The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-29

"
tatives will have been real with regret by
right minded men throughout the country.
It is under any circumstances unpleasant to
see two leading men exhibit themselves in the
attitude Of gladiators engaged in personal con-
Aict, apparently for the amusement OF specta-
tors the occurrence bee, mes doubly deplora-
BILE when the character of the encounter leaves
room for apprehensions that it may not end
where it began. When the responsibility of
such spectacles can be rightly charged upon
one of the actors lie ought to be censured the
more severely in proportion to the respect he
had previously commanded. In this view, we
are impclled to say that in our opinion the
conduct of Mr.. Breckea ridge Of Kentucky in
his attack upon Mr.. Cutting was wholly mex
cusable. Let us look at the facts.
Mr. Cutting, approving heartily the prin-
ciple of the Nebraska bill, and Directing
only to trifing matters of detail, moved
that it be referred to the Committee Of
the Whole on the State Of the Union.
Whether or no Il is course was the best calcu-
lated to ensure the speedy passage of the bill,
we have not now to inquire; it certainly was
the best plan that could be devised for providing
for its thorough discussion, and was moreover
more consonant with sound parliamentary usage
than the adoption Of the course recommended
by Mr.. Breckenridge would have been. Opin-
ions may differ with respect to the policy and
the wisdom Of the motion but after Mr.. Cut
ting's speech, we cannot see that any member
of the House had the right to impute to him
dc Cro
imputation would seem to us to SAVIOR
of injustice as well as discourtesy. The
motion was carried. Two days after
wards, Mr.. Breckenridge suddenly discovers
that Mr.. Cuttings course was treacherous, that
he had embraced the bill with one hand while
he stabbed it with the other. He says so in
terms, we regret to say, quite inconsistent
with the gentlemanly forbearance which ought
to characterize Congressional discussion. Mr..
Cuttings reply was proper and suitable. Mr..
Breckenridge was not satisfied One Interrupt
ton, made in language which any man Of
spirit would certainly consider insulting, was
followed by another, less indecorous perhaps,
but hardly less annoying to heated speaker.
Mr.. Cutting yielded the floor to his angry an
tagonist and again his personal conduct and
motives were rudely assailed Finally, to
wind up We scene, for the use of an expression
unquestionably less severe than many which
had fallen from Mr.. Breckenridge, the latter
rose and cried: " The gentleman says what is
false and he knows it"
Mr.. Breckenridge is,we believe, a man Of talent
and worth. He has already achieved high
reputation as a Congressional leader: and pro-
misses to rise still higher. He has learnt one
secret Of success in public life. He has another
to learn-and that is the respect that is due
to his equals 1t must have been very mortify-
ing to him to hear the whole House laugh
when Mr.. Cutting disclosed the secrets of his
election; it will be more Notifying still to
reflect that he-who coEtended SO nobly for the
first rank in the House, and the mantle Of Clay
has been the first to set the example OF coarse
language and ungentlemanly brawling We
have no wish to cast in the teeth of country poll
ticians the manifold assistance they are in the
habit of deriving from New York: but we
think that at all events those who look to us
for aid in the time of their need ought not to
act as though the fruits Of our generosity had
what opinion Congress may form on the sub
.ject; but here, among those who are in every
way disposed to do justice to Mr.. Breckenridge,
there is but one sentiment regarding the utter
improperly Of his course.
1t is suggested-and not without a strong
show Of probability his attack upon Mr..
Cutting was made at the suggestion Of the Pre-
r. T. 81.
it very likely that he resorted to mean scheme
of this kind in order to curry favor with the
South; and, on the whole, we cannot but admit
that the antecedents of the President render
such surmise extremely plausible. He is just
the man to truckle to the South by feigning
deep wrath at the postponement Of the bill;
and to crafty the Northern freesoilers by at
tempting to in. ure national democrat. Should
this turn out to be the true secret of the affair,
the part played by Mr.. Breckenridge will lower
his character in the estimation of all high
minded men.
THE New Police BILL-MoRE ESPECIAL"
LEGIsLATIoN.--There is little honesty left in
New York, and, thanks to the interests of self
preservation and the conservatism of property
holders, the bill providing that the Chief of
Police should be elected by popular vote failed
to become law. But the Assembly could not
be satisfied with leaving well enough alone, and
the following sections were adopted as a substi-
tute for the whole bill -
Section THE Chief of Police in the CITY and county Of
New York shall be appointed by the Mayor of said city,
by and with the Board OF Commissioners consisting Of the
Mayor Recorder and City Judge and shall hold his Office
during the pleasure Of the Mayor.
Section 2.ln case vacancy shall occur in the Office
OF Chief of Police by reason Of DEATH resignation 9TH
erwise the Mayor shall fill the vacancy until
shall be appointed All members of the police except the
said Chief Of Police shall hold their Offices during good
behavior.
Section 3.--Ths act shall take effect imme dately.
This is the strongest case Of especial plead
ing" that we have ever seen, even from New
York politicians The lobby members first de-