The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-25


Council indicted by the Grand Jury. Three of
the Aldermen and three of the Councilmen of
our city were taken into custody yesterday, on
bench warrants issued by the Recorder, found
ed on these indictments, and were subse-
quently admitted to bail on sureties to the
amount of $4,000. Alderman Herrick's in
stinct, which prompted him TO think that he
was among the number indicted, was not at
fault. Yesterday morning his suspense was
terminated by his arrest. The following are
the names Of the Aldermen and Councilmen
who have been held to answer for their official
misdeeds -
Alderman Anson Hcrrick, Nineteenth ward.
Alderman s-.-uel II. Moser, Third ward
Alderman VIM. H. Drake, Twcnty-second ward
Councilman John C. Wandell Fifty. ninth district.
Councilman Bartholomew Healy Sixth district.
Councilman c. s. Cooper Twenty third district.
Alderman Herrick and Councilman Wandell
are the cbairmen of the finance committees of
their respective boards. The charges against
the former are that he received brides for using
his influence in regard to the grade Of street,
and that he demanded bride in the matter of
raising the ship Joseph Walker. The charge
against the latter is that he demanded consi-
deration for voting in favor of the appropria.
ton for the extension of Canal street. The
charges against Moser and Drake are that they
asked brides in respect to the contract for rails
ing the Joseph Walker; that against Healy
that he demanded 81, 900 from the farmers who
applied for stand at Washington market;
and that against Cooper, that he asked $500
for his influence in releasing contractor from
his obligations.
There can be nothing more hurtful to the
pride which we feel in our great city than to
think that in that body, which is supposed to
reflect the integrity and worth Of the commu-
nity there is absolutely neither virtue nor in
tegrity. No greater misfortune could befal us
than the discovery that corruption regns su
preme in our city councils. We ought to feel
a more cutting sense of shame from that fact
than if even hostile army were billeted
on our citizens. And it is not even we alone
that suffer in the eyes of the world from this
reproach, but as we are the great commercial
city Of the republic, the shame brought upon
us by our corrupt municipality extends itself
over the whole of our people. We must bow
the head in humiliation and disgrace. But even
in our tribulation we must not forget to pun
ish those who have brought this foul dishonor
upon u.s. In no spirit of unjust Wind ictveness
or personal anmosity, but in the spirit Of self
respect and in the interest of public morality,
outraged and abused by our corrupt officials,
we invoke the strong arm OF the law to punish
the guilty and cleanse the community of the
foul stain put upon it. Our last hope is in the
purity and independence Of the Judiciary, and
if that fails us, then farewell virtue-farewell
public order and morality
BRITISH RECRUITING IN THE UNITED STATES
To say the least of it, the evidence of Mr..
Strobel, which has just been taken before
Judge Kane of Philadelphia, contains some
extraordinary disclosures. This man Strobel,
whose social standing appears to have been
such that Sir Gaspard lie Marchant asked him
to dinner, and the officers of the Seventy-sixth
regiment associated with him on terms Of
equality, swears positively that plan for the
enlistments Of men in the United States for the
British service was concocted by Mr.. Cramp-
ton, the Governors of the British Provinces
and himself, and that commencement of en-
listments was made under it. According TO his
statements, depots with recruiting officers were
established at Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit,
and some sixty to seventy men enlisted but,
owing to quarrel between Strobel and his
employers, the operation got wind, and was at
once abandoned. If Strobel is to be believed
the person who took the most active share in
endeavoring to procure enlistments was the
Hon. Mr.. Champion, the present British
Plenipotentiary to this country: it was he who
gave instructions to the subordinate agents
and apparently dictated to the Provincial
Governors the course they should pursue
This is very grave charge to make against
diplomatic functionary. The enlsting OF
men for foreign service is distinctly de-
nounced by the act of lsls and it is clear
that no court of justice would listen for n
moment to the paltry subterfuge by which,
according to the evidence of Strobel the
British agents hoped to evade the law If Mr.
Champion has acted in the manner described
by this ex-agent of his, the matter will demand
and will assuredly receive official inquiry
Such preponderance Of zeal over discretion
would wholly disqualify any one from filling
diplomatic station. At all events, it is hardly
fitting that the British government aud the
British press should read us lectures on the
unpublished violation Of our laws by filibus-
teros, while their accredited representative
makes use of his official position to violate
them by Wholesale.
MIR. Champion owes it to himself. and to the
character he has borne during his long resi-
dencc at Washington, to explain this matter
II he can, in manner that will satisfy the
public. Some such explanation is not less due
TO The country he represents. Nothing would
be more likely to embitter popular feeling on
this side of the water than an impression thai
the Queens government is so contemptuously
reckless Of our laws as to authorize their
systematic infringement by the highest British