The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-27
Our Albany Correspondence.


ALBANY, June %, 1853.
The Impeachment Matters in the House.
All hope of an early adjournment of the Legisla-
ture is now at an end. THE grand inquest of the
State" as the bombastic member from Allegany
denominates the House of Assembly, has, in com.
plance with the request Of Commissioner Mather,
taken such action will bring the charges against
him to trial before the high court for the trial Of
impeachments. During the trial the House of As
sembly must Sit and remain in attendance lat three
dollars per diem) upon tie movements Of the upper
chamber. AS no legislative business can be acted
upon while the Senate is thus engaged, the Assem-
bymen can amuse themselves with trips about the
country visits to home, and railroad excursions here
and there, leaving sufficient number of the bitter
est barnburners at Albany, to conduct the proceed
ings.
Nor is this all. Other impeachments to follow,
and the wings, who have assisted the barnburners
to place Mr.. Mather trial, will now aid the hunk
ers in bringing before the court Mr.. Church, Mr..
Chatield Mr.. Wright, and perhaps Mr.. Seymour
himself. The ball has only opened
AS the action Of the Assembly in the case Of Mr..
Mather has been the exact opposite of what it
would have been, had the vote been taken just one
week earlier the circumstance will doubtless create
surprise throughout the country So large a major
ity of the press-democratic, whig, neutral and
even barnburper-had denounced the charges as
frivolous and malicious, that the public anticipated
dismissal of the complaint, almost unanimously,
ut the hands of the House and moderate politicians
of all parties viii undoubtedly be dispeased at any
result which will detain so long in Albany, at the
public expense, the present incapable and partisan
popular branch" of the Legislature.
Yet this was the only resource left to the members
of that body and under the circumstances it is para
doxicaIly enough, virtual triumph to the accused
party. He is now before court whose conduct will
probably be impartial and upright and relieved for
a time from the malignant attacks of personal and
political enemies
The history Of the whole affair novel and extraordi-
nary it is promises interesting chapter in the
annals of some future political antiquary A few
memories pour Sero1r, or pencilings by the way,
illustrative Of the plot as 1t appears to quiet spec
fator from the lobby benches, may not be unworthy
of his attention. Some Cay, when impeachments
shall be obsolete, and when descendants will be
content to leave to the people the punishment Of
political offenders, undistrustful of the verdict which
may issue from the ballot box it may be amusing to
turn back to the files OF the HERALD and note how
their iarthers managed political prosecutions.
In and around Albany are located some Of the
shrewdest and ablest men of that compact and well
organized faction known as the barnburners. Sue
cessors of the old, dead and gone regency, and in
heritors Of its wise and unscupulous tactics these
leaders exercise to-day an influence made ten times
more potent than formerly, by the unquestonable
preference shown TO them by the Washington adj
minstration They control the Canal Board, that
great fountain of public pap they possess active and
influential newspapers they number in their ranks
the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Assem-
bly,: and they have bound down the Governor and
Dther soft shell State officers with as many cords as
Swts Llliputians used to confine the hairs OF Guilt
hold ~ lo.r how, Ia of,rfn1
Of the patronage of the State and general govern
ments, and their edicts respected duly in the
State Department at Washington in the Executive
chamber of the capitol Of New. York. There re-
manned but one public Office which they could not
control; two of the three Canal Commissioners are
hunkers of the Cass and Dickinson school, elected
by the "cotton vote Of your city, and of course OBJ
noxious in the highest degree to the barnburners
and their dependents, the soft shells.
Early last winter there rumors OF prepare
lions which should annhate the last strongholds of
hunkerdom, although the manner in which the blow
Sboud be struck remained mystery. quiet and
inofensive resolution Of inquiry, couched in broad
and general terms, was drawn up and put into the
hands OF Mr. Shaw, OF your city, who, one day. when
nothing in particular was going on in the House. got
mp and offered it. II adopted, and select COM
mittee ordered. The Speaker took a long time to
choose the committee and finally appointed Messrs.
Champlin, Beckwith and Marsh three barnburners,
and Messrs.1 Hoyle and Peters, independent wings,
(who had been read out Of their partys caucus for
voting with the barnbuners, some time before) to
serve upon it.
Nothing whatever was heard, seen, or suspected Of
the dongs of these gentlemen till the day fixed for
adjournment, when Mr.. Champlin (the same gentle
man who had opposed Mr.. Taylors resolutions lauda
tory Of General Pierces naugura) rose in his place
and reported resolution impeachng John @. Mather
of high crimes and misdemeanors, without specica-
lion. The Assembly, in profound establishment, or
dered two thousand copies of the report to be print
ed and laid the subject the table for consdera-
zion.
The regular session terminated; the extra session
called, and the amendment of the constitution,
FIRST proposed by Mr.. Vanderbilt, was finally passed.
AT last the Assembly had time to consider the i'm
parchment. A communication from Mr. Mather, ex-
Panatory OF his conduct, produced an immense sensa
hon. The extraordinary number Of twenty thousand
copies was ordered printed; the Assembly having
frst decided upon fifty thousand which was sheer
Extravaganza. Such was the sympathy shown in
every quarter towards the accused party that il was
evident the impeachment would not receive twenty
five votes.
Thus stood the matter when it came ND last week
and when Mr.. Champn, with the Attorney Generals
berth in prospect and smarting under the sarcasms
of the press and the fine irony contained in the
Commissioners reply took the floor in vndicaton Of
his courre. The structures uttered by his colleagues
placed him in the attitude OF the defendant instead
Of hat Of the accuser and for six hours he poured
forth one of the most terribly abusive speeches II was
ever the lot OF Legislative body to listen to. No
thing short Of death at the stake was severe enough