The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-12

Senate under the delusive Interpretation that
it put an end to the colonizing projects OF Eng
land in Central America. But there was un-
happily private protocol, or codcil, between
the high contracting parties, concedng to EGG
land certain colonial rights in Honduras; aud
hence her Majesty's new colonies of the Bay
Islands and Honduras.
Furthermore, the treaty in regard to the
Mosquito coast has proved o nullity. The
Mosquito King is still the protect of Victoria.
Nor is this all. The very act of entering into
negotiations with England concerning the canal
through Nicaragua, an independent State, was
radical blunder, and the worst concession that
could have been made. 1t was direct aban-
donment of the Monroe doctrine and the legaliz-
ing the otherwise illegal pretensions and usur
pations of England. General Cass and others,
in justification of their votes for the treaty,
may plead their ignorance of the private codicil;
but: that does not absolve them from the radical
mistake of ratifying coalition with England,
in palpable contravention Of the Monroe doc
trine and g manifest destiny
But, looking to practical results, what is our
true policy? The Bulwer-Clayto ton treaty is
dead letter-let it be formally set aside, and
let the required notice to that effect be given TO
England. Next, let the Squier treaty, or some
other more comprehensive compact with the
inderendent States of Central America, be
adopted. 1--WE understand that special am
bassador may shortly be expected at Washing
ton from Honduras, with instructions to enter
into treaty Of commerce and friendship with
the United States, as means OF protection
against all further encroachments of England
upon the soil and sovereignty of that State
Let our government respond to this appeal
and following up the example with all the other
States Of the Isthmus, aid them in restoring
the late confederation upon firm basis ofunion
and mutual protection. Let this be done, and
let our country stand fast to the Monroe doctrine
against foreign intervention, and our true policy
will substantially be carried out. Otherwise
the insidious advances Of England will continue
until we can only arrest her absorption of the
whole country, from Mexico to New Granada at
the lannon's mouth, or at the point OF the bay
onot.-
4 Our policy then, with the States of Central
America, is, first-to reclaim their indepen-
denc,, one and ALL secondly to secure their
union upon satisfactory federal constitution;
and lastly to guarantee the new republic the
benefit OF the Monroe doctrine against all for
eign attempts upon their union or their indi-
vidual sovereignty. When the Senate to the
extent OF its wisdom, shall have enlightened the
country upon the whole subject, we hope that
something will follow in the way of practical
business. There is no longer an excuse for de-
lay, when there is an armistice upon the spoils
Our New CRY LEGIsLATURr-QUEER STATE
OF AFFAIRs.-So much has been hoped for by
the public from our new charter and our new
city legislature, who have been sugared over
with reform" that feeling little less than dis
may has been created by the ludiorous termina-
tioa of all these hopes. even before our new
legislators have got fairly settled in their
seats. Something like plain statement of
city affairs therefore, would seem to be neces-
sary, and we have, consequently taken some
pains to inform ourselves of the facts.
1t seems that the late reform movement
had Q very peculiar origin, and was o sort of
hybrid, begotten by old fogyism upon the
body OF rampant Young America an alliance Of
which it might safely have been predicted that
lit must not and it cannot come to good.' A
parcel of our most respectable population,
headed by Peter Cooper, James W. Gerard and
others of that ilk. no doubt with very honest
intentions, constituted themselves sort of
reform" General Committee and received the
sobriqua of the "City Supervisors holding
frequent meetings ct the Metropolitan, and
promising to themselves to purge the city
government from all sorts Of corruption. Mean
while the popularity part Of the business was
carried on at Metropolitan Hall, and other
places, where some pure and untainted patriots,
just liberated from the penitentiary, stirred up
the public enthusiasm in the regular reform
style. EE
The result OF the election was the return OF
certain number Of "reformers some pure
whig, some soft shell democrats, and others. re-
gular adamantines. to the Board of Aldermen
and the Council. The first grand scramble was,
of course, for the Offices. The reformers hav-
ing received their instructions from the perma-
nent board of City Supervisors" sitting al the
Metropolitan Hotel, (whcre the Maine Liquor
law is not yet in force,) settled upon Mr.. Tur
nure, former harbor master, as their candidate
for the President Of the Board The pure wings
brought forward Mr.. Nathan C. Ely, distiller
of pure wing spirits in the Seventeenth ward;
and the democrats, who, between hard and soft
she'll, reform, and other devilments, had got
completely cut up, united upon Ely in prefer
ence to being sold out, body and breeches, to
the ''reformers" Thus Ely, On anti.reform
whg and his two friends, ex-Sheriff Drake and
Wakemsn, had everything their own way. and
gave the stamp of old-fashioned anti-re'orm
whiggery to the entire action and appointments
Of the Board of Aldermen. SO persisted Gre
form in the upper branch Of our city legisla-
ture.
The Board OF Councilmen-a body created
4.