, practised by John Brown, and expiated by him on the gallows. There is no evasion of the great fact. In an unguarded moment, waked from their sleep by a midnight serenade, iso lated, without consultation, and without con. cert, fresh from a partial triumph obtained by deception, and the treason of a representative to the highest interests of his constituency, in the great commercial metropolis of the Union, these black republican leaders proclain their hopes to gain possession of the government, to abolish slavery, and to perpetuate the Union by force. Let the people ponder on the terrible conse- quences which such a conflict as this involves— the bitter feelings which it must awaken in the North, the terror and struggles for self-pre- servation in the South, the diminution of trade, the waning of industry, the non-employment of labor, the depreciation of property, the de- struction of credit, and the universal ruin of families everywhere. The issue is before them, confirmed by the exultant revelations of the leaders of the fanatics, who would carry their brutal and bloody theories toa successful prac- tice, even though the heavens should fall. AN APPROPRIATE Approx to THE TAX Levy.—The tax levy, having passed the Boards of the Common Council and received the Mayor's approval, now goes to the Legislature for final action. The appropriation for clean- ing the streeta is $300,000, and, as itis cus- tomary for the Legislature to amend the tax levy by additions and curtailments, they ought to add an appropriation to the amount for cleaning the streets of a sum suitable for clean- ing the tongues of the members of the Corpora- tion and keeping their mouths sweet. We com- mend this suggestion to our Albany legislators, Improvement ww Tum ApmyisrRaTiox OF Ornonat Law.—We perceive that Judge In- gtaham is showing some vigor in the adminis- tration of the law, and that he is sentencing a number of criminals to the penitentiary and to State prison. We also observe that Governor Morgan resists the importunities of mistaken philanthropists, corrupt politicians, and professional pardon beggars who make a living by their successful efforts to let convicts and felons loose upon society. He has shown some firmness in refusing to abuse the pardon- ing power, thus showing true mercy to the innocent by protecting them from the dangerous members of the community. This is a change for the better. To such a height had the evil grown by the indulgence and incompetency of judges, the loose practice with regard to the empannelling of juries, the connivance of district attorneys, and the mock humanity of Governors in nulli- fying the operations of justice, that it be- came a question whether in this city a felon could be convicted of a capital crime upon any evidence, and, if by chance, he should be convicted, whether there was any chance of his ever suffering the penalty due to his crime. In the case of the young drunken rowdy Rodgers, who took the life of a man walking inoffensively through the streets with his wife, the predecessor of Mr. Morgan, in spite of the clamors of Lay and the prayers of philanthropy, allowed the law to take its course; and in the case of Stephens, convicted of the coldblooded murder of his wife by poison, and hanged yesterday in our city prison, the Governor permitted the law to have its victim, of which there appeared to be great doubtin the public mind. It was believed that the same ingenuity of lawyers and incom- petence of Judges which baffled the adminis- tration of the law so effectually in the case of Cancemi, and at length robbed justice of half its due, would be ultimately triumphant in the case of Stephens, the execution of whose sen- tence his counsel, by quirks and quiddities succeeded in deferring so long. Indeed, many were prepared to assert his innocence to the end, and doubtless would have done so had not his attempt to commit another murder been discovered. But the wretched criminal has at last paid the forfeit of his life, andthe fact is now established that poisoners and other as- sassins may be hanged in New York. This is a gratifying and salutary reform—a new movement in the right direction—which has not yet gone far enough, but which we hope will make further progress every day, till human life is as secure in this city as in any other civilized city in the world. To Judge Russell belongs the credit of inaugurating this change. Amidst the threafs of the politicians, the menaces of the confederates of the crimi- nals, the offer of bribes, the abuse of the press, and last, not least, the intercession of mistaken philanthropists, he sternly maintained the even tenor of his way, and setan example of firm- ness to Judges and Governors which is begin- ning to be sensibly felt in the commanity. He rendered the law what it was intended to be, “a terror to the evil doer,” and others are fol- lowing in his wake. But we cannot hope to see crime abated to any great extent in this metropolis while our police force is under its present imbecile and inefficient magagement.” VeRDIcT IN THE PempertoN Mutts Cask— Tae Dury or Massacuuserrs.—After a long and careful investigation into the cause of the shocking catastrophe at the Pemberton Milla, Lawrence, Massachusetts, the Coroner’s jary have brought in their verdict. They find that the evidence does not warrant the belief that the owners of the mill were cognizant of its unsafe condition. Without referring. to the character or insecurity of the foundations of the building, they attribute the immediate cause of the disaster to defects in the cast iron pillars which supported the floors, and the thinness of the brick walls upon which the floor timbers rested. The responsibility of the tearful loss of life which resulted from the fall of the mill is divided between Mr. Albert Fuller, the former contracting agent of the Eagle Iron Foundry, at West Boston, who sup- plied the pillars, and Mr. Charles L. Bigelow, the architect and superintendent of the build- ing, whose duty it was to test the quality of the iron, and under whose immediate super- vision the entire work was executed. It is manifest from the language of the jury that they place the heaviest responsibility upon Mr. Bigelow, for they say:—“That upon Charles L. Bigelow, being the architect as well as the superintendent of this structure, rests all the responsibility arising from an insufficient test of said pillars, and from any and every defect, weakness and insecurity apparent in and about the general construction of said build- ing; that the walls were laid under his super- vision; that the timbers and floorings were in every respect constructed and located as he originally designed; that the inner supports, of cast iron, previous to erection, had his ap- proval, and were by him adopted as imall parts safe and secure; that such inspection as he required was given to the iron pillars, and that any want of skill in designing, any error of judgment in approving or adopting, any want of due care and caution in properly test ing, the different parts of the structure on his part, appearing to that extent, rendered him responsible for the direful catastrophe.” This verdict, though it includes no charge rf manslaughter against any one, affords a sufl-' cient basis for the anthorities to work upon; and we now Call upon Massachusetts to defénd her white slaves—to protect the living and avenge the dead; to make such an example of the parties implicated by the Coroner's jury as will in future deter others from exposing the lives of her poor operatives, either to satisfy parsimonious spirit, or through sheer recklene- ness and indifference to the safety of those whose value they measure only by the amount of profit which can be realized from their labor. It comes within the province of Grand Juries to originate indictments against persons, where substantial facts going to prove the commission of crime exist, and the verdict of the jury in this case, as well as the testimo- ny taken hefore them, furnishes enough for the action of a Grand Jury in the premises. We hope, then, that the next Grand Jury which sits in the town of Lawrence will not fail to take cognizance of this matter, and we expect to see public opinion in the State of Maseachusetts brought to bear upon it in an effective manner, for the protection of the poor operatives, who contribute eo much to her wealth and prosperity, and whose lives seem to be held at eo chesp a rate. Txavk snp Powrrics.—The prospects of the | spring trade, thus far,have been rather satisfac- tory than otherwise. The effect of the political excitement growing out of the John Brown raid and the contest for the Speakership would, it was expected, have stopped altoge- ther the Southern purchases. The non-inter- course measures adopted by the Virginia, and recommended by several of the other Southern Legislatures, of course tended to confirm the apprehensions entertained by our merchants on the subject. So far, these fears have not been realized. Not only does the Southern trade open with its usual briskness, but it is observed that the purchases are much larger than those made in any former years. Whilst Western men are buying but little, the South- ern merchants seem to be investing all the cash that they can spare in goods which are evi- dently not intended for present demand. As there is a superabundance of goods in the mar- ket, this disposition is fortunate, for it makes up for the falling off in the Western trade, oc- casioned by the lack of money in that region. The Southern men have plenty of cash, and, with an eye to events, they are making profita- ble use of it, The black republicans will of course point to the magnitude of their pur- chases a8 an evidence of the little effect which the recent political agitation has produced on the Southern mind. We are afraid that they will not long be able to console them- selves with this illusion. The Southern traders are buying for future and not for present purposes. They are laying in stocks which are intended to last them for several seasons. As the growth of the na- tive manufactures by which they are preparing to replace Northern products will necessarily be slow, they are compelled to supply them- selves with goods sufficient to last them during the interval. It has become the more necessary to do this from the fact that the election of a republican Speaker may be followed by that of a republican President, which would lead to an immediate severance of the commercial relations of North and South. In spending their money thus freely amongst us, it must not be imagined that the Southern traders are forgetful of the principles which have been so strenuously insisted upon by their Legislatures and conventions. They confine their dealings strictly to those houses which are known to be well affected towards the interests of the South. The falling off that is being ex- perienced in the transactions of the firms which are tainted with the black republican heresy will, we suspect, make more converts than any amount of political argument that could be brought to bear upon them. Even the hotels are made tofeel the influence of these political con- siderations. Only those houses are frequented bySouthern visiters the proprietors of which are known to be conservative in their opinions and opposed to the disunion schemes of the black republicans. The new mammoth establish- ment—the Fifth Avenue Hotel—has been one of the largest gainers by the operation of this principle of sectional distinction. The fact of its owner having other hotels down South, and of his being a hearty opponent of all disturb- Ing political influences, has filled his house to overflowing, and enabled him to do a prosper- ous business at a time when he might not other- wise have made his expenses. We would re- tommend, therefore, all vacillating politi- ¢ians who have commercial interests at stake to set themselves right on the goose qneéstion. It is one that appeals directly to their stomachs and pockets, and if they do not endeavor to repair the mischief which the support given to black republicans and abolition fanatics has brought about, it will be too late by and bye for them to escape the ruinous consequences of their hesitancy. Aw Oreratic Wak IN TRE YANKEE ATHENS.— ‘The time seems to be a particularly belligerent one. Although the country is nominally at peace with itself and all the world, including the rest of mankind, therp is still a most disa- greeable amount of quarrelling, fighting and squabbling over certain political, social, moral and religious questions. Thus we have seen a grand row going on at Washington during eight weeks. Grave Senators have lost their tempers, and gray-headed Representatives have called each other bad names. The journalists have not been behindhand in this matter, but have warred right merrily among themselves. Even that immaculate body, the Common Couieil of New York, which generally confines itself to the business of the spoils, has had an intestine difficulty of the most comical kind, growing out of a dispute as to the best method of re- pairing the injury done to its public virtue by an irreverent press. There is no such thing asa quiet life in this part of the world. People enjoy 8 row with true Hibernian gusto; every one seems to be walking about, challenging everybody else to tread on the tail of his coat. With all these rumpuses going on in Con- gress, among the Aldermen, the editors, the parsons, and politicians, of high and low de- gree, we are not at all surprised to hear that a warlike spirit has appeared in the coulisses of the Opera, and that — the managers and some of the singers, who are, Ike'the'affairs of their beloved Italy, always in some kind of a mess, have been giving cause for.much gossip to the. quid-nuncs-of the Yan- kee Athens—no doubt s godsend to the Bos- tonians, who, in the winter, are.almost’ ab'triste as the, wanderers in Goldumith’s “Deserted Vil- Inge. As for the facts in the case, they are enyelop- ed in.as much mystery as the plot of a high- pressure French melo-drama or the views of @ lever politician. In such cases there are generally no facts to speak of, and what there are éignify,pothing. It appears, however, that a war of a pecuniary nature broke out between Madame Gazzaniga and the managers, Uliman and Strakosch; that some of the Boston papers took the matter up on the ajde of Gazzaniga; that & personal rencontre occurred between Strakowch and one of the editors—but no bones were broken. There have also been some smaller skirmishes between the singers, and marked differences of opinion between the generals in command of the forces. The whole affair is a good deal like Napoleon’s campaign in Russia. When he found things get- ting too hot for him, he made all haste towards Paris, leaving Ney to bring up the rear, and stand all the cold weather, short commons and ugly Cossacks. So Napoleon Uliman fled back npon the metropolis, leaving Marshal Ney Strakosch atthe mercy of infuriated prime donne and the palladins of the press. And, between tbe singers in the front, the editors cbarging on his flanks, right and left, and the lawyers worrying bie rear, Marshal Ney Stra- Kkoach has had a rather rough time of it. He will cress the Connecticnt frontier with the remnant of his forces and the Daughter of the Regiment, Corporal Patti, a sadder and a wiser manager. The little Napoleon of Irving place has arranged the plan of a new canipaign, which is to commence at our Academy on Mon- day next; and it is expected that the fashion- able world will turn out en masse to greet the return of little Patti, who comes back crowned with Athenian laurels, presumed to be in that district the finest article of the kind to be found in the world. But the Bostonian war may not be settled by the retreat of Strakosch. The allies may pur- sue him across the frontier, and quarter them- selves about the Washington statue in Union square. There are rumors of fresh com- binations germinated in the mighty brain of the little Napoleon, and having for their ultimate object an alliance with Maretzek, who has been a sort of Garibaldi among the impresarii, and rather likes it. Heis at the Havana, making, they say, a great deal of money, and he very naturally turns up his nose at the idea of any entangling alliances with the autocrats of Irving place, who only escaped s Waterloo defeat by a miracle in the shape of little Patti. Ina short time Maretzek will return from Havana with his new tenor, who is said to be a very fine artist, and then we may expect to see some fan in Irving Place. : Meantime the public will enjoy the Opera, without caring much for the squabbles among the managers or the artists. They are gene- rally so absurd, and the parties engaged are so delightfully serious while they are going on, as to be the most deliciously piquant, comical and at the same time harmless things in the world. Tae Fme ix Exu Srreet—Ovr INpirrerence To THE SuGGEstions or Expertence.—The cir- cumstances of the terrible catastrophe that oc- curred in Elm street on Thursday evening fur- nish another illustration of the little attention that is paid by our civic and legislative autho- rities to the recommendations offered them for the prevention of such calamities. Since that monster evil, the tenement house system, has been fixed upon us, Mr. Baker, the Fire Marshal of New York, has been continually urging in his reports the necessity of having iron stair- cases erected outside all buildings of this cha- racter, in order to afford the inmates a chance of escape in the event of fire. Nothing can be more proper, nothing can be more imperative in its humanity, than this suggestion. The owners of these dwellings make enormous profits out of them, and the higher they are built the more they gain by them. This cir- cumstance in itself is a strong temptation to landlords to increase the condition of insecuri- ty which their parsimony connects with them. It is obviously the duty of the Legislature to impose upon them restrictions and regulations that will diminish as much as possible the risk incurred by the poor people who are crowded into their confined limits. The Fire Marabal’s suggestion would be the most efficient protec- tion that could be: afforded them in case of fire; and had it been adopted when it was first made, hundreds of valuable lives would have been saved. In the recent disaster in Elm street, we have not a doubt that if there had been an iron stairway outside the building all the inmates might have been rescued. There is another fact connected with this fire Which is equally suggestive. It originated in the basement, part of which was occupied by @ baker, and the other portion bya grocery and liquor store. Two more dangerous busi- nesses could not well be carried on ina build- ing inhabited by such a number of families. Between the shavings and faggots used by the one, and the lucifer matches, alcoholic com- pounds, and other inflammable matters sold by the other, there Was but little chance of escape from some accident of this kind. As the ground floor of tenement houses is “generally let to persons engaged fn these callings, we are of opinion that a law should be passed pro- hibiting the landlords from hiring their base- ments for stores of a hazardous character. Whilst we advocate the right of every man to the free disposal of his property, there are limits dictated by public policy and public safety to which all should be compelled tocon- form. In the case of tenement houses, the Legis- lature cannot be sufficiently strict in its super- vision of the proceedings of landlords, for the temptations to their cupidity are so great that they but too frequently induce them to forget all considerations of humanity and decency. More Catamitigs From Borer Expiosioxs.— Within a few months past we have been called upon to record several explosions of steam boilers in this city and its vicinity, which re- sulted in loss of life, and we have repeatedly commented upon the negligence of parties using steam in a crowded metropolis like this, which daily exposed the live? and limbs of unsus- pecting citizens, quietly pursuing their avoca- tions through our streets, unconscious that they walked almost within the shadow of the valley of death. Within the past two days two more catas- trophes arising from this cause have oc- | curred—one in a. .distillergyson North Fifth ino hat factory near Myctigayepue, Brooklyn, yesterday. In the fret instance two men were instantly Killed and five wounded—not one of whom was employed in the building, all beiag engaged. at work in neighboring shops and sta- bles.. In the second case the building was blown to pieces by a terrific explosion, and six men were ascertained to be killed, and some nine or more mer and women wounded in a frightful manner. In both these cases we trast that a scrupulous investigation into the cause of the disasters will beentered upon. It hasbeen said that the boilers in the distillery were old and eaten away with rust, and it would appear from the violence of the explosion, and the fact that the injured parties were a considerable distance, in different directions, from the build- ing, that there must have been an immense pressure of steam on when the accident took plece. The explosion in Ames & Moulton’s hat factory yesterday is attributed to the fact that the water pipes were frozen, and, a large fire being built under the boilers, steam was generated too rapidly. It will be for the Coro- ner’s jury to ascertain why a large fire was built until it was made certain that the water pipes were not frozen, and to decide who is to blame in the matter. Tt is now several weeks since a resolution was adopted by the Common Council ot New York providing for a bureau of steam boiler ingpection—a measure originated and forcibly racter until after a calamity occurs more ap- palling than the destruction of the Pembertos Mills at Lawrence, with its hecatomb of vic- tims. The powers which assume to govern us are indifferent to everything but their own in- dividual interests, and, unfortunately, the pub- lic can only be aroused by some fearful catas- trophe, to even a temporary feeling of horror and a passing expression of sympathy. Tae Inerricexcy of THE PoLics.—Am effort is being made to induce the Legislature to concentrate more power in the Superintea- dent of Police, and great complaint is made that the Commissioners have stripped him of authority which he claimed to belong to him. The Commissioners have curtailed his powers, only because they found Rim inefficient,. He is an old fogy, utterly unfit for the post which he occupies, and for which he is so extra) paid, though he holds another office in a dis- tant city of the State. All that he has ever shown himself good for is in interfering with the newsboys and preventing citizens from en- joying rational recreation or refreshment at lager bier saloons on Sunday, thus abridging by despotism the personal liberty guaranteed by the constitution of the State and the consti~ tution of the United States. Such a man is only fit to preside over a Puritanical holy in- quisition. The police are inefficient, because the pious Pilsbury is inefficient and does not understand his business. The police are witheut proper discipline, because the Superintendent is incompetent. What is wanted is not tinker- ing of the police law, which would require to be totally repealed before it could be. im- proved, but a better class of men; and to give more power to Pilsbury would be the worst possible way to accomplish that end. Procress or American Art.—There has been lately a wonderful outbreak of enthusiasm among the wealthy classes of the metropolis upon the subject of art. The recent chef d'euvres of American art exhibited here, the statuary of Palmer, Barbee and others, and the pictures of Church, Page and Rossiter, have stimulated the connoisseurs and encouraged the artists. Asa practical proof of this we notice that at an auction sale of paintings this week the following prices were realized:—Murray’s De- fence of Toleration, by P. F. Rothermel, $600; New England Scenery, by F. E. Church, $1,600; Coast Scenes, by Achenbach, $1,600; Land: scape, by A. B. Durand, $320; Indian Rei vous, by J. F. Kensett, $325; Game and Reali by ©. De Groux, $450; Washington and Gene- rals, by W. S. Mason, $400; Gipsy Gossip, by W. Shayer, Sr., $300; Boy and Rabbits, by J. T. Peele, $220; Elm Tree, by A. F. Bellows, $225; Landscape, by J. W. Casilaer, $152; Winter and Summer, by Gignoux, $200; Picaboo, by Schles- singer, $405; Sheep Feeding, by T. S. Cooper, $160; Interior, by Mayer, $275. We hear that our artists, both at home and abroad, are all hard at work, and have many things in canvas or marble which promise well. Palmer is at work upon another statue, which is'to be fully draped; heretofore he hed done only nude figures, “Artists’ Receptions” and “Art Conversaziones” are getting to be all the 1age in what are called the first circles. There isa good deal of nonsense talked at these re- unions, and it may be stated with truth, that, after all, the only customers’ conversation which has the smallest possible interest, or is of any value to the painter, is an animated colloquy between an auctioneer and an enthusiastic bid- der, when one of the artist’s works is under the hammer. That sort of art talk might go on in- terminably without boring him. The small talk of connoisseurs makes him laugh ia his sleeve or go to sleep. The true way to en- Courage art is to buy good works and pays good price for them. We hope our merchant princes, bankers, and so.on, will bear that in _—_—— Tue Fare or Mayor Woon’s Nosmvers,— The nomination of Mr. Gideon J. Tucker, whose name Mayor Wood sent before the Board of Aldermen, as President of the Croton Board, received a quietus at the last meeting of that body, Mr. Tucker being rejected by a vote of ten to six. The name of Dr. Bradford, as Health Officer, wadreferred to a committee for inquiry as to his qualifications, but it is quite pro- bable that he will be similarly dealt with when the question comes to a vote. It is evident that the friends of Mr. Tucker do not know how to handle the ropes. If they had raised five thou- sand dollars, and put it in the hands of the Corporation lobby, the matter might have been decided differently. Meantime Mayor Wood will, doubtless, make another nomina-. tion to fill the vacancy in the Croton Board, and itis to be hoped that the friends of the next nominee will take’a hint from the negli- gence of Mr. Tucker’s friends. ‘ The vote on Thcker's nomination” shows the Aldermen of the Tammany democracy and the black republicans voted . : pieag: oa ga eg unless some oat can be made with the Corporation lobby. REPUBLICAN RECKLESSNESS OF ASSERTION.— At. the complimentary serenade to Governor Pen- nington the other night, Mr. Sherman took it upon himself to’ congratulate the assemblage that, although a republican Speaker had been elected, no indications of public alarm had been manifested: ‘Cotton was eleven cents a pound and ‘upwards; slave property had re- mained the same in value, and stocks had ad- vanced.” The honorable gentleman spoke rather wildly when he delivered himself. after this jubilant fashion. We are not disposed to criticise too severely post-prandial orations; but we are compelled to call to his attention, the fact that the first effect of the announce. ment of the election of a republican Speaker? in this city was to cauee a decithe ta securities of all kinds, Nothing canbe more natural than this result. Conservative mien cannot ut see in this event the foreshadowing of the vlection of a republican President in Movember next, with its train of dire consequences, involving the complete disruption of the political and commercial tiea which biad together the North and South. The ro. publican orators, as they are triumphant, can aSvrd to be modest 99 to their tacts, One for” nom.