The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-13

ASTOUNDING VERDICT OF TEN THOUSAND DoLLARs
AGAINST MosEs Y. BEACH FOE LIBxL.-The trisl Of
the libel suit instituted BY Mr.. John Thompson, Z
broker Of Wall street, against Moses Y. Beach, Of
the Ssw newspaper, was brought to close yester-
day by the jury rendering verdict OF ten thomasd
dollars. the fall amount OF damages claimed, amidst
the unequvocal but suppressed applause of the au-
dience. The immortal John Van Buren,, the barn.
burner, was one OF the principal counsel tor Mr.
Thompson against Mr.. Beach.
This is truly an extraordinary result OF libel
suit but when all the circumstances OF the case arc
understood the wonder wall cease. 1t may be ia
ken rather as practical manifestation ef the pub
lie opinion OF this community on the series Of nan-
cial operations which have been conducted by Mr..
Beach, during the last few years, in the various
banks with which he has been connected-the
Jacksonville, Lehigh Pla infeld, and perhaps sew
eral others. During the last summer, and for some
time previous, Mr.. Thompson, who Published
bank note reporter was In the habit OF quoting. and
correctly we believe, the value Of the various bank
note currency, including that issued by Mr.. Beach
in the shape of Plainfeld and other bills. These
quotations, it appears, did not suit the nancler
question, and accordingly some charges of very
ugly character were trumped up against Mr.
Thompson, brought to the notice of the police,
and published in the Sun, with comments not very
complimentary to Mr.. Thompson. On these
charges the suit was instituted-the trial came on
and the astounding verdict of ten thousand dollars
was rendered by the jury, without leaving their
seats, amidst the applause Of the audience.
This is the first time when the character of tho
many financial operations and the banking genius
of Mr. Beach have come distinctly before jury
Of this community and 1t may be taken more az
general verdict on his whole career as banker
and fnancler than as the editor of a daily news
paper. Public opinion, in this enlightened com.
munIty, will not tolerate newspaper proprietor or
newspaper editor using the columns Of his jour-
nal for any other purpose than what his columns
can egtlmately do, and that 49, to furnish correct
intelligence and sound views to the public for
their guidance and information Whenever such
important instrument is used to support schemes
of doubtful integrity, or to impose on the commu.
nifty spurious currency, or to defend malpractices
In issuing paper money, such a journal is deviat.
ing from the high road of propriety, and can ex-
pect nothing but such verdicts as that just render
ed, at the first opportunity. AS a broker In Wall
street, and the conductor Of Bank Note Reporter
for the information Of the public, Mr.. Thompson
has always sustained the highest character for in
tegrity We wish we could say the same thing in
connection with the proprietor of the Jackson
vile, Plainfeld, and ether exP oded banks. It is
only once in century that there occurs a chance
OF giving such verdict. We hope it will be a
warning to the young editors of the same name
The community that have been cheated for years
past, have taken the first opportunity to retaate
in telling way.
The SLAVERY QUESTION IN Conversations
Gross BLUNDERs OF THE TELEaRAruIc REPORTERS
IN WAsHINaToN.-The incompetence and blunder-
ing OF the Geographic reporters at Washington, led
us into sad mistake in relation to the vote on Mr.
Cots resolution concerning the slave trade in the
District OF Columbia. The report stated that the
resolution instructng the committee to report a
bill for the abolition Of slavery in that District,
was laid on the table of the House, by a large
majority. Our regular reporters stated the facts
differently, and by their report we find that the re-
suit OF the debate just the reverse The resolu-
ten was not laid the table, but is still before
the House; and the probability is, that 1t will be
carried into the usual course of action. The
slavery question, therefore, Is not dying away in
Congress, but Is taking chronic form, and seems
to increase in trouble and difficulty, IN both
branches of that body.
1t 10 expected that Mr.. Calhoun will make his
famous report IN few days on this matter, with
the likelihood of its being adopted by the southern
committee, and issued to the country IN the shape
OF manifesto, describing the aggressions of the
northern States, during the last twenty-five years,
on the rights of the South as regards their slave
property as they are guaranteed to them by the con-
stitution of the United States. This, In combina-
ton with the movements IN the House, will only
widen the breach on this subject that are adv exists
between the northern and southern States.
Faction and fanatlcism are both at the bottom Of
this agitation, they are developed in the north
em and southern sections of the confederacy
They seem to be widening in their ravages every
day Some persons even 60 the length of predict.
ing that this question has become so chronic and
nveterate among the politicians Of the country, |
hat 1t will never cease until there Is division of
he Union, dissolution of the confederacy, and !
probably the erection of three new republics out of
he fraemsnts-the southern States by themselves,
he northern IN like category, and probably Cali. !
ornia as separate confederacy on the Pacific
The agitation about the annexation Of Canada and
'uba, at future day, may promote these views
nd bring about the lamentable result which the
resent crisis seems to point to. We hope all
Moderate men will unite, and prevent such a
The OPERA AND the SIMPSON BENEFIT We |
Ire sorry to perceive that Mr.. Fry's organs CON-
'lan of the thinness OF the house on the occasion
'f the Simpson benefit. This ought not to have
'een SO; but the unpopulanty of the present opera
management is enough to thin any benefit, even |
'nelfor charitable purpose. We cannot expect
inything better from the manner in which the
'pera Is constructed, and its affairs conducted.
BY the by. what has become of the new vocal sts
who were promised at the commencement of the
eason7 According to the rumors of the green
DOM, MIR. Fry sent out three thousand dollars to