The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-01

The most enlightened and the most virtuous Of
eounsellora And 20 the law has, in vast
number Of forms, become, through the subtlety
Of dehgning men and the operations Of an
artful code, most Illegal and most tyranni-
cal instrument
We think it is high time for wise and good
men and patriots to see il there are not evils
Of us and around us, which throw distant and
picturesque suffering in the shade. Let them
zee II the abuses of the law ct our own doors
are not as worthy of their attention as the moral
condition Of the Caffres or the abstract rights
Of squatter sovereigns. Let them look at the
rapid increase Of overshad wing pauper!sm on
the one hand, and the sentimental mistakes Of
religious feeling on the other, and then turn
to the unTeMedied abuses Of the law, and the
new system Of practice under the Code, which
almost ignores the existence of civil contract
or civil remedy, or to the new reign Of gar
rants, attachments, contempts, interrogatories,
a-d to that infamous Interpretation Of CONNER
cial transactions as g mere system of false pre-.
fences and stupendous frauds.
HIGHER SALAREs-A STRIKE IN HIGH PLACES
We understand that strike for higher sala.
ries was made this month at the pious ami.
versaries by a number of clergymen and that
An effort, which only partially failed, was got
up to increase the emoluments of the whole
clerical body throughout the country. The
movement must be viewed in two-fold light.
On one side, where clergymen officiating in
parishes long since established, continue to re-
ceive the stipend that was paid to their prcde
cessor forty or fifty years ago, they evidently
deserve higher pay; for the cost Of living has
VIGOROUSLY doubled within the last half centu
~, or even less period. 1t is due to the Gre
dit and the character of congregations that
they should come forward and anticipate the
action of their pastors on this delicate subject.
But, on the other hand, it is not to be con j..
cealed that clerical assistance, like physic, or
legal advice, or boots, is commodity which,
in the absence of statutory restrictions, pretty
certain to find its level, and command = price
regulated by supply and demand. II everybody
was willing to make boots, we might be shod
for mere song; and if every second man was
good doctor, physic would really be drug
The misfortune is, that while there are really in
every community not more shoemakers or more
old doctors (there are always plenty of young
ones, who starye,) than are required the pecu
liar attractions of life in the ministry create
disproportionate supply Of young clergymen.
Young men Of more Imagination than cold
reason; of sedate habits, and of fondness for
reading; of sedentary dispositions and but
little energy-and there are q good many
such--fock into the church IS their natural
home. Many do so no doubt from the best and
purest of motives; still they do 30 in larger
numbers than worldly prudence would sug-
gest, or the demands of the pieusly inclined
can justify. We have, in fact, asuperabun- dance
of clergy of one stripe or other, and the conse-
quence is that the article is unduly heapened.
Our advice H. therefore, that large selec-
ton from the theological students Of the vari-
Gus churches and sects be directed to turn
their attention to other callinge. Carpenters
are much wanted out West; 80 are masons;
and 80 are skilful farmers Steamboat and ship
builders are never amiss anywhere; and though
Of course it is less grand to make . boat or =
ship than forty minute discourse on justiica-
ton by faith, the former are not bad things in
their way. If this rule be applied, we shall
soon hear no more of poor clergy. A few
FEARS of strict application, and we should see
crack preachers fetching fancy prices at auc.
ton.