The New York Herald Newspaper, September 23, 1873, Page 5

EX-PRESDENT FILLMORE. A Venerable Link Connecting the Past and the Present. A WORTHY EXAMPLE FOR MEN OF STATE Ur. Fillmore on Our Diplomatists and Foreign Relations. A SCHOOL OF DIPLOMACY. General Grant’s Administration and Appointments. “ THE PRESIDENCY. One Term of Six Years and a Pension Afterwards, How to Avoid National Disgrace in the Future. e THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP. Elevated Ideas on the Administra- tion of Justice. Burrato, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1873, “The hoary head is acrown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” So are we in- structed by the Book of Life, and experience con- firms this in our daily dealings with the world. To Ihave lived a fe of diligence ana virtue, honorable ‘and honored; to rise by the force of intellect from geclusion to the forum of public usefulness, and to ‘the highest pinnacle of distinction attainable in his ‘time, is no less a matter of self-congratulation for am individual in our day than when the illustrious of Sparta and Athens sought, by means of energy, eloquence, and heroic achievements, to establish the principles of freedom and leave for the generations that should follow lessons of encouragement to maaintain and improve the lessons sofounded. Itis seldom the good, laborious soul who seeks to scatter the seeds of virtue over the face of the whole earth lives to see the buds burst forth or watches the fruit through all its stages until it is gathered up ag a harvest of indestructible blessing to his Face. The sower is too often the victim of his own endeavors, and nature yields prematurely be‘ore the exhaustive efforts and ceaseless labor of him ‘who would reap as well as sow. There are a priv- Heged few, however, whom Providence permits to behold, during the sunset of life, the fulfilment of hopes long cherished, to realize the fruits of intel- Mgent labor and reap the rewards of honest indus- try. These often serve the purpbdses of history, or form, as it were, living connecting links between the past and the present, oracles of wisdom and in- wtruction. A GREAT LIVING EXAMPLE. Among the latter I think ex-Fresident Millard Fillmore may be classed. As I sat in his presence this morning, at his little comfortabie but unpre- tentious office m Court street, and noticed Mis hearty condition, his excellent state ef preservation and snow white hair, end felt the encouraging influences of his courtesy and kindly expression, I was involuntarily carried back to the days when the individual before me was engaged in the honest capacity of a wool-comber in the wilderness of Liv- ingston county, and I felt how deeply instructive ‘Was the lesson of his life for the young men of America, in unfolding the cheering prospects which walt those who apply themselves virtuously and diligently even in the most humble stations to tho great purposes of life, and in showing the necessity ‘of bestowing the highest culture on their minds before entering the vast arena where all their re- sourcts will be called into activity. From a poor boy ina clothing store he became, by the force of his ovn energy and application, a great lawyer, served his own State in the Legisiature for several terms; ten years he held his own in Con- gress, a great portion of the time as @ feader, under most trying circumstances, was electel Vice President at the general election whichelevated General Taylor to the honors of the WhiteHouse, an¢ when the Great Ruler of allmen saw {t to recall the latter from the scene of all earthy cares Millard Fillmore was called upon to preside over the councils of the nation. How well the succeeded at this diMcuit period is now a mat- ter offiistory. His calm and deliberate judgment, bis dignity and gracefulness of manner, his finan- cial accumcy, his giits of illustration, invincibility of argument and honesty of purpose were the qualificatons, secured by a lile of earnest study, which h¢ carried with him to the post of honor, He chosecouncillors such as Webster and Everett, and inspired the nation and (oreign countries with confidence in his government. Relatives and partisans found no pre-eminence in his adminis- tration, ind the clouds of doubt and difficulty that had long obscured the political horizon were s‘vept away, aid new hope and light dawned upon the sountry, ACHIZVEMENTS OF SCIENCE. Our conversation wag begun by a reierence to the recent attempt at aériai navigation across the ocean, Which natural'y led to an achievement hay- ing far greater objects in view—the connecting of ail natioas by an instantaneous method of commu- aication,—viz., dy means.of the electric telegraph. “1 was chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means,” said Mr. Fillmore, “when Morse first brought bis batteries and ten miles of wire ina foil te thecommittee rooms in Washington. We were aakel for an appropriation of $30,000 in order fo extend the experiments, wire to Baltimore being thefirst under centemplation. I went to the committed roams and saw the operations of the instrumerts and the messages recorded, and bo came continced that here was an invention that was destited to,aid in the civilization and progress Of the word. Many of my colleagues and friends fm and ont of Congress saw it also; a tew be- Meved in it; others turned round aud declared that it wis pure nonsense for aman to believe he could sené u message to New Orleans in the course of afew seconds. Tadvocated the measure for the appropriation with ali the reseurces at my command, believing # saw in the invention some- Shing of tit whieh has since been developed, aud Mmally suceeded im having it passed. J believed #n an enligttened progress, and supported my con- ‘Victions by my voice and vote.” OfR FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES. From scbnee we «lrifted into diplomacy and atatesmanstip. I veseured to touch upon Mr. Fillmore'’s risit to Kerope and hie ideas of our reign representatives. “During my traveis 4m Europe,” replied Mr. Filimore, “I waa usually treated with courtesy and consideration. But there were occasions when 1 actually felt ashamed for my county, where the unfitness of the Amerieaa diplomatic and con- sular appointees was 80 glaring as to refect seri- ously upon the character of the Amertcan people, Jeading to all kinds of exnbarrassments. ¢Such ap- Dointees were simply the subjects of contemptibie gneera by the polishea and diplomatic minds with whom they were forced into contact. I remember one instance in France. Seon after 1 had janded at B—— I sent nry card to the Unitea States Consul at that port. Im the course of the evening he called to pay his respects tome. Alter some conversation with him 1 became convinced hat he was utterly out of place in such & position, ‘and I asked him how it was he nad been appointed wo the post. He informed me that during the pre- vious. administration (before I came to the White Monse) he was the oditor of @ smal) paper some- NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1873.-QUADRUPLE SHEET. where tn Dlino’s; that he had worked late unknown to the people and early aud earuestly supported his party, both in and out of his paper; and, believing he had “earned @ yosition under the government, he went to Washington and demanded the position of post- mester at the town where he published his paper. Some difficulty stood tn his way here, however, and be was not appointed to the position. Subse- quently, however, he was sent for, and, after an in- troduction at the State Department, was put down on the list of consular nominations, confirmed with a@pumber of others by Congress at the end of @ session, when everything 18 rushed through with- out sufficient investigation or debate, and ordered to B—— in France to act as Consul, He had not the slightest notion of what were his auties and didn’t understand a single sentence of French. He had been there long enough, at the time of my visit, to’pick up a little French and learn his business suffictently from the attachés to prevent absolute blundering, and thus he he!d on, But his unfitness fomthe post could be seen almost the in- stant he spoke.’’ 4 TABOOED AMBASSADOR, “Another instance,’ continued Mre Fillmore, “during the same visit to the Continent, will show how little attention had been paid to the honor of the country inthe appointment of diplomats, I bad made an ascent of the Rigi and passed over to Switzerland and been travelling considerably for several days. On our way we were to pass a city where one of the ambassadors of the country lived. I will not mention names or places definitely because they will have no bearing upon the subject and the illustrations to be made. After we arrived I sent my card, as usual, and was called upon by Mr. ——, On stating that we were only to stay there for a short time and would Itke to see ag much as possible of the country and people, our representative informed us, with considerable em- barrassment, that he would be unable to introduce us to the Court or members of the Cabinet. We did not care for that and only desired to see the city and the people generally. On asking the reason he satd he had had some little social disagreements and for the time bemg did not associate socially with the people with whom the nature of his calling demanded almost constant contact. I was aston- ished and made inquiries as to the cause of this remarkable condition of affairs. 1 learned that thts gentleman, who held a high position at a foreign Court in the service of the United States, had formerly been connected with a daily journal somewhere in New England, He had entered upon the duties of an important office, calling for the exercise of the greatest skill and good judgment. He was admitted to the ranks of society as any other man might be under the sup- Position that there were certain sacred obligations he would scrupulously respect. The drst thing he did, however, was to write a series of letters to his journal containing severe and unflattering com- ments upon the people at his new home, treating the ladies especially ina most unhandsome man- ner. Inhis ignorance or forgetfulness, he had imagined that the departure of his letter by the mat! would be the last of it. But the facilities of exchange soon undeceived him. The letters re- turned, were translated and read by the persons who were most concerned, Mr.—— was instantly shut out from all social gatherings; the native officials, even, scarcely liked to have dealings with him.” MAKE DIPLOMACY A PROFESSION. “A sad commentary upon our system of appoint- ment,” I remarked; “but how can it be reme- died?” “J will tell you how I think the evil can be avoided in the future,” said Mr. Fillmore, with much sincerity of manner. “We have naval academies for our officers of the navy; we have a training establishment for our army officers; doctors and lawyers and engineers receive special educations for their respective walks in life, and the benefits of such a course of training are too paramount to admit of a doubt. Now, our diplomats and foreign representatives have as much need of special training as either of the others [have named. They are often found in po- sitions of great delicacy, calling for the finest logic and experience; they are supposed to take rank with the greatest trained minds in other countries, and yet the appointments are not even appropri- ately made; much less is there experi- ence to direct. 1 would suggest that & system of training be imaugurated sinitlar to that at the British Foreign Ome, for instance, where young men have to study diplomacy as a science, and are only advanced, with few excep- tions, atter they have had expgrience in the differ- ent grades leading to the position to which they are finally appointed. There might be a preiimin- ary educational department leading to the State Department, whence the young men might be drafted as attachés, &c., until itmess and capacity alone should recommend them to the higher posi- tions in the service of the State. GENERAL GRANT'S UNFORTUNATE SELECTIONS, I next askea his views touching some of the re- cent appointment, irom among the ranks of the Crédit Mobilier heroes, especially the Japan Com- mission. “iknow nothing of several ofthe gentlemen re- cently appointed, but aiter the late emphatic ex- pression of public opinion the best that can be said is that they are unfortunate aprointments. The same applies to Spain as to Japan.” “[ hear that frequently now the Whit« House re- ception rooms are thronged by loud-mouthed office- seekers, who actually demand places pursuant to promise and for services performed. Did you find things so during your term as Chief Magistrate?” I asked. “No,” replied Mr. Fillmore. “If a man came to me aid stated his services to party as the claim on which he based his demand tor office I frequently considered that a good reason for refusal. I never promised a man an ofice; I never allowed him to know whether [ would appoint him er not. Ifa relative came to me and pleaded relationship as his claim, as well as special fitness, I invariably told him that the people would never believe it was his capability that had planted him in @ gov- ernment office, but the relationship, insinuating that favoritism instead of ability had been his special aid, to the exclusion of some better man. Such suspictons should be avoided, “When I formed my Cabinet there were one or two gentiemen I might have retained as advisers; but I had my own views of certain leading matters, and had I con- sented to allow them to remain many of my supporters would probably have believed I was permitting the opposing interests to prevadl in the State councils. I therefore accepted their resigna- tions and appointed in their places well known and, I think, trusted men, in whom the country hag confidence. I placed Mr. Webster at the head ofthe State Department, because .he was a man of considerable experience im matters of state, and because he was known and respected by the peo- pie both for his diplomacy and the public services he hadrendered. He was ot a great linguist, like Everett, who succeeded him, it 18 true, but he pos- sessed those sterling qualitées of the head aud the heart that gave us all entire confidence in him. Everett was the more polished man of the twa, perhfips; he had had experieace on adforeign mis- sion abroad, and had been in contact with the best men of the time, and, in addition, was an accom- plished scholar, reading and speaking most of the modern and several ancteat Janguagea. I have reasons for believing that my other Cabinet ap- powtments gave satisfaction, WEBSTER’S ONLY REGRET. @ Before Mr. Webster died I called to see him, and, in the course of @ long conversation on our agcial and political relations, Webster said, ‘There je but one thing that I really regret having done during the course of my political life.’ ” “{ asked him what that was,’ said Mr. Fillmore, and he replied, ‘I regret that I ever voted fora soldier President, There is no use im saying that my friends advised me to do it; { did not believe in it, and, therefore, there is nothing I can say in that direction to apologize for it." He referred to General Taylor. THE PRESENT CABINET. Trequested Mr. Fillmore’s views om the present Cabinet. “General Grant,” he said, “is doubtless a greater general tian statesman: and, perhaps, there Should be some aitowance made for his want of ex-- perience, He appointed Cabinet with one ex- Ceptiun, from men who were extremely obscure, not having any special fitness, I think this was unwise, Emergencies unlooked for may arise, calling for the exercise of special ability on the part of the beads of departments, and lacking that ability changes must occur, Everything ap- Pears to go on quietly, however, and the affairs of the nation seem prosperous in the country; still the people do not like to have obscure politicians thrugt forward into positions of great trust. I know very little of General Belknap; I should say that Mr, Fish had much more experience than either of the other members of the Cabinet.” “Do you think suficient regard has been had for the feelings of the people in many of the latest ap- pointments,” I asked. “It is possible to be mistaken in men of the best repute and those having abundance of recommen- dation,” said Mr. Fillmore. ‘The applicants for ofMice were generally entered on a list, during my administration, by the chiefs of the departments to whom they applied. When vacanctes were to be filled and a man was selected for appointment In- quiries were made as to his character and ability, and not as to his political achievements, [1 I found the man selected was capable of discharging the duties of the office I sent his name forward to Con- gress for confirmation. But. then, any mistakes or abuse of cunfidence can readily be remedied by the recalling power vested in the President. “On one occasion there was to be an important foreign appointment made. I had promised to give it to Pendsylvania, provided a suitable candidate should be endorsed. Alarge delegation of politi- clans waited upon me from that State and nom- inated @ man, who, to all appearance, was entirely satisfactory. His recommendations were consid- ered ampl2, and, after the usual inquiry (which Was as scrutinizing as possible), the gentleman was ordered to Washington. He was nominated and confirmed by Congress, andl appointed him. He drew his outfit money, and having provided himself With the necessaries for an ocean voyage, started for New York, While in New York, however, he behaved in the most outrageous manner. He drank and gambled away his advances, and alto- gether cut a most ungentlemanly, undiplomatic figure. Iheard of it and instantly recalled him, thus, I believe, saving the exposure of unfitness that must have followed, and immediately ap- pointed another man in his place. Thus, you see, the remedy quickly followed the evil.”” OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS—CUBA, “By your remark with reference to the ‘excep- tion’ in the present Cabinet, dol understand you to mean that you endorse our foreign policy?” “To a great extent, yes,” replied Mr, Fillmore, “We do not want to be mixed up with the internal affairs of other nations. During Washington's time { admit it was a great difficulty to avoid being arawn into the vortex of the European war. ‘The French had doubtless been of great service to us, and their appeals for ald almost goaded’ the people to frenzy, but it was entirely due to the calm judg- ment and splendid executive ability of George Washington that we did not rush in against the English nation, who were ‘cordially hated’ on this side of the ocean after our struggles with them. “1t%g difficult sometimes to avoid the shoals that foreign representatives may plant in the way. At the time Kossuth was here with his retinue he called upon Mr. Webster at the State Department, and requested an interview or an introduction, Mr. Webster came to me and said:—‘Kossuth has called at the Department and desires an introduc- tion.’ I knew Kossuth was not a statesman; he depended entirely upon his oratory. ‘Ifhe desires simply an introduction,’ 1 said to Webster, ‘I will see him, but if he wants to make a speech to me, I must most respectfully decline to see him.’ ‘He has promised me not to make a speech,’ replied Webster. ‘Very well, then,’ I said, ‘I will see him,’ “The next day Kossuth appeared with a brilliant retinue, and, on being introduced, instantly com- menced a lengthy speech. When he had finished I briefly stated that I had misunderstood the object oi his interview at first; but I most decidedly could not and would not interfere in the affaira of a foreign nation. “From this point of view,” continued Mr. Fill- more, “I think our dealings wita Spain in reier- ence to Cuba have been the safest that could be adopted. It may take a few years, but in the end, with the encouragement derived from the free institutions of the United States, Cuba will either be free from Spanish rule or be annexed to America.” ONE PRESIDENTIAL TERM AND A PENSION. We now drifted again into the much mooted question of the Presidency. I asked what Mr. Fill- more'’s views were upon the subject, believing that, from his experience as First Magistrate, he was eminently fitted to speak of the matter. He began by deprecating the methods now resorted to by persons in power to increase their incomes while in office, no matter by what means. It was degrading, he said, that high officials should use their official positions as a kind of commercial business, out of which to extract large incomes, He charged most of the corruption that now exists to the elective system. If a man attended a con- vention and was nominated for an elector, he was pledged before hand to give his vote for a certain man only, and he could not do otherwise. “Now, Lremember when it was proposed,” said my informant, “to abolish the present electoral system altogether and leave the election of Presi- dent to the senior members of the Unitea States Senate. Ofcourse, no one would have known be- forehand who was to be elected, and his political color would not be known until afterwards, thus saving the country endless excitement and pre- venting that interruption to business and commer- cial interests that sometimes occurs. Although the citizens repelled the idea, because every man be- Heved to have in himself the right by birth of an expression of opinion on this subject, there was considerably more wisdom in the proposition than was generally seen. “I would, however, prefer that the spirit of tne constitution be adhered to, Washington and Lin- coin lived in exceptional times, but I would rather see @ precedent of only one term established. That term I would make six years instead of four, as now, which would enable the successiul candidate to entirely master the duties of the office, and would extend by one-half the periods between which these election interraptions occur to the country, A PRESIDENT OM HALP-PAY. “But I would go further in the way of revising the constitution. Witn the view of preventing this traMficing while in office, in order to provide for the days that are to foliow an exit from the White House, I would pension the outgoing Prest- dent by permitting him to draw an annua! amount equal to the half of his salary while in office, this to continue as long as ne lives. “it is @ national disgrace that our Presidents, after having occupied the highest position in the country, should be cast adriit and, perhaps, be compelied to keep a corner grocery for subsist- ence. We make a bargain with our United States Supreme Court Judges, ana agree that after the expiration of twenty years’ service in the Appel- late Court, if they shall be seventy years of age, we will give them @ pension. The Lord High Chan- cellor ef England, when he goes out of office, receives & handsome pension to compensate him tor the loss of his profession, which she cannot follow afterwards, But we elect a man ‘to the Presidency, expect him to be honest, to give p @ lucrative profession, perhaps, and after we have done with bim we let him go iato seciusion and perhaps poverty. See the case of the late Mrs, Léncoin. I liked my profession and should have beep glad to have continued dt afver my retirement irom the Preakdency, but I. couldn't do so because My colleagues at the bar would say, and quite natu- rally, “here, you have been to the pinnacle and ought to be contest.’ In that way entirely agree with tae increase of $25,000 @ year, to Geueral Grant’s income, because his $50,000, considering the constamtly increasing expenses of entertowm- Ment, are not worth more now than the $25,000 @ year paid to Washington and othera, THB CHIEF JOSTICESHIPS, ‘The question of the amenability to Congress of those recentiy convicted of corruption and per- jury, and the powers of the President, ied us to the subject of the Chief Justiceship of the United Staten, Iasked Mr, Fillmore if he knew of any one likely to fill the office with credit to the na- son and to the satisfaction of the Bar, : “Comkligg bag been prominently spoken of,” be | He made no pretensions to integrity. said, “but it has come to be conaidered @ political appointment, and he who has most friends may get it, Itis easy to see, however, that this is a po- sition but few are competent to fill. He who has tt should be a great lawyer, who should have no business outside of that pertaining to his office; he should abandon all his private practice, 80 a8 to be perfectly free and untrammelled, and all po- litical considerations must be excluded, beiore & consistent, uprightand impartial performance of the duties can be expected. His reputation must be pure or he cannot command the respect of the Bar, and of the Associate Judges, “So far asi have any choice { would nominate Judge Curtiss of Massachusetts, His legal and forensic abilities are equal to those of any lawyer im the land; he is brilliant in argument and a jurist whom everyOne respects. The trouble with him is, I think, that he has so large and remunera- tive @ practice, and would probably decline to lose it for the sake of the honor of the Chief Justicesnip. Tappointed him Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, but he resigned for that reason.” At this point a messenger entered the office and Tequested his attention to some domestic a(fairs. Wishing in my own heart that the days of the eloquent old gentleman might be lengthened, so that he may atill further enjoy the fruits of a long life of usefulness, and thanking him for his court- esy, I withdrew, not more delighted than in- structed by the variety and extent of his erudition and experience, THE BROOKLYN TRUST COMPANY. The Question of Withdrawing the City Funds— The Institation Under Disoussion in the Board of Aldermen—An Exciting Debate—Resolutions of Confi- dence in the Stability of the Company. ‘The introduction of the following,preamble and resolation in the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen by Alderman Wylie, last evening, in regard to withdrawing the city funds from the Trust Com- pany, created quite an excitement:— it 1s of the utmost importamee that the city of lyn’s funds should be placed im banks and institu: tions beyond the conception of a doubt as to their sta. bility and soundness, and whereas ® large amount, of the junds of the city of Brooklyn are Mow in possession of the Brooklyn Trust Company, and whoreas the said Brooklyn Trust Company has not the confidence of the entire public, it being evident that they are on the verge of an extended lawsuit, therefore Resolved, That the oly ‘Treasurer and all other officers ofthe clty gorermment having moneys or, o tues of the city of Brooklyn deposited in the Tr pany be and they are hereby directed to cause the same to be forthwith withdrawn trom said Brooklyn Trust company and tobe placed in such banks or institutions may be tor ‘he best interests of ‘he city of Brooklyn and in accordance with Iaw In relation thereto, and re- port to this Common Counell the amount of such tunds and in what banks or other institutions said moneys have been placed. Alderman WyLik thonght the City Treasurer might not like to take upon himseif the responsi- bility of suggesting this measure, and he believed it would be better to emanate from this Board. In ® conversation with some legal gentlemen, who appeared to have some knowledge of the affairs of the city of Brooklyn, he was iniormed that a law- suit would be entered into against the company before many days, and under these trying times it was better to have the city on the safe side. What they had they bad better take care of, and, therefore, he moved the adoption of the resulu- tion. Alderman RicHarpson said he ought not to be surprised at anything emanating from the source which this resolution emanated from, but he was really surprised at resolutions of this character being Offered in the Board. These resolutions were calculated, at this time, when a man did not know whether he owned any property or nor, todo a great deal of injury. Since Mr. Ropes had been chosen President of the Trust Company there had been an entire change in its management, and con- fidence had been restored. He was glad to have this Opportunity to say that he believed there was not @ member of the Board or in the community but had entire confidence in the honesty and integrity of Mr. Ropes, Accountants had been employed to make an examination of the books oi the company, and they reported that it was perfectiy safe to de- posit the city funds there. There was not an insti- tution in the city which had the confidence of the citizens to & reater extent that this com- any had. hile other institutions had een Tun on the people who had money in this had removed away, which showed that those who had money there had no sympathy with Alderman Wylie, He thought the gentieman should be censured for offering the resolution. He therefore offered @ preamble and resolution to that effect, The resolutions were as follows:— Resolved, That Charles B. Wylie, Alderman of the Seventh ward, for his condnct in this matter, deserves the severest censure of this Board, aud we do censure him accordingly. Resolved. ‘That this Board does the most eraphatic manner, the tallest confidence in the stability of the Brooklyn Trust Company and their un- abated confidence in its management under its present President and Board of Trustees, Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resola- tions be signed by His Honor the Mayor and City Clerk, and be published for ten auys in the official papers of this city. Alderman RopMAN said the assertion that the Trust Company was not sound was villainous, and there was not a word of truth in it. He was sur- prised that the Alderman of the Seventh should throw such @ firebrand into the Board. He then spoke ol the dastardly attacks which had been made upon Mr. Kopes and the Trust Com- pany yy some of the New York pa- pers. He abhorred the iniamous conduct of those men who attacked the institutions of this city. They were not capabie of knowing the difference between honor and infamy. He was sorry that Alderman Wylie was aliowing himself to ve used for such an infamous purpose. This thing Was aimed not only at the Trust Company, bat at Mr. Ropes, its President, Alderman WYLIE—It is taise. Aiderman RopMAN—I will take that from whence itcame, But they can keep on. ‘They mignt as well aim their shot at the towers of the Bridge Company, with an expectation of seeing them go through, as to expect to injure this company. Alderman TAYLOR also condemned the resolu- tions of Alderman Wylie, and expressed his sur- prise that they should have been offered. There must have been, he said, & malignant, demon-like incentive in his heart. He also referred to the villainous attacks on the company in the morning papers in New York, Alderman WYLIE then spoke in his own defence, saying that he had no personal motive in offering the resoution ; that he did it in the interest of the city. Alderman Ropes said that when the Alderman of the Seventh said no member had more respect for him than he did he could not believe him, ior his act did not correspond with the assertion, If he had so much respect and confidence in him why could he pot have exchanged # jew words wita him upon this matter beiore bringing it before the Board? He considered this a personal matter. He haa sat in this Board with the gentleman jor nearly two years, and during. that . time whose ox had he taken, whose ass had he taken? From whom had he taken a bribe to blind his eyes? All he would do would be to point to nis record. Alderman WYLig (interrupting)—The Alderman of the Third said the company was rorten, Aiderman Rores—Mr. President, I deny it. Alderman WYLIz (excttedly)—Rotten to the core. Alderman Ropgs—I deny it pefore God. Alderman Kopks then proceeded to state his course in the Board while M. T. Rodman heid the dual position of Deputy City Treasurer and Secre- tary ofthe Trnst Company. When he (Alderman Ropes) went into the Trust Company he was not there sixty minutes before he turned to the ac- counts of the City Treasurer, for he was satistied that there was something wrong. When he re- ferred to the stockholders making good the capital stock of the companys, of the lyiug reports in some of the morning papers and of the attempt to get up a ‘oe last Sdturday, the trustees came to him and put $100,000 in his hands, and since then they had put $400,000 cash in the company, and there Was no bumau agency ,Which could break the company. He finaily closed ‘by requesting the withdrawal of the resoiution to censure Alderman Wylie. After some jurther discussion the resolution of censure was withdrawn. The other resolution ex- pressive of confidence tn the company was adopted. The resolutions o1 Alderman Wyile were not en- tertained, not having been seconded. A communication was received from the Board ol City Works asking for the adoption of a resoiu- tion authorizing them to enter into a contract with Richard Corwin for dredging the slip at the toot of Fuiton street and building a dock there. The re- quest was granted, The Board oi City Works also requested that the Corporation Coansel be in- structed to prosecute the sureties of James Barnard, who contracted to dredge the slip and build a dock at the foot of Fulton street for $2,622, and who failed to suifil his contract, A resolution to this effect was adopted, ‘The question of repaving and widening of First Street, astern district, with block stone pave- ment was referred to the Paving Committee. Judge Moore sent in @ communication stating that his court room in the basement of the City Hall was not suitable for a court and that it had been declared by the Board of Heaith as unhealthy. He asked that a suitable piace be provided. The peed wasrelerred to the Committee on Lands and Pla ° The Committee on Opening Streets submitted a Dy express, in the rk and between Cilnton an Brogdway at half block on each side of the ave- Wri to this assessment, He ar shat the ik De rrelerred back to the motion ras lost and the report was adopted. THE INVENTOR. Meeting of the International Pat- ent Congress in Vienna. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED The Future Congress To Be Held in Philadelphia im1876. Illiberal Spirit of the Aus- trians. Vienna, August 12, 1873. The first of the series of international congresses Proposed to be held in Vienna, for the discussion of the question of the protection of patents, closed on the 8th, aiter a duration of five Gays, and a permanent committee ehosen by the Congress is now holding its sessions in this city, Asthe tele- graph will have;already informed you, the Inter- national Congress proved to be simply a local affair—merely a debating society—since the Aus- trian government, first of all, failed to fulfil its promise of sending an official representative to the debates, and, consequently, the other govern- ments did not take any ofictal part, The Hon, Mr. Thacher, from the Patent Omce, found on his arrival here that there was indeed nothing for him to do; that nothing could be accomplished with any tangible powers or representatives, and only consented to deliver an address before the Assembly by especial re- quest, The meetings were attended by many prominent acientific men, artisans and repre- sentative men from all countries, Among the Americans present were Samuel Remington, George W. Howe, Hamilton Hill, Mr. Avery, Wil- liam P. Blake, J. 0. Woods and J. G. Myers, who had formed themselves into a preparatory committee, England was represented by a depaty from the Patent Omce, William Siemens; Germany by Protessor Klostermann; Italy by Podozza, of Rome; Switzerland by M. Ott; Sweden by Mr. Frankl, Holland by Dr. Baumhaner, and Aus- tria, Belgium, &c., by excellent scientific and practical minds, Baron Schwarz-Senborn was chosen Honorary President, William Siemens (England) President, and Webster (England), Neuman (Austria), Lange (Germany), Hamilton Hill (United States), and Dr. Werner Sie- mens (Berlin) as Vice Presidents, Professor Blake chosen one of the secretaries. The place of assembly was the Jury Pavilion, inthe Exposition grounds, THE INVITATION. The original programme issued by Baron Schwarz-Senborn Mm March, 1873, in whicn foreign governments were requested to participate, to be oMmicially represented at the Congress, may be fresh to you. Patentees on reading this document fancied that their millennium was at last approaching. “We live no longer in the day of industrial action, which is stiictly confined, and ts removed from foreign competition, and where slow communica- tion prevents br delays the utilization of inven- tions,” says the original invitation in English. We live at atime of liberal Customs policy; steam and el ity have newly united once isolated ot industry in @ way undreamed of, ani the mutua chunge of goods shows to-day ® magnitude which a generation ago one could not have imagined. Under Such. altered relations the patent granted for an in- vention in one country becomes in fact a restriction un- rofitable and obstructive, if the same invention, without imitation or increase in price, becomes in an adioining country common property, The artisan who in, the one t work with the auxiliary material there \l therefore dearer in price, will suffer au es- ia -Y ag soon as the saine material is produced in vhe other country, ty without restriction, but with a damaging competition, Moreover, & continuaroe a of the hicherto antagonistic views and measures would arcely conduce to the preservation of general har- : (, for example, patent protection were the couutry, so as to attract thereby skilled operators from another, then the danger of dis- turbance ofthe international industrial balance might readily be apprehendea. Such and similar fucon- veniences can 0 Wy be met by the common action of all civilized States, dispoved to the maintenance of patent protection. The Vienna Exhibition of 1873 would seem more particularly adapted to pay tribute to the spirit of invention, even irom the standpoint of modern legis- lution, and to form the starting era for a new and uni- versal codification of ie rizhts of inventors. Recent giand is the immediate result ot ft 1351 and 1462, while the Pari id 1867 produced, as is tection laws, which it wi yf 1855 temporary p thought expedient imitate, in the preparatory acts e Exhibitions 0! known, for Vienna Universal Exhtvition of 1573 (Law of 13th November, 1872), Jn pur-uance of thess views, and following a suggestion of the governinent of the Unied States of America, the General Direction of the Univer- gal Exhibinon intends to unite with th xhibition an Thternatonal Congress, which, shall discuss the question of patent right. Should this discussion, as may be fore- seen, induc ‘ote in tavor of patent protection, it will then'be the task of this Congress, on the basis of ‘the ex. erience of various countries and the materials col- lected, to proceed to a declaration of fundamental principles for au international reform of patent legisla- thon, it will rest with the governments of nations which exhibit to be represented in this Congress by special delegates. THE DISCUSSIONS. The Congress lasted, as { said, five days. You may think that this was ample time to do an im- mense amount of work and to attain valuable con- clusions. ‘Though | attended the meetings, the con- Congress had a tar too national or locai character, Especially did the Austrian members distingaisn themselves for an illtberal spirit, and many of them scemed to look upon the Americans jresent as representatives of @ class of people who wished patent protection merely for the purpose of preventing the Austrians alone irom making articies withont paying royalty to the inventor. It is simply time wasted to treat with such men. They cannot see beyond the bor- ders of their own empire. ‘The Prussians were much more liberal tn spirit, and most Americans have come to the conctusion that the first step in the direction of international ge protection will rather come irom Berlin than trom Vienna, Well, after a very tiresome amount of discussion, & series of resolutions were adopted. They read in the English transtation, read aud approved by the Permanent Committee yesterday, the 11th ,as 1ol- lows:— RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONGRESS, 1, The protection o1 Inventions should be guaranteed by the laws of all civilized natons, under the condition of a complete publication of the sume, because (a) The consciousness of right among civilized nations demands the legal protection of intellectual work. () Such protection affords the ont; foal and ef- fective means of introducing new technical ideas, with- out Joss o. time and ina proper manner, to the general knowledge ot the public. (©) The protection of inventions renders the labor of the inventor remunerative, thereby inducing competent men to devote their time and means to the introduction and practical application of new and useful technical methods and {mprovements, or attracting capital trom abroad, which, in the absence of patent, protection,iinds means of secure investment elsewhere. (@) By the obligatory comp.ete publication of the pat- ented in the great sacrifices in time and money which pplication would otherwise ti- pose upon the industry of all countries will be conside- rably lessened. (@) By the protection of invention, the secrecy of nran- ufacture, which is one of the grea est bars to industrial progress, will lose its chiet support. (/) Great injury is intlicted upon countries having no rational patent laws, ny the native inventive talent emi- grating to more congenial countries, where their lavor is legally protected. (g) Experience shows that the holder of a patent will himself make the most effectual exertions for a speedy introduction of his invention. An effective and useful patent law should have the following bases :— (a) Only the inventor himself or his legal representa- tives (Reha nachjolgern) are entiled to a patent, The samme canuot be refused to a foreigner. It is advivable, in carrying out this principle, to introduce a system of pre- limibary examination. (@) A patentot Invention should be granted either for « term of fiteen yenrs or be permitted to be extended to such a time. {inultaneously with the issue of a patent a complete publication of the same must take place, rendering the technical applic 1 the Invention possible. (@ Tho expenses connected with the obtaining of a patent should be moderate ; and, in the interest of the in- ventor, & progressive scale of fees should ve established, enabiing him to abandon, when condemned, a useless paten te) Facilities should be given by a well organized pinged office ty obtain in an easy tanner the spe a on of a patent, as well as the ascertaining what patents are still in torce. () His advisable to establish legal rules according to which the patentee can be induced, in cases in which the public interest should require it, to allow the use of his in- vention to, all respectable applicants for an adequate compensation (g) Phe non-application of an invention in one country shall uot involve the forteit the patented invention has been ¢ nd if it has been rendered hal nts of such country to purchase that invention. {m all other respects, an Hcularly as regards proceedings in the granting ef patents, the Congress reiers to the English, American and Beleian tent jaws and to the draft of a patent law prepared tor Considering the ‘treat diterenees™ in te at differences. in patent legisiation and 01 present the altered iniernati com: Inerelal relations, the necessity of retorin is evident, atl it is of pressing moment that the government snouid en- deuvor to briag about an international understanding pon patent protection as soon as possible. CONCLUDING RESOLUTIONS. The Congress empowers tho Preparatory Com- mittee to continue the work commenced in the first International Congress and to use all their in- fluence that the principles adopted be made known Qs widely as ble and carried into practice. The committee is likewise authorized to endeavor to brin: bei ‘an exchange of opinion on the sub- Serene eeae el 5 eeiimae sans ent executive com A acing osher members their wo the time and place of the viction could not be dispelled in my mind that the | next mooting of the Congress, in case such a meet~ ing should considered necessary ior the pro- motion of the results achieved. | Surned by Baron v, SCHWA Z-3isNBORN, as Honorary President of the FirstLiternatonal Patent Congress. THE FUTURE OF PATENT LEGISLATION. This is the result of the First International Patent Congress, held in Vienna in the year 1873, lt 18 @ good thing in its way, and tf properly sup- rted by the Permanent Committee may serve aa incitement to produce discussion and interest in the matter in Europe. Tlie Permanent Com- mittee has already taken some important Steps by deciding that the movement shall be directed ina manner corresponding to Euro- pose ideas and methods—that is, by approaching e spring, not the well itself, by seeking to in- fluence the government in @ direct manner, not waiting until European public opinion shail ve effected its siow and uncertain course. An hour's conversation with Prince Bismarck on the subject would be of more service to America than @ hun- dred such congresses. If Prussia or some leading country can be induced first o1 all to enter into & mutual agreement or treaty with Eng- land an America, the Test of the European States would in time follow sult. It is apparently a waste of ammunition to talk to Austr 4 abont patents, and the holding of a congress here was simply a piece of vanity. The Austrian manufacturers are stealing American improvements and inventions by the armful from the Exposition butiding. Our manuiacturers and inventors were not wrong in keeping away. I know of one case—the Douglas pump, that pumps: I don’t know how many thousana gallons of water a minute, Weill, it has many admirers, One day four Austrian Jews came and examined the pump, and asked the patentee what he would sell out for for Austria, He named a price. They offered seicoloty small sum, and then threaten- ed that if he would not accept their terms they should at all events commence manufacturing said pump as soon as the term of protection expired— which is at the close of the year—not two years, as at first promised. This procedure compels the penne, or company to come to Austria with a large capital and start business at once. There are a score other such caseg, to which I will refer in a subsequent report, when the labors of the Permanent Committee shall have assumed a more deGnite and tangible shape. The next Congress on Patents willbe held in Philadelphia, when it 19 hoped the European governments will be induced to send official representatives. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN JERSEY. A Block of Buildings Reduced to Ashes in Newton, Sussex County—Est:mated Loss About $80,000—Suspected Incene diarism. Probabably the most disastrous fire ever wit nessed in Northern New Jersey occurred early yesterday morning, between two and three o'clock, in the ancient settlement of Newton, the county town of Sussex. Six fine brick buildings were to- tally destroyed and several other structures more or less severely damaged, The flames were first discovered issuing from the drug store, on Main street, of George L. Smith, There being no fire department in the place worth speaking about, the fire spread right and left unchecked with rapidity. The citi- zens soon turned out en masse anid rendered sucb service as their disorganized efforts were capable of. But for them and the fact that the wind was blowing very light, the destruction of property would doubtless have been twice as great even as it was. Smith’s house, in which the flre started, was athree story brick butiding, with a Mansard roof, Owing to the quantity of combustible material ip the place, it was soon a pile of debris. The millin- ery store of Mrs. Cramer first suffered. Mrs. Cummings’ millinery store and residenve,. the office and residence of Dr. A. R. Sheppard, and the fine residence of Mr. Dennis Cochran, a well known hotel keeper of the place, were all speedily reduced to ruins. These buildings, ail brick, rap along adjoining each other from the right of the drug store. Standing mext to Mr. Cochran’s was, or rather is, for it was saved, the fine edifice known as the Dennis’ Library Building, donated to the town by Mr. A. L. Dennis, President of the United Ratlroads of New Jersey. This building was badly scorched, but the damage otherwise Is not considered great. The burned block formed an L, the long part boutled by Main street, and the short- estby Spring. The Cramer, Oummings, Sheppard and Cochran houses ran along Main street, On the corner of the biock was a dry goods store Kept Jounson. By A STRANGE FREAK OF THE FIRE this building was overleaped and escaped. The flames caught William H. Woodward's place, @ hardware store, and laid that in ashes. Ryerson & Kidselia's drug store, and Caunder’s coniection- ary next caught in turn, bnt these were saved, though badly damaged. Masonic Hall also suffered cousideraoly. Etforts to get fire engines. from Morristown, trom Newark and from Hoboken were made; but up to ntne o'clock, when the fire was gotten well in hand by the citizens, ouly one had arrived from Hoboken, That came by spe train, Oue started trom Morristown also. ue delay was owing to the fact that all the telegraph offices were ciosed. Another miiliner, Mrs. Co; kendall, suffered also by the dre. THE ENTIRE LOSS is dimcult to determine, but it 1s carefully esti mated that it will range from $80,000 to $90,000, A number of Newark insurance companies sufer in various amounts. The amounts, so far a% ascer- tained, are as follows:—Firemen’s, $8,500; Citi- zens’, $5,000; Merchants’, $1,000. The Citizens* and Firemen’s companies put down the above amounts as their total risks; their losses may be much jess. The American Mutual Company est mate their losa, from iniormation received, to be about $3,500 thougn their risks are much heavier. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE is not positively known yet, but it is believed that the torch was applied by an incendiary. For hours the old town was in the greatest uproar, the streets neur the fire being alive with semi-ciad people of all ages and sexes. Had it been any other morning of the week but Monday, the tele~ graph oftices would have been open along the line, and fire department assistance been avaianle, to the saving, probably, of many thousands’ worth of property. Perhaps alter this Newton will -spur up and provide herself with a reliable fire department of her own. A BEGATTA ON THE SOHUYLKILL, Preparations for a National Aquatic Contest in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 1873, Great preparations are being made for the forth+ coming regatta to be held on the Schuylkill River October 7, and, agit ts to be a national one, con- tests of extraordinary interest may be anticipated, The entries close to-morrow, and among them are the names of many of our ablest crews, while it is hoped that upou the occasion no important club in the country will be for the moment forgotten by means of non-representation, Prizes of rare beauty will be awarded for the successful competitors in every department and branch of aquatic sports, among which a hancsome cup, instituted by Mr. George Wilkes, for the win- ner of the single-scull race, deserves especial men- uon, As already announced, there will be three race:==one for four-oared crews, one ior single sculls and the other jor pair-oareé and double-scull boats. Clubs should also be pre pared to send delegates to the Con on to be held on the evening peo the regatta, when an opportunity will be delegates to bring forward any proposed amend- ments to the present rules, 1 also understand that it is the desire of many of the clubs to place the amateur Movement on & more sudstantial basis b; the establishment of a National Association, whi Blall be governed by a few simple rules, Your correspondent has been through the com- modious boat houses of the Schuylkiil, and tects assured that all jes from abroad will meet with pleasant and satisiactory accommodations, THE BROWN-BIGLIN RACE, Hauirax, N. 8., Sept. 22, 1873, Dr. Dougias, of the Royal Artillery, is appointed reieree in the Brown-Biglin match, which comes off to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. Brown ig in close training at the Four Mile House, beside the course. Biglinis with his brother Barney and one or two other friends at Halifax Hotel. The odds @ two to one in favor of Brown, These odds are asked by Biglin’s backers, with very few takers, as the Halifax men seem determined not to give odds, Bigiin is thought to be too care~ less respecting his diet, and does not seem disposed. to withhold himself irom the usual social loter- course of his associates. On the other hand Brown ts careful and cautious in ali he does. He looks im magnificent condition. “YAOHIING NOTES. The match race between the sloop yachts Mets and Vision, twenty miles to windward from the point of Sandy Hook and return, has been set down for Saturday, October 6 The prize isa cup of the value of $1,000, ‘The match race of $500 aside between the boats William T. Lee (Captain Snedeker) and Brooklyn (Captain Ira Smith), ten miles to windward from Gowanus Bay and return, to take ee on the 29tn inst., is exciting much tuterest the ry circles of Brooklyn, Already considei bas been wagered on the result among the friends of the owners, and wa ae wilt follow during the present week. The Lee ts 27 8 inches in length, and the Brooklyn 27 feet 4 inches, Yesterday the former was down the trying her © new satis, and they were found to be satisfactory in oVaeue Foam, N.Y.Y.C., M. Homans, from wood for Neat, to'lie up Winter qeattore, paved Whitestone vesterdas, he Bi e