The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-04-27

ton of society. and opera'e upon the system Of in
dustry or labor, OF commerce, education, and the
household srganization. If we operate upon the
government or administration, we shall produce,
as the experience Of the last twenty five centuries
has fully demonstrated, no practical results. This
is proved also hey nd deaial by the history Of our
own country We have had over half a century Of
political controversies, parry l%ntrigues, and admin
i~strativc changes; various P~arties-iedera and
democratic have had the ascendency different
Observation-Disclosures and Jefersonian-have beer
carried out, and after all, what has been done
But two extensions have been given to the great
principles of democracy, which are, UNIVERSAL sf
frage and adjustment Of imprisonment for debt
while the condition OF the people has not been I'M
proved or their happiness Increased. On the con
trary, poverty and pauperism, the uncertainty OF
employment, the intensity and "reminiscences o.
free competition, he anxiety for the future, the
power Of capital over labor, revulsions in trade and
industry, commercial and financial frauds, SC
have increased and with fearful rapidity.
Among the social disorders which eur false sys.
tenn Of society has strengthened or lately engen
dered, we may enumerate the following :-prosti-
tuition Of the representative system to party and
other purposes; extravagant and wastefnl State
loans; encroachment Of capital and commerce on
the political power fluctuations in commerce and
industry; downfall of fortunes financial schemes
and frauds; mania Of speculation artificial cur.
rency, controlled by individuals and corporations;
sudden expansions and contractions in the same
commercial excuses and overtrading; increase OF
Nv OAt ~ ~ onN w i"Ss
mediate and ssheming non producers, who 1--we
upon the producing classes /; servile obedience to
public opinion and prejldices to gain popularity;
increase OF the mob.spirit in the large cities, and Of
the recklessness and desperation of political adven.
turers.
But leaving all these political and social degener-
atoms aside, and descending into the sphere of
daily life, let us ask whether all our political re-
to the hungry shelter 10 the houseless! clothes to
the unclad? fire to the cold! labor to the unem-
ployed? education to the ignorant? Can they re.
lieve the toll worn mass Of their repugnant
drudgcry, and the harrassing cares which are
wearing them out, body and soul! Can they check
the tricks and injustice OF the law, and the frauds
monopolies and extortions Of commerce.! Can they
do away with vice, crime and drunkenness, and
the causes Of despair which plunge men into them ?
Can they in short dry up one tear Of moral woe,
one sigh of disappointment and despair? No, they
can do nothing Of the kind.
Now il political, administrative and all the other
secondary reforms, which are advocated by vari-
Gus parties, cannot 60 to the foundation Of social
evils, and do anything for the real and practical
welfare of the people, does not the highest wis
dom as well as the plainest common sense, ad ise
that we should abandon measures and remedies,
which practical experience has proved over and
over again to be abortive? We answcr-Yes.
Acting upon this conviction, we advocate a So
cial reform-tka is, a reform in industry, CON-
merce, education, and the present household sys.
tenn. We wish to change what is false in society,
but we respect all tn sc elements or parts OF the
social order, which are good and true in them
selves; such A. religious worship, individual pro.
pertv, The marriage bond and family union, and we
shall maintain and develOpe them nobly.
The reform which we advocate is constructive,
not destructive We do not wish to tear down, but
to build up; we do not wish to take from the rich
to give to the poor, and change merely the vic
Tins Of poverty and misery, but we with to inc ease
production or real wealth SO vastly, that an abund.
all may be elevated, and none dowA.trodden.
In another article ! will explain the practical
organization of Association, and the means of effect
ing the reform for which We are laboring. A. b.
AWFUL AND DELIpERAr. MvRDER.-One Of the
most cruel aud cold bioOded murders which has
ever disgraced the records Of crime in this city,
was committed about half past nine o'clock this
morning, by a man named Christian Burk, a jour
neymsn iailor, u mau Of dissipated habits, upon the
person 81 his wife, WHO'S represented 10 have been
an amiAblc and industrious woman. The dread
fol deed was done with an axe. The body Of the
| unfortunate woman was horribly msngled by
chastity wounds on her head, neck, and other parts
of her body, and she died In a few minutes. There
| appeared TO be no cause Of provocation for the
deed, save a shadow Of Jealousy, as unfounded and
mediate d murder. He declared he had done il,
and expectsdto be punished forit.-Aidany Jour
nal, Ap,il 20.
IN JUsrIcE.-We recently stated that Hicks, one
ofthe men confined in jail at Keen, NH, charged
with setting fire to the Jail In Charlestown, had
" dug OUT and escaped. He wss re.taken in q barn
in Arlington, VT, on Thursday night last, and con-
veyed to Landsgrove, where he was met by two
men from Charlcstown, who were in pursuit, and
who purchased the prisoner Of his captors for one
hundred and fifty dollars-two hundred dollars
being the reward offered for his apprehension. AS
the purchasers had paid a pretty round sum for the
rascal. they were determined that he should not
slip through their fingers, and accordingly con-
Guided to strengthen the watch by setting up them.
..I.~x t-o n1o - Tho ~nru.o~ all fall
asleep, and the prisoner gathered himself up, made
his way through men and dogs TO the door with -
little noise as possible, opened it, and casting an
anxious look behind to see Whether he had dis
turbed their repose, seized an axe, cut his shackles
from his legs and cleared. The chaps what fingered
the cash marched of singing go bird in the hand
10 worth two in the bash "-Boston Mail Aprii rs.
MArRlMoNY ANp MURpER We copy the fol-
lowing from the La Grange (Tenn.l Gatherer:-
"We are panied to learn that on Thursday even
ing last, amost horrible transaction took place in
this county, nine or ten miles from this place,
| which resulted in the death Of David Jarnsgan, and
the woundins Of several other persons. The gene.
| raj facts we will state as we heard them. 1t APP
pesrs that a MIR. Morgan had arranged a matrimo-
NAL elopement with a daughter of the deceased,
on Thursday; the parties having repaired to a
house in the neighborbood where the marriage
was legally performed. iron learning
the fact Of the elopement, Jarne gan became very
indignant, ana OcteImIncu 10 90 III pursuit.. lhkIUK
a few friends, he soon reached the no Ise where the
marriage party was assembled. We learn that he
forced the door, and entered, when an attack com.
mcnced, in which the deceased received several
wounds, which produced his death early yesterday
morning. Some others were wounded; among
them J. +. Simmons, who we understand is serious
", If not dangerously injured.-Witht the deceased
we were well acquainted. He was a wealthy
planter, and possessed many fine points Of charac-
ter. His untimely end is much regretted by his
numerous friends"
EMIeRATIor.-The number Of emigrants who
have left this city for the Northern part Of Illinois,
and Iowa Territory, by the way Of Saint LOUIS as
we are informed by officers Of the boats, has been
unusually large this season. Boats leave our land
ing almost daily, crowded with substantial emf
grant, from the back country, with their live stock
aud farming apparatus, bent upon seeking their
number seem to pitch upon the territory Of Iowa,