The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-22
have precedents innumerable against fighting,

have precedents innumcrable against fighting,
all over the country, among politicians. How
often in Congress, and in many of the legisla-
tures-to say nothing OF political meetings
have some of the most distinguished politicians
of all parties called each other by every varie-
ty OF vile name; and yet the next week they
are seen to shake hands, be sworn brothers,
and get fuddled together after the most APP
proved fashion. We see no necessity, there
fore, according to recent precedents in Con-
gross and elsewhere, for Mr.. Toopbs and Jeifer-
son Davis risking their lives on the point Of
political truth and veracity for there is no
truth III politics there is no veracity in party,
in these latter days. 1t is all humbug, preten-
sion, and make-believe, from beginning to end !;
and why should men get angry, and shoot at
each other, in consequence thereof?
THE MAINE LAW AT WAsHINGToN.-We trust
that the Cabinet quarrels and the embarrassing
questions of our foreign policy will not pre-
vent President Pierce from devoting spare
paragraph in his message to the subject of the
proposed introduction of the Maine law into the
District of Columbia. He must be aware by
this time that there is not city in the United
States where dissipation of all kinds.is so pre-
valent during the winter season as in Washing
ton He must already have been shocked at
the amount of drunkenness which defles the
capital We know that the President is man
of very retired habits, and it is possible that he
may not know how wicked the world is. But
We entreat him to overcome his incredulity,
and to convince himself that more brandy,
whiskey, and wine are consumed in Pennsyl-
vania avenue, from one end to the other. than
in any other street in the Union, not
excepting Broadway. He would not be-
leve il, probably, but to tell the truth
this drunkenness is not entirely confined
to the street porters. servants, and negroes
There are many men in Washington who neither
clean knives nor wait at table, but who stand
round bars, swilling cobblers and cocktails.
and sings and skins, and all the other hideous
mixtures that are sold in such dens, until they
lose their reason entirely, and fancy them
selves Presidents of the United States Others
do it privately in rooms with locked doors
but alas-with an equally absurd result.
Now. when President Pierce reflects on the
ridiculous position in which these men place
themselves, and when he sees how much of the
gambling and other immoralities which prevail
at Washington, are due to the immoderate use
Of intoxicating liquors. he will surely be con-
WINGED that he ought to recommend to Con-
gress the adoption of the suggestions contained
in the memorial of the Teetotal Society, which
we published yesterday. If he does SO, we will
grant his cabinet respite
THE PACIFIC BUBBLE.-It is not often that we
agree with our contemporary the Tribune, but
its article Of yesterday on the subject of the Pa
cifc Railroad expresses our ideas 80 correctly,
that we have transferred it to our columns
elsewhere A greater sham than this concern
has seldom been brought to light, even in New
York. 1t is enough to say that, though the
stock is declared in the charter to carry with it's
personal liability to its full amount. it is given
out openly that no further instalments than those
now called in, being one-tenth per cent, or one
dollar on every subscription of thousand, will
ever be levied. This instalment will raise
100000, and the road is to be built with money
from heaven knows where. We repeat our tho
rough conviction that the managers have no
intention of building road. They will make
enough noise about grants from Congress and
sales of bonds in England, to render the stock
marketable article. They will then sell out.
If they did so at SO per cent discount, they
would realize handsome profit. And when
Chatfeld, Walker, Gwin and Co. have got rid
of the stray millions which they have sub
scribed California, Texas and Arkansas may
whistle for their road.
But we 90 farther than the Tribune Asa
Whitney may not have had such comprehensive
schemes of flibustero stock schemes as Mr..
Walker or Mr.. Chatfeld, but we don't regard
his road as one whit more feasible than theirs.
A railroad to the Pacific must be viewed in the
same light as railroad to the moon, for the
next quarter Of century. Neither this govern
ment, nor the people of this country, nor the
people of England nor any other person or
people that we know of, can afford to sink one
hundred millions without hope of returns.
Without sinking this. or larger sum- no rail-
road can be built even if reliable scientific
men should discover suitable route. And we
need not add, that, as the bulk of railways built
through populous districts. from one city to
another, have not as yet paid fair annual
dividend on the capital invested, no sane indi-
vidual could expect the Pacific line to pay
even its working expenses. The sooner the
scheme is laid on the shelf, and Messrs. Walker
and Chatfeld resume the even tenor of their
ordinary avocations, the better for them and
for us
Mn. FoRNEY AND THE CLERKsHIP OF THE
House OF REPREsENTATIvEs.-We see it stated
in some Of the correspondence Of the news.
papers, that the President has declared himself
to be in favor of the election of Mr. Forney as
the Clerk ofthe House of Representatives, at the
next meeting Of Congress-. We do not think it