The New York herald., 1845-02-06

history of the origin, rise, and progress, OF the
"Empire Club" OF this city, which exercised so
controlling Influence the result Of the late
Presidential struggle. The accidental causes which
brought this club into existence are of precisely the
same character as those which originate all polit-
cal clubs. twas for some time rather doubtful In
which scale Its preponderating influence would be
cast The wings made large and tempting offers,
and set In motion every possible means to secure
the "Empre Club" to the cause of Mr.. Clay but
the shrewd leaders OF the democratic party, per.
fecty aware Of the importance of the Club, 0utbld
their opponents and secured il to their own side OF
the battle. Besides a sum Of twenty-five hundred
dollars, officially given to the Empire Club" by
Tammany Hall, il received, in Donations argesses,
&c, &c over five thousand more making about
eight thousand dollars in hard cash received as the
reward Of its services in the campaign This is
pretty good pay, but not too much, as It's exertons
probably decided the result of the election,
In the history and organization of these clubs in
New York, and elsewhere throughout the United
States. we recognize the same general features
which characterized the Jacobins, the Cordrliers,
and the other clubs in France during the revolution.
Created by the revolution, they in their turL be-
the creators of revolutions, frequently IN the
mating each other, and keeping the political power
of the nation rapidly vascllating from one bloody
extreme to another. And, although this revolution
ary spirit, manifesng itself in the creation OF these
daring and popular cabals and clubs, each ofwhich
alternately held. control Of the popular admiration
by its audacious deeds, until outdone in some act
of brilliant atrociy by rival faction, marked their
path with blood and horror, yet they were brought
into existence by the same causes, and marked by
the same characteristics, as the clubs in this
try. Human nature in the United States is the
same as human nature in France, or any otherpart
Of the world. But here the inflammable and ex
plosve materials of our population, which show
themselves in the formation of clubs, are held in
check, not only by each other, but by the myste-
rious, underlined, yet all-powerful, moral force Of
the great inert mass of dsinterested, thinking,
reading, reasoning men, who look quietly on while
these factious cabals are playing their fantastic
tricks and antlcs but who ever ready to step in
and put them down when they 60 too far.
Besides this, the great geographical extent Of
our country is another security for the public
peace, and for the harmless effervescence Of ex-
cited and inturiated masses of public sentiment in
any particular quarter. Suppose for instance, thai
the fanatics OF Massachusetts and the fanatics OF
South Carolina, during the recent excitement in
regard to Mr. Hoar, had been cooped up in ci,y
Ike Paris, separated but by few blocks of build.
ings. and crossing each other constantly in the
streets. The result would probably have been a
fearful and bloody one. But the hot-headrd belIi-
gerents were effectually separated by some thou
sand miles of uninterested territory-or al least,
territory only Interested in preserving peace be
tween .he pngnacious facions-and the fury OF
the bel'gerents has consequently evaporated with
| ou! the slightest harm TO any one.
Another, and perhaps the most important Of al
the causes which serve to prevent violence in thu
country from the organization of rival clubs an,
factions, is admirable provision of our Const:tu
ton itself. The only object, end, aim, and pur
pose of these political clubs, in all countries is r.
volution; and the Constitution of the United State
fortunately provides for revolution erery four yea,
revolution according 70 lava peaceful revo
lution-a revolution which is inevitable, that ha
BEEN provided for, and through which the excita
bility and gas of an overheated population mus
escape. Every Presidential election in the United
States is revolution, either successful or other
wise; and the vanquished party, instead Of being
guillotlned for the crime Of being defeated, ar,
only turned out of office, bled profusely at tn,
pocket, and left in state Of prostraton to reco
yer themselves as best they may, and perhaps il
their turn to inict, at the return of the revo
| lutionary anniversary, the same awful punishment
upon their conquerors-while the great mass of III,
population go about their usual occupations, eacl
on his own hook, and look on and laugh at tn,
whole concern.
REFORM OF THE PENAL CoDE-The meet
ing of the Society for the Abolition of the
Punishment of Death, last night, was rathers
small affair, but the usual amount Of drv, abstract
prosy nonsense, was spouted forth, which it wa.
about as hard to understand as to sanction. Rid
culous as the abolitIonists of slavery sometime
make themselves by their mock sentimentality ant
spurious sympathy. they cut a respectable fgur,
compared with the ant-hangman party; for Will,
they sometimes do fall in with a case Of rigo
and cruelty to deprecate, the ostensible end ant
aim Of the others is to take part with cut throat
and assassins, who are regularly weighed in tn,
balance of justice, and pronounced guilty By ia
the best part of last nights performance was tn,
spicy remarks of one of the members about tn,
| apathy Of the clergy towards their cause. He de
plored it, but felt there was in quarreling
ridiculng them. If he meant to insinuate that j
was labor lost to do for them what they do 70
themselves, he was pretty nght and perhaps he wa
not saying more than the truth when he observed
that they were not much worse than other people
As to converting them, he might have known tina
by their own account they are all converted al
ready; and as tor convincing them, that will b,
an enterprise far tougher than the hangman's rope
Ma. CLAY STILL UNEASY We perceive, by ,
letter in the National Inteuigcrcer, that Mr. Clay il
still uneasy, aud, not satisfied with mending hi
fences and attending to his barns at Ashland talk
of spending the winter ia New Orleans, instead q
conte ntlng himself with the plain, honest SUBJ tan
tal fare oiKentucky. New Orleans is a very Sc
duclng place. II has all sorts Of inducements 10 81,
and sorrow, and we are very much afraid that i
Mr.. Clay goes there, he would consider himself |
candidate for the Presidency before next spring.
The NATIvEs" SILL COMPLAINING. We ar,
very sorry TO fac that the ''natves' are still com
nl,in,ug IN Al " do not ahu their h,