New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-29

the Grand Jury from making the presentmenr,
and then TO prevent or hinder the examination
before the Recorder. Fortunately their lsbors
did not avail; the presentment reused the plum
dered people and every honest man urged for
ward the investigation. Witnesses to the number
ofnearly two hundred were examined, and tae
inquiry was finally closed early this year, having
occupied the spare time of the Recorder for ten
months. The record was sealed and sent TO the
Governor, where the implicated parties hoped it
would forever remain; but among the earliest
moves of the Reformers in the present Board Of
Aldermen was q call for the documents. They
were sent BY Gov. Seymour to Controller Fiagg
who had copy prepared, and last night the whole
mas was laid before the Aldermen. Is was
moved to print it, when a strong opposition arose
from few members, who were very suddenly
stricken with the tenderest regard for character
and who feared that some Of the evidence might
to some people look ugly in print The motion
to print was at length carried, yeas IL, nays D;
and in accordance with this permission We pre-
sent digest of the more important parts OF tie
testimony. The whole document will make
book of several hundred pages.
Of the character of these revelations we leave
the reader to Judge for himself The first re-
markable feature noticed is that there seems to
be much more suggested than proved. The re-
luctaDce of witnesses, the evasiveness OF answers
and the frequency Of the statement II decline
"to answer the question on the ground that 1t
"may tend 20 crimDate myself" imply far more
than has been really developed. In legal view
there il much of the testimony that might not
stand FIRE; but as moral proof there is scarcely
page that is not fatal to the character of some
one connected with the government of loo2-53.
Let the reader who recollects the denunciatlons
hurled at THE TRIBUNE at that period for its ex-
posures, and the taunt that we dared not name
any particular man because OF the absurd LIBEL
laws) carefully look over the testimony as to
the Obsequies of Henry Clay, when the dead
body of that illustrious statesman was the point
around which a drunken debsuch was kept up
for two days and nights; and the develop
ment of the manner in which the grants
for the Eighth and the Thrdavenue
Railroads were made and then ssy If We were
not justified in the severest denuncistion of those
who used the advantages of official position TO
rob the people. From that which is here on
record, we can judge something Of what the full
disclosures would be if those who know the
facts could be made TO tell the whole truth. Men
who toke bride or conuive at public robbery
are not apt to leave the matter so that any future
contingency can dsclOse their perfdy; he that
will steal the peoples money is generally capt.
tai hand at hiding; and in these cases circum-
stantia evidence is always weak, and direct tes-
tnony seldom to be got except upon confession.
But the popular verdict is not guided by court
technicalities. The difference between honesty
and knavery in public servants is not so trang as
to require legal spectacles. The voters of the
City will therefore find little difficulty 10 placing
the responsibility of the robberies of the last few
years where it belongs.
Whether any further action will be taken in
the matter is not known. We presume, how
ever since most of those attainted are out of
Office and their impeachment and trial would re-
suit in no pecuniary benefit to the City-eyen if
convicted-tbat the subject will be passed over
as one that has as fully served it's purpose as if it
were prosecuted to the fall punishment of the
disgraced and Inundated offenders.