The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-21

szss-y description which are, In eight cases out OF
te. left unguarded either by ratings or lamps, by
careless building, paving, and sewer contractors.
Il, The Board OF COuncLnen business was some what
ohetructod by the antipatny manifested by the re
form aud aDt-refoIm members. IL seemed as thou n
tese gentlemen took particular delight in opposing
e,erything that emanaed from their political adgtr
saTi.s. large amount OF routine business was
Transacted in both boards for the details Of which
wei as Of the debates the reader is referred to the
Official and special reports
The proceedings in Of the local courts yes.er-
day, were OF rather more than usual importance.
The Court of General Sessions adjourned for the
tenn, after having disposed of large amount OF
business. In the course of the day the Grand Jury
finished their presentment TO the Court acc ompaned
by Al interesting communication from the District
Attorney concerning the law of bail. 1t is sverred
that ole OF the chief drawbacks TO good order aud
the administration of justice is the insufficient man
in which persons accused of high crimes are adj
mited to bail perjury and forgery being not unfre
quenty res rtcd to for the purpose of procuring VIII 1t
is denomihated straw bail in order to shield ac-
cused persons from the necessity of answering for
their instantaneous. Judge Morris, of the Supreme
Court, having granted stay of proceedings in the
case Of the Ninth yard rioters, the Recorder in
formed them that they could depart until again
notified to appear, through their counsel
most revolving tragedy occurred at Southing
ton, Conn last Thursday morning. A Mr.. Flash,
Thle probably laboring under mental alteration
proceeded 10 the room OF his daughter, an IDIOT
ABOUT twenty years Of age, and cut her throat with
a razor while she lay asleep, after which he per
formed the same horrible operation on himself
Both lied almost Immediately.
Some two hundred boats having on board large
number Of emigrants in destitute condition, are
waiting at the junction OF the Ohio aud Mississippi
rivers. Teams were crossing the latter river on the
ice at St. Louis on Thursday
: We publish in another column list of ell those
foreign exhibitors at the New York Crystal Palace
to whom The jares have lately awarded medals, or
Who have been 'honorably mentioned The reader
will find it highly interesting.
Mr. Bvyard Taylor ectured last evening before the
members OF the Mercantile Library Association and
a large audience upon Japan and Loo Choo. This
was tie first Of the second Of lectures deliver
cd under the auspices Of this society Our report is
crowded ont.
In addition to much other interesting realing,
our inside pages contain letters from Messrs. Ed
ward n. Dckersou and II. II. Day, relative 70 Colts
patent, &c.
The Niagara is greatly overdue ct Halifax with
one week 5 later European news.
General f'iercc's Administraticn-I Fatal
ET,cts upon the Country.
Ii was frequent remark Of John c. Calhoun,
during the last lingering days of his existence,
as he was moved from his bed to bis chair and
from his chair to his bed in his boarding house
on Capitol Hill. that although the com
promise scheme then pending before the Senate
would pass and might be satisfactory to the
country for year or two, no peace, 70 lasting
friendship, no permanent alliance between the
North and the South, would be secured. And
his reason for this apprehension was. that the
corruptipg influences of the spoils would so far
demoralize the political parties Of the North
and the South that in their squabbles for the
public plumber the government and the Union
would be finally torn to pieces. "Corrup
tion and the spoils,' said the dying statesman
locking into the future with the clear vision
a prophet corruption and the spoils will be
the ruin of this country; and one day its effects
will be felt when the grass shall grow in the
deserted streets Of New York
The Developments which we have made
public concerning the intrigues and fraudu-
lent devices through which General Pierce
was elected. and his administration was
brought into power and which afford the re-
quired solution to the free soil and secession
coalition in the Cabinet, in Congress, and in the
materials of the administration party through
out the country, are almost enough to impress
the fearful prediction of Mr. Calhoun upon the
mind as the words Of inspiration Looking to
the past. and casting about us with an eye to
the future, we are startled with the fear that
the worst may be realized even before this gen.
Grafton shall have passed from the stage" The
prodigous accumulation of the spoils, the
universal spirit Of corruption which pervades
all parties and all cliques at Washington rally
ing around the Cabinet, among the press gang.
among the lobby-forces, and in Congress, seem
clearly to indicate that we are entering upo.
phaze Of political action aud decentralization
which will soon carry the government and the
country into the high road to dissolution and
destruction
Nebraska territorial bills have introduced
new apple of discord into the Senate Mexican
treatie>have be made which can only tend
further to involve and complicate the trouble
while the disbursement of the spois has ripened
the spirit OF discord in both sections of the
Union for the most reckless and desperate agi.
tation. Amidst this gloomy prospect we look
in vain for relief TO the administration. or to
the heterogeneous elements supporting il in
either house of Congress. They are banded to-
gether upon the cohesive power of public
plunder;' they form in the mass. including pa.
tent agents railroad agents. and all other drum
mers of the lobby, mighty and inscriptions
conspiracy for the spells amounting to $500
100000.
The compromises Of the constitution State
rights the rights of the South. the principles