The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-02

delightful day. EcoIIER
BosroN, July n, 1886
Oregon The IarN-BOstom Harbor, and the India
1rade-AUen Hopkins, the Bigamist- Liquor
Case-The Herald, and the Sunday Law-Sud-
den Deaths.
general contention pervades our community,
whether the Oregon treaty gives to Great Britain
perpetual and free navigation of the Columbia
river, or only during the existence of the Hudson
Bay Company, and to that company, and those
trading with them only. The mercantile interest,
however, 50 that the question is permanently set
tied, and all cause of war with England removed,
will be perfectly satisfied, whether the latter coun.
try enjoys the free use of the Columbia now and
forever, or for a few years only The uninter-
rupted navigation Of the seas is now, and must
continue to be, the salvation Of Boston; and, as a
natural consequence. OF New England also.
in regard to the new tariff bill. Heretofore, the
entire capital Of this section Of the country has
been used as a means TO sustain protective
tariff; but for the last ten years, capitalists have
been seeking other investments than manufacto-
r,es for their surplus funds. While railroads have
| absorbed a very large amount, and yielded hand
some dividends the transferring oil our old farms
and homesteads into beautiful cottage residences
for the millionaire the merchant, the trader, and
the financier-and the increased amount required
to conduct with profit the insurance and banking
operations, together with many other sources OF
permanent Investments large portion of our
most active business men now manifest little In
terest whether the tariff is reduced or not Seve-
raj of our ship owners, grain and flour merchants,
and other dealers in agricultural produce, in con-
necton with the passage OF the English corn bill,
are rather disposed to regard the new tariff bill
with favor but its passage will be severe blow
at the manufacturing interest of New England.
1t is well known fact, the India and Calcutta
trade, formerly carried on by Boston merchants,
has, by the superior enterprise and position OF
YOUR merchants, been transferred to New York.
For some time, the wise men of our city have
been endeavoring to find out the cause. The
city council have moved in the matter, and the
chairman OF their committee stated to that body,
last week, that there was no doubt it arose, in a
great measure, from the fact that our harbor was
rapidly filling up; and, unless something was
dene, we should shortly be without any trade at
all Without further debate, one thousand dollars
were placed in the hands of the commitiee to
commence survey, under a skllful engineer, with
a carte blanche to proceed with such further ope-
rations as they may deem necessary, and TO draw
upon the city treasury for funds dd libitum. The
committee begin their work to-day, and are to
memoiialize the Legislature, and Congress, TO
bear a part Of the expense, next winter.
Two of our Courts have recently decided upon
two interesting and novel cases On Monday
last. a lien Hopkins was arralgned before the Mli-
nicpal Court for bigamy. His case was a despe-
rate one. He had first married an old lady of 63,
and Is months afterwards married her grand
daughter The proof was clear His defence
was committed to the hands Of a lawyer of Green
field in which town he resided with his young
wife, and where he was also arrested. His law
yer, on the morning OF the trial, as he was leav-
ing the court house, was struck with paraIytc
fit and conveyed to the hospital in helpless
state The Court ordered the trial to proceed
the defence was undertaken by young Boston
lawyer, without preparation, and unknown even
to the prisoner. Conviction followed, of course.
On Saturday, when the prisoner came up for sem
tencc, his attorney stated that he had discovered
a clue to many mihgated circumstances in the
prisoners case, and stated reasons why sem
fence should be delayed till next term, that bi2a-
nv was common thing in this family that the
first wife knew her husband was going to marry
her grand daughter that the latter's father knew
it; that all the connections knew 1t, and did not
oppose it that the prisoner was intoxicated when
he married the old lady and that, were he al
lowed to bring forward this evidence, II would
prove to the Court that this whole family were
utterly ignorant OF any such law as bigany-and
would exhibit state Of morals in tina part oil the
State so debased that it, parallel could not be
found in the country. The Court remarked, in
reply. that il could not believe that any one in
Massachusetts was ignorant OF the crime and,
in the absence of specific reasons for delay,
passed sentence of three years and six months
in the State prison.
The second case was one in the Court of Com
mon Pleas. One Risk, the keeper of a drinking
house. purchased of Cumming d Long, liquor
dealers, on credit, about $50 worth of imported
liquors. Suit was brought to recover the debt.
The defence was, that the statute Of the Com
monwealth prohibited the sale of ardent spirits
in less quantities than twenty-eght gallons, with
out a license; that no licenses had been granted
in Boston; and, therefore, the sale being illegal,
the claim was null and void. "a decision of the
court was cited, in case OF an illegal sale OF
some shingles, wherein the claim was denied and
judgment rendered for defendant.) Plaintiff
pleaded the general issue Of debt and credit.
The court sustained all the facts adduced by de-
PENDANT, but, without going into the merits OF the
case. directed the Jury to bring in verdict for the
full claim of plaintiff, which they did Excep,,
tons were taken by defendant, and the case wiil
come up before the full bench. The decislon is
regarded many as blow at the constitution
alily of the statute prohibiting the sale IN less
quantities than twenty-eght gallons OF imported
liquors. go, e,u,l.,.o ~ sa,ur.
davp M which prevented the receipt OF the
Herald here until Sunday morning, AFFORDED
good practical commentary on lne pic'y OH