The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-06

Clans TOWARDS EpIroRs.-A few days 1nce
debate took place in the United States Senate, of
rather an animated character, between Mr.. john !
son OF Arkansas, and Mr. w. Fl. Seward OF
New York, the subject of discussion being the as
sault on Horace Greeley by Mr.. Rust The
former spoke of the latter in the very highest
terms as the most generous, honorable, and the
truest of men.
Mr.. Seward, in his reply, which was as much
directed to Mr.. Hunter of Virginia as to Mr.
johnson, admitted that Mr.. Rust possessed all the
qualities claimed for him by his friend, and added
that he had not sanctioned the article in the 7r-
5gase of which Mr.. Rust complained, and had no
reason for doing so. Mr.. Seward contended,
rather family, however, that the attack on Gree
ley was without sufficient preliminary notice. In
other words, it was not improper to have given
what he WIS to expect.
If, however, the facts shoald be different from
what he supposed them to be-"if more or
other ncsice' was given than what he had under
stood the fact to be- then Mr.. Seward was ready
to modify his opinion. lie went further: he con-
demned the article complained of in the Tribune,
as being in ''bad taste, excessive, extravagant
and severe"
Thus we perceive that Mr.. Seward has thrown
overheard ibis guide, philosopher and friend"
Just think of it. Horace Greeley given up by
VIM. Fl. Scward-an assault on him justified,
and the offensive article which caused the assault
condemned
What piles Of boots and shoes has not he per-
seVering Horace worn out in advancing the in
terests of his former friend! What numberless
spots on the old white coat have been received in
bis various political rambles to serve his master !
What an infnity of hats have become brimless in
spasmodc efforts to drag up the drowning honor
of the Auburn statesman!
For long, long years-long before Greeley
mounted the cider barrel, and roared out his I'M
willing chorus for Tippecanoe and Tyler too
he devoted himself, body and trousers, to the
cause and the elevation of Mr.. Seward. Before
he was an attachs of Weed, and operated with
the types of the Journal Office, he was Seward
man, and he has been so ever since. All his
writing, all his spouting, all his intrigues have
been connected with this great object-the promo.
ton of the fortunes of Mr.. Seward For him he
has let flow his torrents of eloquence; for him he
has joined all the free men and free women Of
the abolition party, become profane, sceptical or
blasphemous, turned communist spiritualist and
almost a Mormon (if we read Alright his defence
of polygamy); for him he has resorted to issues
of all kinds, and, in short, with the changes of
Proteus, has been all things to all men, and some
women if by that means he could help William
II. Seward
And what has he got for all this fidelity and
devotions Suppose he did'eypress his fears pri-
vately to bis idol that the time had not yet
arrived TO set up his shrine for the. alteration of
the people in November next, he might have been
and should have been forgiven. In vain-there
is no forgiveness for Greeley. He is sneered at,
condemned, and pitched out Of the circle of the
Seward table rappers; and 10 him no response will
ever again be given
This treatment Of partizan editors by the poll
tcians they have best served is nothing new. II
characteristic of them in this country. If it il
possible thing to desert an editorial supporter,
il is done.
Of all this ingratitude Mr.. Greeley is getting
foretaste and one Of these days We shall have
4 characteristic Development OF the consequent
condition Of the /" inner man" He may ind out
what others have found out bcfore--that unless
the pres il perfectly Independent, unshackled by
personal interests, devoted to no scheme Of pri-
vate agTandizement supporting no plans Of
public piunder its career is one of los. OF morti
lcaton and disgrace. II neither has permanent
hold on the public, nor can il count long on the
friendship of those il has most served. The power
of the independent press is all that now keeps
many of our public men to their engagements or
their principlcs-or probably the Union out Of
danger Their white coated, slipshod partlzans
justify al their msdceds whenever called upon
TO do 20; but ~ in the case OF Seward versus
Greeley, we see they finally get their reward.
TIE RECENT CHANGES IL THE WEATHER
EIEcTTicIrY-Irs EFfEcrs-OzoSE.--A singular
discussion has recently arisen to the effects Of
electrical storms upon the purity Of the air and
the health Of localities. Mr. Merriam, the indie
fatigable observer Of atmospheric changes, has
advanced the theory that lightning and thunder
which last is but the noise Of the fashes-havc
been most frequent during the most unhealthy
seasons and can therefore be Of no utility. More
than ihis-that they must be deleierous, for
Thunder mars small beer and weak discourse.
Some Of the New England Swans have asailcd
the opinions Of the Brooklyn Sage and doubts
are beginning to arise with regard to the long
settled and well received opinion that storms Of
thunder and lightning are purifiers Of the atmos-
phee.
II is certainly natural conclusion to draw,
when. after thunder shower we inhale with de-
light the freshcncd air, that il has been doing
lungs n real service. And even If the statistics
Of the weather show there has been most sickness
Of an epidencal form In seasons of the most
electric character, perhaps we may turn Mr..
Meriam's argument upside down, by saying
that these are the very occasions when electricity