New-York tribune., 1841-11-23


eminent and afford surplus or sinking fund OF
OVER HALF MILLION OF DOLLARS Can stock
iobbisg ingenuity find matter for panic here Can
Regency knavery talk unblushngly Of the Prostra-
ZION of the State Credit under Wing management
Or can besotted barbarism talk longer of stopping
our Canal Enlargement and Erie Railroad, and
turning off the vast Produce and Trade of the
Great West from our one choked avenue down the
St. Lawrence and the Mississippi These are
questions which come home TO the common sense
and the interest of every New-Yorksr. Let them
be wisely answered ore it is too late.
THE EpFINGHAM LIBELs.-We cannot but
gard the virtual defeat of Mr.. J. Fcnimore Cooper,
in his effort to convict Gel Webb of libel, as
theme Of hearty and general congratulation. We
are US FAR as any one from wishing to encourage or
10 have encouraged licentiousness in the Press,
and especially in its structures on the personal mo-
lives and private character Of individuals: bui
what the facts in this case Mr.. Cooper is
clearly the aggressor. He began the war by severa
harsh attacks upon and gross caricatures Of the
Character OF our SouEtTy ana S"uHtigHieh, anu
especially upon that Of the Public Press That
Press, both for itself and the organ OF the Anne
rican Public, repealed his harsh imputatlons, and
in some cases retorted than. Where Mr.. Efhng-
ham (the self.chosen appeation of MIR. Cooper in
those works of fiction wherein he is manitestly his
own hero) had depicted American manners and
sentiments as vulgar aud groveling, the Press Of
iered in reioindcr the manners and sei-exhibitcd
sentiments of Mr.. Etfingham. This may not have
been profitable or laudable; say, you please that
il nOt-and yet it strikes that the aggressoI
ought not TO complain of it. If dissatisfied with
the result OF his first tilt why either abandon
rhe field or couch another lance and try again?
Instead of that he has chosen to bring his harsh
critics under the discipline of the law. This he
can do but Uncertainty seems to us that the aa,hor
of those harsh.udging, icy, savage detractons OF
Walter Scott, after he had lain for years in his
peaceful gIave-to say nothing of the bitterness OF
Homeward Bound and Home as Found. '-oughl
not TO have been the first 10 appeal to the law for
protection
and he has brought some half dozen actions FOR
damages, and procured many indictments
against sundry Editors who have spoken harshly
of himself and his works. Some of them, who
made no defence or next TO none have been cast y
small vcrdics, evircing a very sluggish sympathy
in luries for the wrongs of the Monkin man but
Col. Webb, who has certainly been the greatest
sinner in the lot, having followed Up the matter with
hisindomtable energy and had the action thorough
ly defended, has obtained a verdict equivalent TO a
triumphant acquittal. The thanks of the Press are
due to HIM for his spirited maintenance and vindica.
ZION OF their matual rights. and for establishing the
principle that the Press has some hight 10 canvass
the conduct and motives of those who appear as its
assailsnts ana the assailans Of our National char.
aeter. Mr. Cooper mus, either cease to defaI.e
others, or to present SO tender cuuce as mark
for castigation.
u The mpuiatiors upon the Editor this paper con
tsired in an article yesterdays 'San eu,ilsd Brer
Bread Honesty entire and INDUSTRIOUS fabrication
There is not shadow of pretext for them farther than
this-,hs Tho writer of this left Utca at o'clock OF
evening that the testimony in the Mcleod Case was con
cluded came down Albany, staA there perio'ee al
Sunday evening, and then home, without having
sscn toe messenger Of The Sun his knowledge am
certainly without having asked any enc for or desired
hsve any taiug to DO with his package.
From the establishments of TINS paper, have frankly
forth objections Political and Mora per
vefstios Of The SUM- and been answered by unfounde
and vile personalities While the pane of our paper
admitted into the columns Of The Sun the eharac
OF Editor has been blsckencd as he were felot
For this course, we have given provocation. We d
not even Know who the Editors The sun and
alluded to them personally; while with The Publisher on
relation, bad long been pacific if friendly when h.
chose TO open this battery Of abuse upon We'll
shall deem it duty still TO expose the unfurness th
suppression or distortion of truth whereby Loco
IS nsdousy isculcated in that paper under the suise
Independence and mpartiality; whether the revenge
shall be taken the silly slang of bran bread in d.
zee, and foul libsls like thar Of ysstsrdsy