The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-04

iVit-ahu all lnt notheddcu aOOiitOnists can DO
will result IN nothing but noise even though they
persist IN their work of hazard
MIR. Calhoun's speech, therefore, will come upon
our people with no surprise. The meetings at Castle
Garden, last Monday night, and a, Tammany Hall
last Saturday night, are clear exponents of the po-
sition Of the masses and any fair, just equitable
settlement of the question will be countenanced
and adequately supported. Mr.. Calhoun knows
how far the North are disposed to go, aud viii,
probably, ask nothing further. The controversy
must be ended soon and well ended and, TO that
end, all that is needed Is such an arrangement Of
the preliminaries for adjustment will be fair to-
wards all parties. As for slavery itself, men are
satisfied that will eat itself out by those degrees
which Providence has established in the harmoni-
Gus mystery and nscrutable progress of His mani
fold works
The GOVERNORS OF The ALMsHoUsE AND THE
COMMON CoUscn-1he subject of the extension
of the powers Of the ten Governors of the Aims
house still engages the attention OF the Common
Council, most of the members OF which body look
upon the new bill, well as the one already
passed, us a medley Of unconstitutional enactments,
which, on due application to the higher tribunals,
can be upset at once. The Governors of the Aims
house have lust made their annual report, which
we publish IN another column, and in that docu-
ment take occasion to laud their own manner of
doing business, and in no measured terms 10 con-
dcinn the conduct of those who preceded them IN
the management Of affairs connected with the
Almshouse proper.
Alter coneratulatng themselves upon having
thus laid bare the magnitude and bodness" of
the impostiSns which have heretofore been prac.
ticed upon the public, and duly explained the great
saving accomplished by the Ten, the Governors
complacently set to work to obtain an enlargement
of their powers Not content with the law of lS49,
which gives them the government of the institu-
lions at Bellevue, BlsckwelPs Island, Randall's
Island, Wards Island, &C., they now modestly ask
the privilege OF going to the penitentiary, and be-
rating the convlcts there ncarcerated by the de-
csion of The Court Of SPECIAL Sessions or to trans
fer said convicts from the place Of their contne-
ment 10 any other place under the jurisdiction of
the Governors They would thus be enabled to
act as censors upon the Recorder and Aldermen
of the city, and have power to reverse the solemn
decisions of the court established for the protection
Of the peace, and empowered to punish offences
against property and persons.
But in order that the extreme msdesty Of the
Governors may be the more apparent, we will give
a synopsis of the act which they are endeavoring
to get through the Legislature at Albany, and
which has already passed two readings in the Sc
nate, and been referred to the Committee on Poor
Laws, reported favUrsbly from said committee,
and committed 10 the Committee Of the Whole.
The act is entitled Gan act TO explain and extend
the powers and duties ofthe Governors ofthe Aims
house Of the City and County of New York"
sf-l- ~.
have exclusive control Of Poiters Field, appoint
keepers, assistants and laborers, who shall hold
their places only during the pleasure of the Go.
yemors, and receive such compensation as they
shall prescribe. Sections I'd, Sd, 4th and 9th give
the Governors power TO build vaults, control
grounds, repair and build edifces, establish q
workhouse, enlarge buildings, etc. Section 9th is
worthy of special consideration. Thus section
provides that the Supervisors shall raise and col
leci by tax such sums Of money as the Governors
may require for building warehouses;, etc. Sectisa
eth is an amendment to the act Of lSa9.
But, Of the whole document, section s 10 the
mos, remarkable, and as 1t shadows forth in re-
naikabl- degree, the modesiy Of the Ten, we cam
not think OF abridging 1t, but give the section
entire. 1t reads thus:
The said Governors shs have power TO transfer from
Institution under TIER charge TO other
institution under their charge for the whole any
shorter period Of their ell tuoh persons
fhall have been CT shall hereafter BE- committed auy
o! such Institutions by said governors, or BY court
CT any Law Of this state,
difordery persons, or by any Court of Special se,
nj any part q. TIE unespired 81 commi,tsi u
any reT-onsso committed sfosssid aud to discharge
them from their fsid cstsm,iinsnt, In such special
cases o. justice msy 10 them seem TO require.
Could COY hing be more modest, After The
n.rs I'D A bax
or hours, patiently stcnugto the trial Of cause IN
Special sessiens, aud III. taen, Of the bar has been
exercised, pro and con- In yindica,ion the laws or
IN defence ofpenonal rghts; after mature delbera.
ton. sol, mn decision s arrived at by three judges,
ard the accused person being convicted Of an
offence against the laws, is sentenced to suffer
such punishment a. appears to be adequate TO the
cxpaton Of the olIence-now, all the Governors
ark IN this section is, that they may say "iudge''
to The solemn decision oi The said Judges, aud Al
their discretion set the culpri free, or remit so
much Of hls sentence as to them seems proper. or
in ihen own language, Gee iustce may to them
scem to require" O, modes, Governors q, pros
receive Justice
The Board Of Aldermen have taken hold OF this
matter, and are determined to resist any further
cncroachmcn,s upon lhsir rights. Ga the other
hand, the Ten stard up with an assumption Of dig
n,y, and ask TO have their powers enlarged. There
Is fun ahead. Somebody must lose plumes, and
somebody must rain them. Whether the Alder
men or the Governors are TO be crestfallen, yet
remains 10 besecn. The new bill has been made
the special order IA the State Senate, for the 18th
instant.
The DccTRiNR or INSTRUCTION IN CONNECTION
Win THK SLAVERY QuEsroS.-A contemporary
very Justly remarks, that one Of the most serious
of the difficulties that surrounds the settlement, Of