The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-18

regard TO matters hsre Is by no exaggerated.
The Dusch authorities prete I'D TO have found among
Captain Gioson's papers letter from our govern
ment erantn him rcviug commission. This Is de- !
MED, the letter being merely private communica
ton rom nephew O. The late Daniel Webster written
While the latter Secretary of Stae. The govern
merit az the Hague it is said will thoroughly scri-
tinize this matter. Many members OF Congress nal
arrived.
Judge Mitchell delivered an opinion in the Central
PARK yesterday, upon the powers vested in the
Court as to the appointment of commissioners, DC,
and nomiDated the following gentlemen as Commits
sioners ST Assessments William Kent, Michael
Ulshoefer, Luther Brsdsh, Warren Brady, and Jere-
miah Towle.
The trial of John Price for the murder of Samuel
Freeman was commenced yesterday, in the Court of
Oyer and Ter miner. There not being sufficient evil
dence to convict the prisoner, the jury rendered
verdict of Ne. guilty"
The rnost awful CONGREGATIONS which we have, for
long time, been called upon to record, occurred in
our city Yesterday morning. About half million Of
dollars were swept away in few hours, and at the
same time hundreds were left without employment
and witheut homes. These disasters may be summed
up rs follows:
streets SIZE ,ooo
Nupfper of buildings destroyed. ...-.......... 10
Number of families rendered homeless. 80
Number of men thrown out of employment. 200
Lose by tbs fire Ut foot Of East Twenty.nft
sfeet about sooo wy
Issuance pton,aaoy -''o0o
Number OF bu1id1ogs burned. ................
Number of thrown out OF employment fully 1000
Great credit is due the police and fire departments,
for their Jealous efforts to coune the disaster to the
smallest limits possible We give full particulars
elsewhere.
The jury in the case of De Corn, charged with
the murder Of Eugene Melville, at late hour last
evening rendered verdict of Mansaughter in the
| third degree"
George Lake, the man sentenced to be hanged at
Poughkeepsie this day. for the murder This wife and
two infant children will be executed, stay of
proceedings having been granted by Judge Barcuo.
copy Of the legal document will be found else
where.
On our inside pages may be found report Of the
Festival of the German Hebrew Benevolent Society;
az account of an ARRAY on Western steamboat
more about the alleged fraud by election Inspectors
target excursions; letter from Mr.. W. c. Lane,
about the Pacific Railroad; Court Reports; Coroners'
Inquests; Police, Naval Personal, Commercial,
Financial, and Mining Intelligence, &C., &c.
Action of the Senate and Congress upon the
Spells Cabinet.
Franklin Pierce has been living in an utter
delusion for the last eighteen months. He has
seen everything through medium of such re-
fracting power that the most simple events
have appeared distorted to his eyes. Men and
principles have assumed an untrue aspect as
he examined them. His own opinions have
shared the general metamorphosis, and he must
often have been puzzled in trying to reconcile
his acts to himself Looking calmly over the
events which have marked time since June,
1852. he must often rub his eyes and wonder
whether the past is a reality or dream.
We who know how painfully real it was.
may perhaps succeed in solving the problem
When the democratic convention assembled at
Baltimore, there was no politician in the coutry
who had less hope of nomination than General
Pierce. By what juggle his name ultimately
emerged from the ballot box. we all know; and
we have the Presidents own word for asserting
that no one was more surprised by the event
than himself Astonishment leading to inquiry,
General Pierce committed his first error. He
believed that his nomination was due to the
regard in which he was held by the spoils
seekers assembled at Baltimore, and lost sight
Of the fact that they had chosen him hecauso they
could not agree upon any other man, and be-
cause each faction there represented confidently
hoped to make him their tool if he should be
elected. The delusion began here: we shall see
how it grew and acquired fresh strength. As
the canvas progressed, public sentiment began
to pronounce itself for Pierce. This fact he
again misinterpreted, attributing it to the
influence Of the combined spoils-seekers Marcy,
Dix, Van Buren,, &C.; when, as any impartial
observer could have told him, the circumstance
was wholly attributable to the strong current
of public opinion on the Compromise question
Had Marcy, Van Buren, and Dix opposed Pierce,
instead Of supporting him, the result would still
have been the same. But General Pierce in his
incurable blindness, saw nothing Of this, and
overfowed with gratitude and pledges to those
whom he regarded as the authors of his popu-
larity. Finally the election came. and his tr-
umph was overwhelming. This was the culmi-
mating point both of his popularity and of his
delusion Surrounded Oh all sides by friends
who crammed him with tales of what had been
done for him by corrupt coalitions Of men of OPP
posite principles; constantly reminded that after
Marcy and Van Buren,, his success was due to
the Baltimore Platform and Providence: and
being in plain words simple minded man, of
small political experience, and Judging of the
word from what he saw in the little State of
New Hampshire. General Pierce fell fairly into
the trap, and laid his own rejecting faculties on
the shelf His thinking was thenceforth done
by the coalition Of spoils-seekers. He never
tried-o if he did, he soon abandoned the at