The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-07

lOr trlulDR. OuT uipiomhlAC trtumVlr8Le say
and mark what they say that ,"after zoe shall
hare ofe,e ed Spain a price for Cuba far be-
yond its present paiue, and this shall haze
been refused, ii ,ciH then be time to consider
the question Cuba in the possession of
Spain seriously endang~ our internal peace,
and The existence Of our cherished Union?'
And then they add: "Should thss question be
answered in the affirm ative, Aken by every
lar, human and dipine, zoe shall be justified
in cresting IL from Spain, If zoe possess the
poacer." such is the ultimatum of those con-
ferences at Ostend and Aixla Chapelle.
We have said that it agrees with all
the instructions of Marcy up to that time.
Why then, was this policy so suddenly set
aside and reversed by the administration?
Why those counter instructions to Mr. Soule on
his return to Spain, which provoked his iadig-
nant resignation? Why this sudden change in
the wind? 1t was the anti-Nebraska reaction
of the October and November elections that
frightened off our trembling and shrinking Ex-
ecutive-it was jealous fear, on the part of
Marcy, of the prospective ascendancy of
Buchanan as the chief of this Ostend pro-
gramme, which Induced our Premier instantly
to reject it, Thus is our previous Information
upon this subject sustained by the official
dates, facts, acts and documents.
The imp ortant question next recurs, what is
now the manifest policy Of the administration?
1t has been repudiated upon its domestic spols
systemit has been Frustrated to the dust upon
the Nebraska bill. 1t has nothing left upon
which to recover itself but bold and popular
foreign policy, and nothing but Cuba upon
which to rest it. The time is suspicious 1T is
the golden opportunity. France and Eo ylaud,
absorbed in their terrible struggle with Russia,
are at our mercy. At this juncture,
even the prospect of suspension of
our friendly relations with the Western
Powers would probably derange their
commercial, manufacturing and financial sys
TENS beyond recovery. A rupture with US
would certainly destroy them. The sensation
at the Bourse instantly following the news of
the affair with Mr.. Soule at Calais, indicates
the paramount necessity to the allies of peace
with the United States A rupture with us,
hazardous to them at any time, would now in
volve the peril of the greatest disasters to the
ruling elements of both France and England.
They dare not at this crisis, in any event, or
upon any issue involved in their "hapey &C
cord, }" break the peace with this republic.
The only hope, then, for Mr.. Pierce is, to fall
back upon the Ostend and AK la-Chapelle
sovereignty of Spain over Cuba is dangerous
to the peace of our cherished Union" 1t is the
present policy and the purpose of England aud
France to make it so and Spain is but the in
strument Of their schemes. Moreover, mighty
popular revolution is at work in our midst
carrying with it right and LETT the masses of
The people. There must be diversion to ar
rest it, Or by the next fall elections, our unfor-
tupate administration will be utterly aban-
doned by the people and by Congress. This
Ostend platform, if adopted, will, on the con-
trary, excite a tremendous reaction, and in Sc
curing us the island Of Cuba, will give to the
administration powerful lift for the success
ion, and a substantial claim upon posterity.
Let our Executive reflect upon the position
of our affairs with Spain, the position of EGG.
and and Fran ce, the danger of delay, and the
extreme demands of his own position, and
throw himsef boldly upon the Buchanan pro-
gramme and upon the country. If Marcy be
an impeachment, let him retire What is man
or two when the democracy, the administra-
ton, Cuba and the Union are at stake?
MAYOR WooD AND Hrs OFFICIAL DUTIES
The business of the Mayors office appears to be
increasing daily, if we consider the amount
therein transacted, Independent of its charac-
ter. The complaint book occupies the attention
Of one person exclusively, and he finds it almost
impossible to record all the complaints present
ed to him; the presence Of police Justice is
required from ten o'clock till three, for the ex-
animation Of criminal cases, and in addition to
these about half dozen clerks are constantly
employed, while about the same number Of
policemen are detailed to attend to the outdoor
business. From the time the Mayor arrives till
two o'clock, the hour at which he leaves, the
office is crowded with complainants of all de-
scriptions A woman charges her husband with
having deserted her; son makes complaint
against his father for ill-treatment; a servant
accuses her employer of defrauding her of her
wages; quarrelsome neighbors appeal to him to
settle their disputes; mothers call upon him to
punish the seducers of their daughters, and
shirt sewers to force their employers to pay
them their wages.
Over none of these cases has the Mayor
the least control or jurisdiction, and when
ever he acts upon them in his official ca
pacity, he transcends the limits of his authori
ty. All such complaints can only be decided
by the regularly constituted civil tribunals,
and by due legal process. Mr.. Wood knows
this, and in assuming to act upon them he ex-
ercises power and authority which may be at
tended hereafter with the most injurious effects.
lie has in the exercise of hia lenitimntn antin.