The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-19

force distinct and unequivocal understanding
win ne administration. The Nebraska hin
win not answer. If Benjamin +. Butler, ths
right hand man of the Van Burens, has gone
over to Seward, why should not his free scil
associates, Office holders and cabinent members
incinded, be allowed to follow him? That Is
tne question before the Senate, and we shall ex--
pect them to act upon it. Calomel and jalap
are the proper prescription for the democrltse
party. Let it be purged.
GREAT DEMAND FOR RAGs-A WORD or Az
VICE TO HousEKEEPERs-Very few besides
those engaged in the manufacture and sale a
paper, realize the Importance of rags to he
business community, and there are none, per-
haps, who are more directly affected by a de-
crease in the supply than newspaper establish
ments. To prove this it is only necessary TO
state that in the printing Of the HERALD about
forty thousand pounds of paper are used every
week, and in the manufacture Of this amount
not less than sixty thousand pounds Of rags
are required Four or five years ago ono
paper mill supplied four newspaper Offices in
this city; but since then, SO immense has been
VIC AhOA CdoS III Vic CuCuiutOu vi tlo HERALD
that this mill cannot manufacture sufficient
paper to supply our demands Every year we
pay over two hundred thousand dollars for
paper, and for the rags consumed in the manu-
facture of this paper at least one hundred aud
fifty thousand are paid by the manufacturer
Whether there is a scarcity in the article al
present, or the demand for paper has exceeded
the supply of rags, we know not, but we do
know that the price of the former has been con-
siderably increased within the past year. Rags
gre now selling at from four to six cents a
pound, according to the quality, and even old
newspapers can be sold for two cents and =
half pound.
In view of these facts, we have few words
to say to housekeepers, both in and ont of New
York. If we compute the number of families
in this city at eighty thousand, and calculate
pound and o half per week-a moderate esti-
mate-we will have tot al of one hundred and
twenty thousand pounds, or about five thou
sand dollars worth. In this estnate we do
not include the supply which is obtained in the
form Of clippings from tailors' shops, dressma-
kers, and oil establishments where the needle
and scissors are indispensable. What we would
say to housekeepers, then, is, that they should
carefully preserve their rags, or, that rather
than destroy them by burning, they will threw
them into the streets for the rag pickers.
The KNow-NoTHING ExcIrEMENT-THE Cash
OF ELLIOTT AND OTHERs-New York is great
place for wonders, mysteries, and tremendous
ovc 80 rI-ol1 g.
that these wonders hardly ever attain the legi-
innate age of nine days. After a day or twoos
brilliancy they sink like bright exhalation in
the evening and are seen no more.
The last of these absorbing topics is the
E" Know-Nothing excitement, and it reached
its present magnitude by the usual means-the
public journals Courier and Enquirer
being one of the instruments used for the pur-
pose.
It is alleged that there exists in this and
other cities, an extensive secret organization,
having for its object the elevation of native
born Americans to all posts ofpolitical influence;
the retrenchment of the power and property
of the Roman Catholic Church, and the further
protection of the ballot box from what are
called the "insidious wiles of foreign in
fuence." Three or four days since the Courier
and Enquirer published letter, purporting
to be q copy of one received by Roman
Catholic priest. The writer promises to put
the priest in possession of all the signs, grips,
passwords, tokens and manner of work of
secret society of which order he (the writer) is
high officer and which order has for its ulti-
mate object the overthrow of the Roman Catho
lie Church in the United States. All this valua
bic information was to be given for the modest
sum of ten thousand dollars. The "priestn re
fused, for certain good and sufficient rea-
sons, and the letter was published without
signature. 1t is further alleged thai
the order referred to was the Know No
thing" order; that certain members of that
order suspected that Mr. John E. Elliott was
the writer of the letter. and that these persons
made forcible entry into the premises occu-
pied by Mr. Elliott and therein seized and
carried away trunk containing documents,
rituals, seals, &C., the property of the order,
and also certain personal property belonging to
him. Mr.. Elliott denied the statement relative
to Ids connection with the letter, and he made
affidavit that to the best of his knowledge and
belief three persons-Messrs. Sleight, Allen and
Morse-were the individuals who seized his pro-
perty. These persons were arrested and exs-
mined before Mr. Justice Osborne, yesterday
The examination was holden in the court room
formerly occupied for the Sessions, and it was
crowded to excess. The people, invited thereto
by the delicate wit and playful sarcasm of the
leader for the defence, INDUCED in noisy de-
monstrations Of applause, which produced
several scenes disgraceful in a court of justice
The HERALD reporters have given full notes
place The evidence does not throw much
light upon the various interesting subjects
which go to make up the excitement. The COR