The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-24

robbery, burglary, larceny, forgery, l.. Levi
Weeks, a Young msn, found guilty OF highway rob
bery, committee in Third lv nue., was sentenced by
the court to ten years imprisonment in the State
prison, being the minimum punishment awarded by
the statute. 1t does appear strangely anomalous
that criminal, Incidentally gdilty of murder, and I'M
der aggravated circumstances, should escape with
the comparatively trivial punishment OF NO or three
years Imprisonment, az we have few days since
in the Court Of Oyer and Terminer, and that one
whose offence was certainly OF lighter grade should
Incur such an unequally severe sentence. However,
sEch is but another instance of the glorious uncer
tain,y Of the law.
Assistant Aldermen Baker and McConkey resumed
the investigation of the charges made against Chief
Engineer Carson yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Abra
ham Van Ness was recalled and Mr.. MCGOWAN con-
tinued his cross examination, which was not con-
Guided when the committee adjourned the further
hearing TO Monday next, al O'Clock.
Rev Dr. Foster delivered his second lecture or
geological agencies causes Of changes and meaus Of
observation, in the Methods. Episcopal church in
Greene street. yesterday evening and illustrated his
remarks by charts and symbols. The audience was
not numerous, but those present seemed 70 be great
~ entertained by the scientific research Of the
Iend gentleman.
The Board OF Assistant Aldermen last evening
coDcurred with the Board Of Aldermen in appro-
priatng the old tea room to the use OF Mr.. Valen-
tine, Clerk of the Common Council for business pur
poses; Also in the appropriation Of $3.50 for the
manufacture of five additional fire engines, to be
added TO the present force.
The Meeting of Congress Duties of New
Members.
A few days hence Congress will again be as
sembled at the Capitol. Two-thirds of its men,
bers will make their debut in Congressional
life. Many OF them, we doubt not, will go to
Congress full of bright hopes and honest inten-
tons. Not few will resolve to postpone con-
siderations Of private ambition to the great
duty Of serving their country well and truly.
Some will resolutely determine to set their
faces against the system of corruption which
the last few years have naturalized at Wash
ington. Many will congratulate themselves
on their earnest desire to perform the business
set before them conscientiously, and to OPP
pose waste of time in fruitless, point
less debate. There will be Others of course
who viii go to Washington with mouths
and pockets alike gaping--who will in
sist upon occupying whole days in uttering
rhodomontade, for no earthly purpose ex-
cept to see their names in the newspapers--who
will place their votes in the auctioneer's hands,
to be knocked down to the highest bidder; to
whom the good of the country, the national
honor and the interests OF their constituents,
will be matters of equal Indifference and who,
like the indscreet gentleman whose letter went
the rounds of the papers short while since,
will be grateful for their election solely because
it enables them to make so many thousand dol
lars a month. To this latter class we have
nothing to say. The most scathing censure
would be lost upon them. They are hardened
to contumely and in every sense beneath no
tice. It is to the former category---the men
whose intentions are as yet pure, whose motives
are honest and conduct would be upright--that
we would offer few remarks on their approach
ing duties
And in the first place, we would earnestly
warn them against pedging themselves to be
bound by the decisions Of caucus meetings. 1t
isperhaps necessary in certain cases that private
assemblages of members should be held, in order
minds; but unanimty gained at the cost of pri
waite freedom of action is really not gain. but
loss. to the State. No member has a right to
make away with his own opinion. or to hand
over his conscience to the keeping of Others He
is sent TO Congress to take counsel on the pub.
lie business and is bound by his duty to his con-
stituents to keep himself free to oppose or SUPP
yvbi ba mi,
or salutary. 1t is no excuse for him to say,
in defence of o vote which his cons cience
disapproyes, that he had agreed to fol-
low the bidding of others. He was
not elected for any such purpose. 1t
was. in fact. because he was deemed q man of
sufficient sense and discretion to be able to
judge for himself. that he was sent to Congress-
We therefore trust that all the new members.
should they think fit to attend caucus meetings
will still retain their indefeasible right of pri-
vate judgment and will not hesitate to oppose
the measures determined on in caucus. should
they deem them detrimental to the real welfare
of the country. They will do well to follow
the example that will be set them in this respect
by Mr.. Cutting, who goes to Congress IA free
man. with his tongue unfettered able to speak
of men and things in such terms and sense as
they deserve
AT the opening of Congress, the new members
will find themselves at sea, without buoy or
landmark. 1t will be quite impossible to at
tach any definite Specification to the old party
names. We doubt if any one could define the
words " wing" or democrat" at the present
day. Both party appellations have assumed so
wide Specification as 70 trench materially on
each other: and moreover. the splits in both are
now so vast that the parent faction is over
whelmed and lost sight Of in its children. Mem
bers will do well to forget all the old party
lines and to vote as though no such bodies as
wings and democrats had ever existed. They
cannot, in fact. act otherwise. There is no