The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-01

THE FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS IN THIS CITY
The interest felt In the appointments in the hands
of the general government, connected with the
Custom House, Post Office, and other depart
ments, has been reduced to small circle since the
action at Washington the subject, although 1t
may yet acquire considerable intensity in more
immediate connection with the Collector in the
Custom House. The manner in which the cab-
net transacted this business was calculated to
create gradually very amusing and interesting
excitement among the oflice-begging fraternity at
tached to General Taylor's Farty. They began
with the moro ordinary appointments, and gradu-
ally went on with one or two every week, until
they reached the last scene of the comedy, by the
appointment of the Collector himself, Mr..
Maxwell. Now, the deepest interest is concen-
trated on the Collector, and what he is going to do
among the numerous candidates that are crowding
around him, and those who are his advisers.
Mr.. Maxwell is the Collector, but he does not
possess despotic power. He has not the whole
power In his own hands. lie cannot even make
his own appointments without the concurrence of
a sort of advisory committee here, whose action
WILL after all, be reviewed by the Secretary of the
Treasury at Washington In the olden time, when
the democracy had full swing in New York, there
was always some master spirit, who had the repu-
taton of advising in all matters relating to the dis
trbution of office. At one time, the late Walter
Bovine was considered the father of the party.
Then, our respectable fellow citizen, John Tar
gee, was the grand counsellor and guide. Of late
years. however, ''the old man" of the democratic
party has been changed every few months The
same syst EN- will probably obtain among the
whigs or conservatives, as they are now going
to call themselves. The old man Of the WING
party, who will probably have most influence
with Mr.. Maxwell the collector is not so very old
a man In years as he may be in wisdom and dis
cretion but his name Is Moses H. Grinnell-and
a very clever, gentlemany, business man he is
We believe that Mr.. Grinne, and few others,
will be the principal advisers of Mr.. Maxwell, In
filing up the custom-house with the new employ
tes. Mr. Grinnel has many points of excellence
and worth, but we doubt whether he has the ex-
tensve capacity necessary to organize great
conservative party in New York, merely on the
basis of the Custom-H House. Capital at buying and
selling ships, goods, and merchandise, making
bargains, paying off ship-captains, and building
new vessels, Mr. Gnnne may yet be quite want
ing in the talent and capabilities necessary to qua
lily him for the work of constructing new con-
sentative party IN this city, which will last for
twenty years, without the necessity Of insurance.
We understand that about fifteen hundred candi-
dates have presented their credentials for places in
the Custom-House, and that MIR. Maxwell and his
local cabinet at work, night and day, to deter
mine who shall get " the spoils."
Well, we have little to say In this matter. But
so far as we can Judge from the course and policy
a.. ,,.l c.l. e -.
appointed within the last three months, under the
auspices of the present administration, we must
say that we cannot perceive much intelligence or
much tact. The very first act of the new Naval
Officer of the port offended the great bulk OF his
own party, by some Of his appointments, as also
the common feelings Of equity and justice, to say
nothing of dellcacy and propriety Nor has the
new District Attorney been much more fortunate.
He certainly has not added anything to the popu-
larity of the administration. AS to the new
Postmaster, the first act he perpetrated in his Off
cial capacity, was virtual violation of the post
Office laws. Indeed, all the new officers have to
certain extent acted in virtual hostility of that spi
rt of liberality which brought their party into
power. What course Mr.. Maxwell may pursue,
we cannot yet conjecture. We know the political
history Of this gentleman in former years very
well. 1t Is at present curious problem, the
solution of which we await with some curiosity,
but perfect unconcem.
JUSTICE AND MopEsTY OF THE COMMON Council.
-TEx LATE TRAaEDY.-As our readers are aware
from the reported proceedings of the Common
Council, that enlightened body has passed resolu-
tons of thanks, not only to the military on duty
during the tragic scene at Massacre Place, but
also to the police, and, tacitly, to the civil auhor
ties themselves. Now, so far as the military are
concerned, they merely obeyed orders, and are not
TO be blamed; but the vote of thanks to the police
is one of the most impudent and unjust acts ever
perpetrated by Common Council-and that ia say
ing good deal. 1t is, indeed, piece of the cool
est efrontery, In the face of solemn investiga-
ton which is now proceeding, thus to attempt to
whitewash the action Of the civil authorities and
the police. The police, by all accounts, merit the
severest censure, instead Of thanks. Why did they
not stop the disordery and disgraceful proceedings
on the Monday night when Mr.. Macready was as
sailed by missiles on the stage7 Why did they,
on the night Of the tragedy in tho street, stow
themselves away in the theatre and Mrs. Lang
dons house, leaving the street to the dlssrderly,
the thoughtless, the riotous, and the lockers on,
who were afterwards shot down like dogs! 1t Is
said that the police in league with the rioters
on Monday night. Is this so? Come, come, this
matter must be probed to the very bottom. The
whole affair must be turned inside out. No white
washing resolutions, or impudent and indecent
votes Of thanks, can cover over this affair Why
did the Mayor himself run away on the night Of
the tragedy, as he himself confesecs7 Why is
there an attempt now to skulk from investigation
We must not have any dodgng. The lives Of sur
fellow beings are not to be sacrificed without the
most solemn, and rigid, and searching investiga-
ton. Who instigsted the rict3 Who are the
culrrits? Let us have them, that they may be
brought to condisn punishment. The authorities
will hear of this matter again, and again, and
again. " line upon line, precept upon precept, here
a little and there little" till the whole business
is made as clear day.
THR CHOLERA AND THE SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Owing chiefly to the awful ignorance and stupidity