The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-17

INJUNCTION ON THE ART UMos.-Y Yesterday
morning, soon after the opening of the court, before
Judge Oakley We understand that Messrs Galbraith
and Sandford the learned counsel on the part Of the
subscribers to the Art Union, made an application
for an injunction to restrain the managers Of that
institution from any further progress in their pro-
ceedings, under their present charter and constita
ton; and the Judge, after hearing the complaint,
granted their request, and appointed Monday next
to give hearing to the managers, before the in
junction should be made final and irrepsalable See
report elsewhere.
| This is very important proceeding, and is the
turning point in the existence Of the present Art
Union, under its present management and constta-
ton. The hearing on Monday-the day appointed
for the argument-win be particularly interesting,
and, have doubt, viii call forth the attention
Of all the artists and friends Of art in this city.
The Art Union is now in the crisis Of It's destiny.
During the last nine or ten years it has been swag
gcring through the world without any regard to
the constitution and laws Of this State, merely be-
cause NO single individual, or class Of individuals,
felt interest enough in the subject TO care how tho
laws constitution were treated by the managers.
Tho impunity with which they have hitherto been
permitted to manage the affairs Of the institution
has led them astray into . violation Of law which
could not last for ever During that period Of time
nearly half million of dollars, contributed by the
public for the support Of art and artists in this city,
have passed through their hands; and, according to
the best information we can find, this vast amount
| Of money has been mainly confined to twenty or
thirty artists belonging to particular clique Of the
management, to the general exclusion Of two or
three hundred other artists in the city and country,
many Of whom have been again and again Compe
ttors for the patronage contemplated by the public
Yet, though the internal management Of the Ar
Union has been injudicious and bad that circuna-
stance would not have been cause Of their ruin,
had they not violated tho constitution and laws
! Of the State in reference to lotteries and gam
bling. The managers presumed too much on
the respectability Of their private position and
private reputation, when they undertook to set
the laws at Defiance by making the institution, in
the distribution Of its paintings mere lottery Tho
Recorder in his recent decision, quashing the ndict
ment against independent journal, very properly
read these respectable gentlemen moral lesson on
this subject, which they win carry with them
through the world as long as they breathe.
Nothing has taken place, in long tine, which has
met with more popular appreciation than the manner
in which this staggering Art Union has been treated,
both by the press and the legal tribunals Of the city
Tho further proceedings in this interesting case,
winding up the institution. and putting further
stop to an unconstitutional lottery, win, have
doubt, be received with equal applause and equal
appreciation by discerning community. The end
Of this illegal institution is now in sight.
THE PREsIDENCY-HR. CLAY's LErrER-MR.
WEBsTERs LETTERING publish elsewhere in
columns, to-day, an extract of letter from Mr..
Clay, on the Presidency; and the letter Of Mr. Web
ster, in favor Of dividing out the public lands among
Western railroads, which, also, has an eye upon
the chances for the succession. It is pretty bold
bid for the Western vote, in case there should be
such thing o nomination Of the Secretary Of
State by the Philadelphia Convention. Mr.. Cay's
letter is frank and unmisakeable argument in ia
vor Of Mr. Fillmore as his first choice, and as the
best candidate for the wings. This confirms our as
scrtion Of Mr.. Clay's preference, made some time
ago. His letter will undoubtedly have greater in
luence in behalf of Fillmore, than all the
Wall street mass meetings which could be drummed
up for Mr.. Webster, from this time to the meeting
of the whig convention. What says Mr.. Webb
What says Philosopher Greeley, a prodigious Clay
man Does he still 60 for Scott, against Clay, and
without convention platform, trusting to
Seward and to luck he did in the of poor old
General Taylor! We apprehend the letter of Mr.
Clay will stir up the Webster and Scott managers
and bring them out. The spring is opening. Mr.
Clay has led out his partner in the dance. Let the
dance begin.
The VERA CRUZ ROUTE TO CALIroRS1A.-One
Of our old slow coach contemporaries published the
other afternoon, statement Of the new route to
California via Vera Cruz, and thence across the
country to the Mescala river, and thence down the
said river in steamers to the Pacific. We presume
this was published by our neighbor for news al
though the same facts were more widely circulated
some two three weeks ago, in an editorial in the
HERALD. We have, however, received communi-
cation from a party interested in the Alvarado
route who says that the Mescala river, on the Vera
Cruz route is utterly impracticable for steamboat
navigation at any and every season of the year.
He says that 'Mr. James Wright, well known enter
prising traveller, who is now, and has been since
last March, employed in conducting passengers from
Mexico TO Acapulco, examined the above river, and
declares it not practicable for navigation Of any
kind, particularly in the rainy season, when the
falls and rapids are dangerous that the natives
cannot risk it in their canoes.' He further says
that board Of Mexican engineers havo reported to
the same effect. It does appear little strange that
there should be river navgablc for steamboats, for
five hundred miles in the heart of Mexico unknown
to the commercial world till the present day. Be-
tween the various conflicting routes through Mexico.
we shall doubtless be well informed Of them ALL We
want more light.
| IHpoRTAST LIoUOR MovEMlNT-A New ORGAN
FOR THE TRADE.-By reference to a curious but i'm
potant report Of the proceedings Of the liquor men,
which will be found in another column il will be
seen that organ is about TO be established, to
| newspaper movement Of the day. 1t begins with n
aptal Of fifty thousand dollars, to be extended TO
one hundred thousand dollars. and backed by morcy