The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-16

hon or to the departed sage.
Four negroes were killed by lightning on Tues
day, at Lexington, Miss, while taking their dinner,
during thunder storm, under a tree.
| riot occurred on Tuesday last at Hamilton,
Canada, between some Protestant aud Catholic
| Irish, during which named Campbell
stabbed, who Immediately shot his assalant, caus-
ng him to die immediately.
| The degree of doctor Of laws was honorarily con-
ferred on Thomas Francis Meagher, Esq, yester-
day. by the Faculty of St. Johns College, Ford
ham. at their annual commencement Mr.. Meagher
excused himself from attendance, on the ground of
sickness, much to the disappointment of those gen.
| tlemen, and a numerous audience assembled in OK
pectation Of seeing and hearing him.
Corruptions OF the Corporation-A Crisis, at
| Last.
A very important crisis. affecting the integrity Of
| the members of the Common Council and the
city ola considerable portion Of the newspaper press
Of this city, has reached US, and cannot be
passed over without minute full, and critical in
vestigation before both civil and criminal tribunals.
For some time past, certain portion of the press
partly dsreputable and partly malignant-has been
endeavoring find out the secret history Of Corpora
ton legislation and to detect any acts in the conduct
of the Aldermen and Assistants that might render
them infamous and unpopular in the eyesof the COM
munity. For many months however, the staple ofthe
newspaper remarks on members of the Board of
Aldermen or Board Of Assistants consisted Of
satons against them for unwarranted interference
with the made by the police, night, for
disturbing the peace. During the last six months,
| it appears, according to the statements pub
| lished, that about hundred night brawers
rioters, and disturbers Of the public peace,
who were arrested by the police night
were discharged from custody in the morning, under
the action Of the Aldermen or the Assistants. This,
however, is but small proportion Of the rowdies,
numbering several thousands, who have broken the
peace during the last six months in this city Anoth
| or subject Of attack on The members of the Corpo-
ration, has been the expenditures of the tea room,
| and the refreshments paid for on occasions Of
funerals, receptions or other public celebrations.
A small outcry has been raised against the Alder
men for expenditure of three thousand dollars,
| something like that sum, towards defraying the
| expenses attendant the obsequies of Henry
! Clay This complaint comes with a very bad grace
from those who make it, more especially when some
twenty thousand dollars, over, was paid by the
previous Common Council for the Qualifications got
up for Kossuth, the Hungarian charatan and pa.
triot. 1t is poor compliment to the memory Of
the great statesman of kentucky, to complain of
the outlay Of few thousand dollars in receiving
and conveying his sacred remains through this city
to Ashland, when the elaborate ndridculous feast
ing thrown away on Kossuth and his humbuggeries
cost the city Of New York from twenty to thirty
thousand dollars.
But all these complaints, or examinations, against
the present Board of Aldermen and Assistants have
amounted TO little in the the way of real grev
ances compared TO the last Developments which
have been springing out Of the decision of
the Eighth Avenue Railroad case In that business,
five six Of the newspapers have distinctly ch urged
six or seven Of the Aldermen with receiving from
forty to fifty thousand dollars, and dividing it
among themselves, the reward OF their corrup-
| tion in voting in a particular way, IN favor OF
particular line of railroad. These charges purported
to be conveyed in the shape an affidavit, whi,h is
part Of the proceedings Of injunction case
brought by Pettgrew s Co in the Superior Court,
before Judge Oakley. But it win be observed that
this affidavit only makes the accusation on hear-say
evidence, and that it is not established on the
sauctity of an oath Yet, although this afidavtap-
pears to be part Of the legal proceedings, isnoa
privileged publication, to be viewed in the light
of regular report Of any tried in court, but is
ratnCr Sptclnl the mes OF inc court,
obtained out of the usual way, and published in the
newspapers for the purpose Of eliminating the Alder
men on e. parte and hearsay ties imony, Of the most
startling character against their integrity and
/ honor.
This, therefore, has produced the crisis which
has now to be decided between considerable por-
tion of the press Of this city and half of
the Common Council. The Aldermen are distinctly
charged by these FIVE or six journals with corrup
tion Of the grossest kind If they are guilty Of the
acts imputed to them, they utterly unit for
their Office, and ought to be indicted, tried, con-
victed ard degraded from the public posts they
hold. If, on the other hand, it shoud appear that
these journals have been putting forward false
and ungrounded accusations, their proprietors
are LIABLE. and deserve to be indicted, tried,
convicted, and punished, for fouly and mali
cously eliminating the Aldermen in the ho-
nest discharge OF their duty In this business
there be escape for either party. The public
attention is watchfully fixed on both sides If the
Aldermen, thus openly charged with these corrupt
PRACTICES do not forthwith proceed, by indictments
and by an appeal to the laws to procure a public
investigation and prove themselves innocent of the
crimes imputed to them, the public will believe
them guilty, and will be justified in entertaining
that belief. They are bound, therefore, at all
hazards and in every form, to clear up their char
acter and refute all the assertions of their enemies
II il should be proven that the Aldermen have been
belied, and arc not guilty Of taking brides to the
amount Of forty thousand dollars, any other sum,
'nen the newspapers which shamelessly and mali
ciously put forward these charges against them. on
mere neresay evidence, without being able to SUBJ
s'ai'ia.e them, ought to be brought up before tho
proper tribunal, indicted, tried, convicted, and So
verely punished, for defamation OF character of the
most malicious dye. Come forward. therefore,
hfssrs' Aldermen, deicnd your reputation us public
men, or by submitting 70 the imoutations consirn |
youIselYes forever 10 inefIahln nonio.4 - 4 4. ,..r