The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-19

ton upon Santa Fe. The hostile attitude between
Mr.. Benton and Mr. Calhoun, on the claim OF
Texas, will probably exasperate the opposing par
ties to the most serious excitement but our pro-
gress and expansion are too grand, and our destiny
as confederation is too sublime, to admit of the
absurdlty of dissolution. The danger is immi-
nent; but we rely upon the discretion of General
Taylor, and the moderate men of all parties, to
preserve the harmony of the Union, and to pro.
mote the prosperity of the new States and terrific
ries-not forgetting the New Jerusalem. Canada
and Cuba must bide their time.
THE New PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA CoLIxaE-
HIS PAST AND HIS FUTURE.--The announcement
has been made, several days past, that Mr. Charles
King has been elected President of Columbia Col.
lege, by quite considerable majority On the first
trial he came within one of being elected but on
the second Judge Belts, his antagonist, having
declined) the majority was much more in his favor
votes 10.
MIR. King is a well known journalist in this COM
munity, OF some thirty years standing For many
years past-from 1919 to lSi7-he was connected
with the New York american, and latterly with
the Courier and Enquirer. A few days before his
election to the Presidency of the College, he an
nounced his withdrawal from editorial Life altoge-
ther, and expressed certain degree of penitence
for the sins he has committed during his career as
a journalist. These, his sins and errors, have not
only been forgiven hun, but he has been lauded by
certain journals as one of the most accomplished
editors of the age, perfect ne Plus ultra in every
point of view, highly educated man. and the very
beau ideal of the most advanced stage of civiliza-
ton.
This may be all very correct and very accurate,
but these opinions now present a singular con-
trast with his editorial career, in some particulars
during the last thirty years. The New York Axs-
rican was started about thirty years ago, by John
son Verplanck, Chas King and others. Mr.. Yer
planck was capital editor in his day, and was the
soul and spirit of the American for several years
After his early death, Mr. Chas. King took the sole
management Of that journal. and in a few years
afterwards, the New York American gradually
sunk from it's leading position lost its circulation,
and disappeared entirely, by escaping into the
bowels of the New York Courier and Enquirer, a
sort OF tomb to the Capuets of the newspaper press
in Wall street. THIS brief history certainly does
not furnish remarkable evidence of the brilliant
journalism in its manager. To establish a leading
journal is better evidence of genius in that line,
than TO destroy one-to give a new existence,
rather than to take away life by species of slow
poison.
Yet we DO not doubt that Mr. Chas King, now
the President Of Columbia College, Is accom-
plished In certain respects, but he is not great
and mighty journalist. He has failed completely
in that capacity, and if he had continued to have
had the sole control Of the Courier and Enquirer
for period Of five or ten years, that Journal, too,
xyott bav H.. r.
Capulets, where previously be had despatched the
dmuican.
In respect TO his accomplishment as a polished
and refined writer, we freely admit II. He has
often exhibited much better style and manner than
some editors Of the present day, who possess high
character for piety, decency, proprieiy, and all
sorts Of virtues. There u, for example, our cotem-
porary Mr. Greeley! "Liar," scoundrel." evil
lain, "rascalvaried with the nouns "lie," L" for
gerry" "vllany," and such like terms, are used
by Mr. Greeley IN his columns without stint, under
the law of humanity which secures for hma sort of
for believe there are few who resort to
such terms in the newspaper press. In this respect,
Mr.. King has never offended. Bat sull, we can
never forget the terrible attacks on the late General
Jackson, nor the melancholy occasion when, upon
the death Of the pious wife Of the late ex-Pres1ent
Of the United States the columns of the Nc,r York
Amuioan were sullied by gross charges on her
character and memory, 10 an extent to which, csr-
tainly no gentlemunly journalist Of this day would
ever think Of descending This, however, very
probably, is one Of the sins Tor which Mr.. KING, IN
his recent card has asked for general forgiveness,
and for which, We presume abssluiioi has been
pronounced.
In view OF this fact, II must be evident that the
high eulogums pronounced upon Mr. King, az
journalist, ought to be curtaIled good deal.
lie may deserve encomium as a scholar, and as a
man well acquainted with the manners and princi-
pies which take Ia a Clique but he never displayed
great genus as journalist, nor high capacity ia
newspaper management Educated in England,
when the late Rufus King "a truly great m,n), his
father, was Minister there, he seems TO have In
blbed great deal Of the English pride and excl,-
sveDess which eharacterze the oii7rcs and coeries
Of that country. He is a perfect gentleman for a
oligue, but not for community ora continent. We
deny that those qualities go much beyond those
narrow limits and it ~ the same with his genius
and capacity generally. lie possesses, however,
certain qualltes, which will shine to more advan-
tsge IN the cotois Of Columbia College than in
conducting leading journal in the metropolis OF
the greatest people on the earth. lie does not be-
long 10 the present age, hut to the past, and ooy
bit OF that-a strip extending from 1910 to 1870
But he has now Withdrawn from the press,
asked forgiveness Of all his sins, and begged
for an opportunity OF showing himself in al
other capacity, us chief of collegiate insti.
futon. We wish success to him in this new ca
paciiy, for Columbia College wants it very much.
Under the malaiia Of di2ue or cot0i,, this alma
Mater, rich and fat in revenue, has Of late years
dwlndled down to list of sixty or eighty stu
dents, while the New York University. hard work
ing and poor, can show a catalogue of seven or
eight hundred students. Let the new President
Try to equalize these great facts hereafter
The biileis Of the stesuibost Neptune sunh AZ tina
mouth IF the Ohio River, in 1872 have been raissl
SIZE ksd cargo u lad and large amount Of specie
On beard.