The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-25

MI
.1dI Yan PHILApEIPHlA, Feb. 1872.
State Of Things IN Philadelphia Commerce Courts
-Girard College, Politics Removal ve-Des-
pair Mechanism Nonsense TPisdom dse.-
Folly r-
Mr.. BENNETT t
DEAN SIR ..fsr. ts..et.l ft
In these trying times, we Of the city Of brotherly
love have much Of evil to contend with, from pub
lie func,ionaries, with now aud then virtuous
resolution which serves to light up and cheer US
with the hope that better days in store for us.
The unsettled and preca rious circulating medium,
connected with the great depression Of business,
and loss of confidence, arising from overradng for
years past, caused embarrassment in our mercan-
tile community which from necessity must have Q
crisis; that crisis has arrived, with all its wide.
spreading ruin and desolation. and the little re-
mains of shattered fortunes were eaten up by the
myrmidons of the law in the shape Of sher's Off
GERS greedy creditors pressed the unfortunate
debtor with SUITS and the ravenous officers Of the
sheriff not having the fear Of the law before their
eyes, preyed upon the unfortunate until patience
became crime when the law had fixed the fee at
one dollar or fifty cents, the deputies deputies
Heeced the man Of SORROWS of ten aud sometimes
twenty dollars and this for the performance of du-
ties which they were bound for and every honest
man would be gratifed to perform such as taking
defendant to see friend TO bail him, to see his
wife and children, that he could tell them Of his
whereabouts and attempt to sooth their sorrows.
Underthese circumstances the vuturesthat pro wled
about the sheri's Office would extract the last dol.
lar frem their victim, and in the absence Of money,
take property as substitute the present sheriff
is plain honest man, and has dismissed many OF
these sormorants aad cautioned many that remain
to shun these vile practices, or he will speak to
their successors. We. through you STRUCTURE him,
as an honest man and faithful officer, to 60 with
tae COED work, until he shall have purified the Of
fee fran the COMMUNICATING influence Of men who
have for years grown rich upon unlawful exactions
from tho unfortunate, and have revealed in luxury
and laughed at the misery Of those from whsm they
thus dishonesty obtained the means. The legal
fees of the sheriff for three years, the term for
which he is elee:ed, would enable him to clear at
least twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars, in ad-
dtion to the facilities for purchasing real estate at
sacrifice, which opportunity has not been omitted
heretofore. And yet, sir, let me tell YOU that a.
much AZ seventy thousand dollars has been made in
that Office within the three years. This calls for
penal enacments ON the part OF our legisatur and
that without delay, ia order that the vengeance Of
their duties We believe that the present sheriff
will do his duty, but let US have security against
the future, and we cannot have greater auxiliary
than your columns ia the accomplishment Of so de.
sirable an object
The people of philadelphia bear patiently all the
burdens imposed upoathe m they; have had many gen
tlemen from the country and west sent here to fill
important Offices, and many of them do honor to
But, to have all the little avenues to profit and
kesor closed 10 citizens, and opened for stran-
gers with little or no claims, is to infer that we
have none worthy among US reflection. certain
lv not very agreeble. Our Canal Commis toner's
have commenced the work Of destruction in this
respect; we ask them to refec', and to remember
that the policy 10 suicidal.
g Another faithful source of complaint, is the con-
daet Of eur whig city councils in relation to the Gil
rard College, which Is, up to this moments Of
useless marble, with its towering cloud capped
lumns knocking the object Of the benevolent testa-
tor, and lasting monument OF disgrace to the go
vernment Of the City of Philadelphia. And yet,
there are some mea In city councils fit to adorn
any station in life but there arc others who would
by their stupidity and political Prohgacy, disgrace
any public station. In private life we could elbow
these demagogues out Of our path-ther sphere Of
action would be harmless. Besides, there are boys
in our councils, whose judgments are not matured,
and yet, to hear them talk, and watch their move
Renis, one would think the safety Of the world de-
pended upon their opinions and action. At the
next election we shall correct these evils The
people have become disguised with them and have
resolved upon a change. The wings never
stopped to enquire about the honesty OF the means
to obain power, and have always abused it when |
cqsired, till the people, borne down by their OPP
preston, were aroused 10 indignation and drove |
Them frsm power. In the whig admin stration Of
Governor Ritner. We had fne specimen OF the
whig character, if they are willing to be tried by
their leaders here. During the session Of the leg
islature of 1886 81, the leaders, finding the party
had split, did not understand following the wretch.
ed re mains of broken army, and made desperate
effort, through the medium OF old Aunty Masonry,
md summoned before their noble and august
body Of the best and ablest men In the state,
and then, with spirt worthy their far-famcd pre-
ieeessors, through unhoy, uncaled for, and use
less investigation, hoped to repair their shattered
fortunes, and raise political capital II was in
rain the people knew them, aud conse-
luently hurled them from their high places, but
Tot until they had raised their feet and trod in trea
IONS bloody track. But now, Sir, our Legislature
nave appointed q committee to inquire into the
bribery and corruption practiced by those traitors
% the people, while they disgraced seats in our
nails Of legislation, and ou;J Jet them IN time 70
et this committee do their duty and summon be- !
ore them those late members charged with the re-
sept Of br.bes from the late u 3. Bank, to obtain
is last charter from our State, and carefully re.
lord the amounts each admits to have received |
rom the Bank, or any one on their account, |
Is we'll as the fact Of some Of them, standing ~
hey will, like other felons, upon their privilege, or
;rafnly evading the questions and refusing to- an
,wer Let there be no mode Of escape-traitors |
ire dangerous and never to DO twice trusted, and |
he sooner disposed Of the better for the country:
Our Court Of General Sessions are engaged in
he rule against their late officer Blaney, whose re-
ignation was long since accepted, and we suppose
,ntirely beyond the action Of the Court, unless 1t
h 10 resolve itself into the Office Of committing /
magistrate. William B. Reed, the late whig pro- l
ccuting attorney, il his prosecuting counsel:
Governor Porter has gone home, having been |
n the city couple Of days, experimenting |
md securing the payment ofthe state interest |
Iue the FIRST OF the month the faith Of the state
viii be kept; she will pay her debts honestly and
,ever did man watch with greater solicitude, or
!uard with more care and anxiety the interests Of
lis family, than has this David r. Porter the int.
'ests Of The State. He is emphatically our Cover