Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-29
Death of Senator Ruler.


Just as we were going to press received a teIe-
graphic despatch informing us of the death of the !
venerable and distinguished senator Judge A. P. !
Butler of South Carolina. We were not unpre-
pared for T. is result The news of his rapidly fail.
ing strength had left us little hope for some days
past that he could recover. Still, the sad event is
the less regretted by his friends hroug bout the
country, and by that State he loved so well and
served so faithfully
Judge Butler was one of those rarely gifted men
whose genius, chivalric temperament, and rare elo
quence gave him large and commanding influence
in The senatorial body, and constituted him of its
leading members. His ardent, confding, and hon.
Orable nature drew 10 him those troops of deep vat
tached and admiring friends whose sympathies will
be most painfully aroused at the news of his death.
South Carolina has always been represented in the
Senate of The United States by men of The Hottest
talents but even amongst those gifted of the
South, few have surpassed in ability and fidelity to
the interests of his Stale and the country the veneer
able man whose death we now deplore.
Washington Union, 9th inst.
The Municipal War n York.
1t is undeniable that the government of New York
city is sadly in want of improvement, but whether
the State in order effect Improvement is iusti-
fed in almost wholly depriving the city OF self gov,
eminent, and eractng laws tor The government of
the inhabitants al their expense without consulting
their wishes. is questionable. Deprving city Of
the control OF It's police force, and giving 10 men
|
measures which be justified only by extreme
cases. The Pawtucket Chronicle, of very
besi exchanges, sums up tue Whole difficulty in the
| following concise manner:
The State and Legislature Of New York ale repub-
lican, and the city is strongly the other way, and
there does rot seem TO be much love sympathy
! between them. To this, perhaps, may be attributed
The passage by the Legislature at its recent session of
several laws affecting directly, and of them
cusively, the city, and Of which, if net all of
them, calc1ated to give offence to the city One
| of these bills establishes system of olce, an
other abGogates the city charter and creates new
| ore, another appoints commissioners TO erect new
City hall, another 10 manage the affairs of the Cen
ral Park that is to be- and another creates an organ
izaton of port wardens. II is declared that by the
enactment OF those laws the Legislature assumed to
! itself the hight manage and direct the municipal
concerns of the city, without reference to the will of
its inhabitants, its corporate authority. The port
warden bill creates nine port Wardcns, but although
the city will have to pay their salaries, il will have
no voice IN their appointment. They are 10 be ap.
pointed by the State executive. So of the commits
soners to erect the city hall and manage The Central
Park The city will have to pay the bills, but will
have voice in the appointment of the commission
ers.
The law which appears 10 give most oHense to the
city, and winch is low causing much trouble there
| is the one establishing system of police. This
law creates police district composed of four conn
ties, which embraces New York and Brook Iyn. In
this district the whole QIreCtiOn ana control the
police force vested in board of five commission
ers who are to be appointed by the Governor, and
who are thus invested with immense patronage
and empowered to regulate the expenditure of vast
! amount of money. The mayors OF the cities of New
York and Brooklyn appear 10 be reduced by this law
to officers of no power or responsibility, and under
, it will be n ere ornamental appendages to the city
governments
| Against this law there is very strong opposition
The board of commissioners have been appointed
and taken the oath of office, and have attempted to
enter upon the discharge OF the duties OF their ap
pOintment, but the Mayors of both Brooklyn and n
York refuse TO surrender their authority until the
law shall be pronounced constitutional by the Court
of Appeals The law provides tor the surrender 10
the commissioners of all the police property of the
Cities but the mayors refuse TO surrender it, and the
J mayor Of New York is advised thereto by the COM
mon council. This latter functonary summoned the
police captains before him short time since for the
purpose of saying 10 them that he was still their
peror officer, and that they must recognize other
If it is settled, said he " that the law is constitu
tional, we will all bow to the decision" All the
captains avowed their intention to stand out against
the law The BROOKLYN chief of police having &C
knowledged the authority OF the police commission
ers, the mayor repndaes his course and threatens TO
assume the command of The police himself and use
force il necessary.
This is certainly a very unpleasant state of affairs
1t may be, and probably will be, months before there
is decision the constitutionalty of the law.
the police commissioners expressing regret that they
deem it prudent anticipate the decision OF the court
by active movements against the present admnlstra-
ton OF the police department, and advising them to
occupy the time previous to the rendition of the de-
cision by qualifying themselves Tor the discharge OF
the duties Of their Office should the decision be favor
able to the law. But The commissioners manifest no
disposition to wait, but how they to enforce their
E authority we have not seen suggested. They are
authorized, if the nhOuses, and so torth now
used by the police, not surrendered to them to
provide others at the expense of the city and the
present police force should remain the side of the
Z mayor presume they authorized to appoint O
I new police, although we have not seen it so stalled
conflict of authority is deemed probable, and the
district attorney of New York has issued a card
stating that he has reliable information 10 the etfec
that in consequence of the present disoTganzed state
. of the police attempts of an organized nature arr
about TO be made to commit burglaries in the city
and calling upon the citizens 10 strengthen the pri
e vate watch and to take other precautions.
y THE SILK CROP IN EURopE-A London lette
$ says that the prospect of the silk crop in Europe
III beginning 10 excite the deepest interest In Franc
n the worms are coming Ou,, AMI mischief has bee
n observed thus far although recent return OF col
o weather caused great apprehension. In Spain an
IS tay where the earlier the little spinner
n have successfully passed what i called the secOn
e stage Last year those countries the unfavOrabl
e symptoms had manifested themselves before this, an
}, hope that the crop may escape is, therefore
o strengthened.
Z. MARRIED.