The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-24

is very Extraordinary case. The principal witness
against the accused is his son, who, the father
asserts committed the deed. Thus we and the one
endeavoYing to establiah the guilt Of and bring
the other to the galows-nesh and blood against il
own. However, the sons evidence has been rendered
in such Straightforward manner, and il 30 fully
coroborated by circumstances, that there can be
scarcely doubt Of the boys entire innocence.
The British bark Altoona, which recently cleared
from New Orleans for Liverpool, with large cargo
Of cotton and corn, was on fire below the former
place on the 18th, and it was supposed would be to-
tally destroyed.
What has become Of the Southern mails! Three
are now due. Will Postmaster Campbell please in
quire into these repeated failures.
despatch was last night received from New Or
leans, containing synopsis Of Mexican intelligence
to the 5th instant. We some days ago published the
details of all the information given in the despatch,
and two days later advices in addition thereto Our
dates from Vera Cruz were to the 7th Telegraphic
reporters should keep sharper look out else they
will drop entirely behind the spirit Of the age.
very large meeting of citizens assembled in the
Tabernacle last evening pursuant to a public call,
to extend welcome to the celebrated divine and
patriot Father Gavazzi. The sentiments uttered and
the whole tone Of the meeting, were of very dis
credtable character, intended, as they were, to
create and increase religious dissension in this COM
munity, and to organize war Of crceds Such .
thing may do very well in Europe, where religious
animosties and persecution for conscience sake
part Of the social elements but deprecate the at
tempts, recently commenced in this metropolis, to i'm
port and nourish such baneful spirit in this land
of social political and religious equality We give
report of the meeting elsewhere.
verdict of six thousand dollars damages was
rendered yesterday in the Superior Court, against
Mr.. Bowen of the firm Of Bowen & McNamee, in
this city for written SANDER on Mr.. Fowles, sales
man formerly in their employ. 1t appears that Mr.
Fowles left Messrs. Bowen McNamee, with letters
Of recommendation from that firm, and subsequently
obtained situation In Cincinnati. After some time
however the SANDER complained OF was written, the
plaintiff was discharged from his situation in Cincn-
natl and claimed damages from New York jury,
who gave him $4,000.
new Presbyterian church was organized yester-
day evening" in Sixth street, by DR.. Hatfield and the
Rev. Mr.. Howe. The former gentleman delivered an
appropriate address, report Of which will appear
tomorrow.
The annexed is a brief summary Of the contents of
to-day's inside pages Important Proceedings in
the Court Of General Sessions-Refusal to Quash the
Indictment in the Case Of Alderman Bard Alder
man w. Smiths Case, Indictment against Pawn
broker for Receiving Stolen Goods, &c. Also a
List of the Articles sent from Italy to the New York
Worlds Fair Complimentary Testimonial to the
Retiring Postmaster, by those employed under him
the Proposed Amendments to the City Charter; the
Swearing in Of Vice President King Financial,
Commercial, Theatrical ard Miscellaneous Intelli-
gence, Advertisements, &c.
The Pretended Reform ofthe City Charter
1t is great deal easier to denounce griev-
ance than to cure it. This we imagine our
city reformers have by this timefully discovered.
| They have written, spoken. harangued and cla-
mored against our present charter, until the pub
lie has pronounced the subject bore; and now
that the field is won. and the enemy not only con-
quered but absolutely sierced without friend
to plead for quarter on it's behalf, the reformers
are more puzzled by their triumph than the
Aldermen are annoyed by their defeat. Like
the Eastern philosopher who, after exhausting
his breath in complaints of the disagreement
Of the Caliph, was suddenly informed by that
from that moment placed in his hands and that
the officers Of State awaited his orders, the
leaders of the reform party are aghast at the
responsibility they have incurred, and recoil
from the task of reconstructing the edifice they
have undermined. Fortunately for them, the
parallel ceases here; no bowstring is in readi-
ness to punish the failure of their efforts and
wi of tn 4, oil
they can afford to submit to a little good-hu-
mored ridicule. or to a more severe handling, for
the more glaring faults of the offspring of their
labors.
The Metropolitan Hall committee left New
York, as our readers are aware, big with pro-
jects Of reform; but, from some cause or other,
no sooner had they reached the State capital,
than they threw this portion Of their baggage
overheard, and agreed to adopt the draft Of
bill which was reported to the Assembly by Mr..
r. Smith, chairman Of the select committee. We
shall, therefore, do them no injustice by consider
ing them as the adaptive, if not the putative
fathers of Mr.. Smiths bantling, and laying to
their charge any omissions and errors which
may be found to exist therein.
five have rightly understood the recent anti
alderman and anti-charter agitation, it arose
solely and entirely from alleged acts ofcorrup-
tion on the part Of the Aldermen, and general
iooseness Of principle and dishonesty Of con-
duct imputed to the whole municipal body.
Bribery was at the bottom Of it. This was
the head and front Of the Aldermen's offend
ing Had no bribery been charged, there would
have been no agitation; and the Metropolitan
Hall committee would have been spared their
journey to Albany. We might, therefore, fairly
expect that the new charter-which was only
framed because ths old one afforded the public
nc safeguard against official uption-would