The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-04

:, Of New York and the whole North. There

=, of New York and the whole North. There
were other politicians, however, who did not
appreciate Gen Taylor's position before the coun-
try, who thought his popularity evanescent,
and would entirely subside long before the meeting
of the wing National Convention in Philadelphia,
and who likewise had an eye to the spoils of office.
These elected TO stand by Mr.. Clay, and to take
their chances with those of the statesman of the
West
This is a short sketch of the preliminary move
= ments and occurrences that took place within
the last eighteen months, and of the intngues of
the several factions of Office seeking politicians.
Finally, the wing National Convention assem-
bled, and after hard struggle between the Clay and
the Taylor delegates, the latter succeeded, and Gen.
Taylor was nominated as the wing candidate for
the Presidency. BY this event the ultra Clay men
were mortified, their long cherished hopes of Office
and soup were annihilated land after long and ardu
Gus struggle to obtain the nomination of their man,
they found themselves at length utterly Frustrated
Under these circumstances it may well be sup
posed they were not in the best of humor, aud
many of them threatened death and destruction to
the wing party. For long time, the whig general
committee, which had all along supported the
claims of Henry Clay, refused to call meeting to
ratify General Taylors nomination AT length
they issued call for that purpose but, on second
thoughts, it was countermanded, and, some time
afterwards, another call was issued, in pursuance
of which the meeting in Canal street was con-
vened, Gen. Taylor's popularity, in the mean
while, increasing, not only in New York, but
throughout the whole county, North, East, South,
and West AT this meeting, all the disappointed
Clay men, and goody proportion of locofocos,
in attendance. They sought, by every means
In their power, TO prevent Gen. Taylor's nominal
ton berg ratified and by freely using their lungs,
their threats and their hands, succeeded IN creating
great deal of noise and confusion. Hence we have
an explanation OF all the groGns, Kisses, &c., which
characterised that meeting, and which were faith
fully reported at the time III this paper
This is an explanation Of the scenes and incl
dents Of that meeting. and those of our readers at
a distance, who have formed The opinion from
perusal of It's proceedings, that General Taylor's
popularity in New York is not so great as they
had previously supposed, deceive themselves, aud
do injustice 10 his cause. The fact is, that the
meeting in question was the last effort of the dis
appointed politicians and office seekers, to vent
their chagrin at the defeat of their hopes Of plum
der. We are satisfied that General TAYLOR
people of New York for the Presidency. and
that he will continue so TO the time of election,
when he will get the vote Of the Empire State with
out question.
We have thought it advisable to make this state
ment for the benefit and information Of persons at
a distance, who were not acquainted with the nu-
merous intrigues that have been going on for some
time past In this city.
THE New CODE OF PRAcTIcE-The new code of
practice, as preparedby Mr. Graham and others, and
adopted by the Legislature, went into operation
yesterday. Various opinions as to the probable
effect of the new system, are expressed by the
members of the bar but a majority of them seem
10 have confidence that it Will benefit the COM
munity
Its leading features are the abolition of all forms
Of action, the old system of special pleading, and
the distinction between law and equity suits
Every proceeding by one party against another is
called civil action" and whether it be what
would formerly have been called law suit, or a
Chancely suit, the proceedings are to be substan-
italy the same. The first steps, what is called
the - complaint" to which the defendant puts in
an "answer;' then the plaintiff files a replica
hon,' and thus the pleadings become complete,
and the cause is at issue, ready TO be tried by
iury Ii remains to be seen whether this new form
of proceeding will be an Improvement, and whe-
Their the old distinction between law and equity
jurisdiction might not with advantage have been
preserved.
There is one feature of the new system, and the
laws connected with it, which will produce a GU
rous state of things in our courts. We refer TO
the night of each party to call and examine the
other as Witness the plaintiff or defendant put
ting his adversary ON the stand and subjecting
bin TO a rigid examination. This will IN all pro-
liability occasion many more peuuries than now
occur; and IN one case at least, it will operate
strangely. When an insolvent person is sued with
perfectly responsible, who Is alleged to be his
copartner, the nsolvent may be examined to fix
his debts upon one able TO pay them. The modps
oyerdndi of this part of the new system smells
strongly OF the Roman code. The learned cod-
fers must have dipped INTO the Pandects for it, Or
else they received ii from some parsonage at this
SIDE of the water, deeply skilled in Roman lore;
but II will not stand the test OF this age of reform
and revolutions. We shall, however, watch the
progress of the machinery with continuous inte-
rest and, OF course, as from time to time the va
nous complicated questions arise, we shall show
how they are disposed of.
1t seems very clear that years will be required to
show the practical working OF the new contrl-
vances, and until each part has begun to perform
Its function well, there viii continue to be, as
usual, the GLORIOUS uncertainty OF the law"
Another Attempt ut II Clay Meeting.
The following appeared in the Tribune of yesterday
morning
p9~ HENRY CLAY CLUB OF TIE CITY or NEW YORK.
Justice 70 the Father Of the Wing ParyA meeting of the
Club held Ihursday evening" June 81 at the headquarters
Apollo rooms S3 Canal street ,it was
Resolved That public meeting Of the Climb he Mon
day Evening July g. at o'clock the Apollo Rooms No 50
In conformity 10 the above resolution the Horny CLAY ,rs