The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-18

tin is detailed at the mouth Of the Delaware; but
llule aid can be expected from her. as her COM
mander, in consequence Of her inefficiency, has
orders to remain in the Breakwater, thereby ieav-
ing the whole coast from Great Egg HarbOr to Mo-
bile, entirely unprotected. The transfer OF the
Forward here, In the place OF the Galatin. was BY
q request of the board Of underwriters of this city
TO the Secretary of the Treasury; they knowing
well the aid and assistance our cutters have given
heretofore.
The coast survey s, without doubt, one Of the
most beneficial and praiseworthy undertakings
which our government has ever entered into. We
cannot, however, see the reason that the govern
ment should take vessels belonging to the revenue
marine tor that purpose, or If they do 80. tor not
substituting others in their place. 1t 10 not right
that coast should at this season of the year be
90 completely stripped Of Its revenue cutters, nor
that relief should be withheld from the CONNER
cial marine at this Indictment season of the year.
THR MODERN BLUE LAWS OF PHMADKLpHIA.-
In the colonial history OF Connecticut We read
good deal OF the blue laws Of that moral and reli-
gious colony. These laws formed code Of legis-
lation. which imposed with characteristic puiitani-
cal severity, the necessity Of virtue and proprety
ordinary occupations Of life, for every day IN the
week, were regulated according to this blue law
system; and on some occasions It was even pro-
nounced criminal by the laws for barrel Of beer
to work upon the Sabbath day, or for bottle Of
cider to pop out its cork with more than becoming
noise and propnety. Such violations Of decorum
were considered AZ coming under the category of
Sabbath breaking.
There 10 now prospect that the ancient blue
laws Of Connecticut for tho purpose of preserving
sacred the Sabbath day, wall be outstnpped by tho
recent blue laws OF Philadelphia, enacted and en-
forced under the sole legislative authority and urls
dieuon Of the immortal, immutable, and wonder
full Mayor Swift, of that city. Under q special
order issued by this functionary, we understand
that no fewer than sixteen little boys, whose ages
range from seven TO fourteen, were arrested last
Sunday Tor selling newspapers on that day, and con-
fined Tor several days in black hole attached to
his Office. The little fellows, who were enabled By
the sale Of these papers to provide food and ra,men
for themselves, and mothers, and sisters, were de-
priyed Of them, and were locked up in dark,
damp, underground cell In the Mayors office,
which may now be called Mayor Swift's black
hole Of Calcutta.
trated under the moral sanction and stretching of
law by the modern blue law Mayor Of Philadelphia.
To say that such course OF action is necessary
by the police OF Philadelphia, to purify the morals
OF that city, or to preserve the sanctity of the Sab
bath, would be sarcasm of the sharpest kind.
There IL, perhaps, no city In the Union where
such scenes Of rowdyism, Of violation OF law, Of
abandoned profigacy, and unrestrained wicked
ness, are presented-all of which run riot with
IMMUNITY, and are even wnked at by the autho.
rites. Perhaps no city in the Union can lay
claim to such unenviablc pre-eminence In the per-
petration of crime, such violation Of social
order, and such disregard Of law, as the " City of
Brotherly Love-" " How are the mighty fallen !"
may be the exclamation of any one who compares
the present condition Of that city with the days
when VIM. Penn first gave 1t that name which
has now become such mlsnomer.
"Qusntum mutata sb lila"
And yet, in the face of such a state OF things,
which is in great measure to be attributed to the
connivahce OF the magistrates, and the supneness
and negligence of the police authorities, we see
violent attempt made to interfere with the sale of
Sunday newspapers, under the pretencs of watch
ing over the sanctiy of the Sabbath and preserving
1t sacred and unprofaned. On the same day, you
will find all the worst houses OF bad repute open
in Philadelphia, and the flihiest purieus OF iai-
guilty inviting to every kind Of immortality and
prohigacy, and the indictments to the demorallza-
ton OF the people openly countenanced, and, we
nigh: almost say, legalzed, by the magistracy and
police OF Philadelphia.