The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-25

not shadow Of reputation, and who are kno wn
only in their States as tools of designing men.
They may be Senator'S, Ministers abroad, or
members of Congress; but such distinctions, in
these times, rather show the politician than
the statesman.
THE CHIEF OF PoIICE-At last the trial of
the Chief of Police for having been born in the
wrong place, has been brought to close, and
has resulted in the defeat of the prosecution
and the acquittal of the Chief Doubtless, as
much was expected no less would have salts
| fed the public sense of propriety, already suff
| GENTLY tried by the grotesque farce which has
formed the prominent feature of the prosecu-
ton. 1t is now established beyond the power
of denial, that Chief Matsell is citizen of the
United States; and, whether, had the result of
the trial been different, the mere fact of his
extra-American birth, or the accidental omis.
sion Of the formality of q naturalization, would
have really disqualified him for keeping good
watch over the morals Of the city, or not it is
now on record that he is qualified, and no ia
ture ambitious aspirant for his place need at
tack him on that ground.
Now that the danger is passed, it is to be
hoped that Mr.. Matsell will give some better
proof of his fitness for the post he holds than
the mutilated naturalization certificate of his
father. We do not mean proof of his citizen
ship; that--thank Heavens at rest at last
and the man who questions it had better himself
never have been born at all but proof OF
Mr.. Matsell's real and active desire to keep
the peace Of the city. Without desiring to
cast particular blame upon him individually,
it is notorious that the peace Of this city is
worse kept than that of almost any other city
of its size in the civilized world, or than Bos.
ton or Baltimore in the United States. 1t is no
tOrious that the police are less active, less ubi
quitous here than in any European capital 1t
is also notorious that people can be knocked
down and murdered, and their bodies carried
away and concealed, in the best streets of New
York; and that this cannot be done in the
large and respectable streets of London, Paris,
Vienna or Berlin. Now, if to put an end to
these things, it were necessary for us to have
Turk as Chief of Police, we, for our own
part, would 60 for the Turk, turban, Koran
and all; whereas we should think none the
more of police chief who suffered them, even
though he could trace his descent to Hendrlck
Corstiaensen, or Josiah Winslow.
Mr.. Matsell is better able than we are to
point out where are the defects in the police
system, and what ought to be done to remedy
them. Let him make both known without de-
lay. Let him throw the responsibility on the
proper shoulders. At present when man is
robbed, or murder is committed, people blame
him.
1t may be that the number Of police is too
small to do the. duty, and that Matsell, de-
string more, is hindered by others. If it be so,
let the public know it. Those who desire to
keep the police at their present strength, are
advocates Of most extravagant sort of econo-
my. There need be no money drawn from the
public chest for new men; the fines which
would be collected from offenders, were the
laws properly enforced, would supply an am
pie fund. We noticed yesterday that the city
is to get ten thousand dollars from steam anu
ferry boat owners for infractions of the law Of
lS49. One hundred thousand may be raised
if the law against encumbering the sidewalks
is enforced in Broadway, Pearl, Brood, Beaver
and few other streets. Mr.. Matsell will be-
the right man to blame, if he does not himself
show cause why these laws are not carried out.
and why the police force is not raised to it's
proper strength.
WARNING TO SHIPMAsTERs.-The General
Assembly Of Virginia has just passed bill
providing additional protection to slave pro
perty. The object Of the law is to prevent, as
far as possible, the abduction of slaves by
means of the vessels navigating the streams
tributary to the Chesapeake Bay The pilo,s
are required to search every vessel outward
bound, to ascertain if any fugitive slaves are
aboard. For making the inspection they are
to exact a fee Of SIS from the captain. An 10
spector general, to reside at Norfolk, is to be
appointed by the Governor. If any shipmas-
ter leaves port before such inspection is made
he is liable to fine of five hundred dollars
The law on this subject Is now very rigorous,
and it behooves shipmasters to keep bright
look out.
WHERE ARE THE Know NoTHNGs:-As we
predicted previous to its meeting, the late
Philadelphia Convention was delusion and
Al II