The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-24
Correspondence Of the Republic.
New YoRx, July 22-4 p. m.

l wish | were able to write a good, plausible
downright, bewidering, overwhelming apology in
the true Hibernan style, for the interruption which
has taken place IN my correspondence. You have
kindly said word for me. What should say
myself in order to obtain the indulgence of your
numerous readers' Stop! / am going too fast.
May 1t not happen TO be the fact that your readers,
instead of asking from me apology, really felici-
tate themselves being freed from the nfction of
my poor epistles' But you say 60 on, and obey.
One word of explanation, however, is due on your
| account Simply ] intmated to you in pri-
vate note, | have been incapacitaled from writing
by an ndisposition, which, though not ''serous"
In the sense Of the hospital reports, was yet suf
fcently potent to prevent me from writing any
thing worthy of the Republic . After all, dear,
kind, indugent, mercifu considerate public-a tri-
bunal always ready to mingle mercy with JUS
tice, just as the first and most precious beams Of
the monarch Of the sky fall so tenderly upon the
peary dew of mornng-should you not allow
poor scrbbler occasionally TO be sick! If old Ho-
mer nodded, heavier and aching brains in our day
might tell you that he who earns his bread by daily
ministratons to that Unsuitable being, newspaper
journalism, ought not to be denied the privilege of
one of the Oldest penny-a-liners known to the hab-
itants of this dirty planet
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
You have seen the reports of the progress of the
cholera throughout the country. In this city the
visitation Of the pestlence has been mercifully
slight The population of this metropolis and its
suburbs has now reached half million of souls.
From the report it appears that the ratio Of cases
designated cases of cholera has been about one
in six thousand two hundred and ffty--an estimate
by no means alarming. Ihave' not f the slightest
doubt that many of the cases reported were not
treated in the most scientific manner, from the SIM
pie fact that the diagnosis o. the attending physi-
clans was not accurate their minds having been
disturbed by the panic. 1t will be observed that
the proportion of deaths to the number of cases has
materially diminished within the last week two.
The explanation is obvious-the true character OF
many Of the cases beginning to he recognised. A
great change in the usual regimen and diet of a
community, accompanied by an Introduction Of all
those medicinal agents which act upon the digestive
organs, is certainly not calculated to be conducive
to the maintenance of the public health. Thus a
great deal of sickness, less severe has been
amongst US. Now that the alarm begins to SUBJ
side, we may hope for cessation of the disease
which has been 80 prevalent in various forms.
Immense progress has been made towards arriv-
ing at sound and scientific views on the subject OF
epidemic diseases since the cholera last made its
appearance in Europe. settled and potent in
sirumentality of disease and death formerly not
dreamed Of in the philosophy of the faculty, now
begins to attract the rigid investigation of the great
| minds which have been devoted in our day to the
practice of that profession Of which, with all rever-
ence it may be said, the benevolent Redeemer of
mankind was the brightest exemplar. Electricity, il
| is now affirmed by leading members of the medical
profession, exercises controlling influence in the
production of many of those diseases which are a
part of the inheritance of human depravity. don
mean mark me, to enter into any theological spec
ulations, or use the "Repubc" for the propagation
of any theological dogma and so, reader, you may
Just interpret as you please the conclusion of the
last sentence, which gives it toerabIy decent
rounding off, at all events like the sound of it;
as to IT'D solidity n'm,porte So to 60 on-this mys-
FERROUS, wonderful, pervadng substance or essence,
or agency, or any thing else you please which
men call electricity, is said to be- and with great
show of truth and reason, one OF the main insru-
mentaliues in producing those pestlences which
sweep the globe, smiling all classes and coDdi-
| tons ofmen-mocking all the municipal regulations
and quarantine laws, and sanitary cordons by
which puny man attempts to stay Its progress Sir
| James Murray, several French physici ans, and a
| few thoughtful members of the faculty in our own
| and-for some of them really do thnk-are follow
ing up this train Of Investigation, and the results
WILL we have all reason to hope, confer great bless
/ ings upon humanity. | intend to send you, in o
few days, a resum< Of what has been thus Gar ac-
| complished in this new field Of scientific inquiry
EXECUTION OF WOOD.
| have no pleasure in the literature of the gal
lows, and your readers trust, desire no detailed
account Of the horrors Of that scene in which the
wretched man Wood was the chief actor He was
executed on Friday last; the Governor of the State
having peremptorily declined any further nterfer.
ence IN his behalf BY some the course Of his Elk.
cellency has been censured. In my humble opin.
ion the action Of the Governor was Just, conside-
| rate, and humane. He respited the condemned
once and again-visted him in his cell in person
incognito-paid the mnutest attention all appeals
made in the murderer's behalf, and then gave the
public full statement Of the grounds upon which
he left Wood to his fate.
PUBLIC MEN AND THE PUBLIC PRESS.
A good deal of attention has been directed to the
explanations which have appeared in reference to
the honorable the Secretary OF State, Mr.. Clayton
and the Philadelphia North American and United
States Gazette Many people in this good, fair
prosperous and peculiar land Of ours seem to think
that there is something desperately atrocious in any
direct or indirect connexion between public men
and the public press. In the Judgment of these in
telligent individuals, such thing is the unpardona-
BILE sin OF an American statesman. There never
was a ser idea than this entertained by the slIiesi
Of minds, and Il is TO be regretted that II appears to
| have exercised some influence upon our public men.
American public men do not to a sufficient extent
\ recognise the vast importance OF employing the
| public press vehicle, by means Of which their
views and sentiments might be transferred into the
minds Of their countrymen. and form part and par
eel OF the great mass OF public opinion Bot cdr
tors rising in the market They begin to share
with the farmer, the artizsn, the merchant, and the
lawyer, the honors OF public station in this country
and thus the evil viii eventually correct itself
Great is the press, and il must prevail.
couRrEsrrs or DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC sgs.
Passing through one Of the spacious corridors OF
that magnificent establishment and model OF mod
ern caravansares, the Astor House, was struck nv
the appearance OF pair Of grand antlers superbly
mounted with silver, and affixed IN massive ma.
hogany pillar. These antlers were the trophy OF
the successful aim OF huntsmsn in Hamilton
county in this State and once adorned the brow OF
one Of the noble denizens Of that interesting region.
An inscription on this elegant piece Of furniture
disclosed the courteous purpeses for which IL was
intended. II is as follows: " Presented to Thomas
Frazer, esq, Of the Imperial Arms, Belfast, Ireland
by Charles A. Stcfson, Of the Astor House, New
York, through their mutual friends, Csptnin Will
liam Lawrence and r. B Schenckn This hand
some present was in return for one Of a somewhat
similar character presented to Mr. Stetson some
time since by Mr. Frazer
.9Jropos Of the Astor House, The rumor that the
present pronrietors about 10 retire from busi-
ness, and that the house was no, doing a good