New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-09

II, as The Journal Of Commerce would seem to
imply, it knows of private frauds and criminal
conduct, like those Of Mayor Wood in his dealings
with bis partner, Mr.. Marvine, committed by
"any of the hackDeyed polticans'-to borrow the
phraseoogy of that journal" who have been sent
"down here, or designated here by the King, to
"rule over us az his deputies'-we must certainly
deem it the duty of that journal forthwith to make
the public acquainted with the true character,
private well public, of the officials in question.
1t certainly strikes us, whatever The Journal
of Commerce may think of the matter, that it would
be much more to the purpose, and would have
much greater weight with all thinking men,
to show that this that or the other person lately
appointed to Office by Governor King, has been in
bis private business transactions fOrger and
swinder-guity of acts which ought to have
sent him to the State Prison, from which he
attempted no other means of escape except by
pie aiding the statute of limitations-than to
attempt to raise low, vulgar prejudice against
him by punniDg on the Governors name and
speaking of officers whom he has appointed under
the laws of the State as deputies sent down here
"or designated here by the King to rule over U.s."
Such pitiful slang as this may answer very we'll at
the Five Points; but We should say-with all due
submission, however, to that matter, to the SUI
that charge of fraud and swndling, established
ON evidence by an award of referees and judg-
ment of Court, would be quite as likely to be re
Corded in Wall street as tending to prove unftness
for responsible office. 1t may be very bad thing
to be hackneyed politician; but to be hack
hey ed liar, cheat swndler and forger is We think
rather the more serious matter of the two.
Then again, as to the weight which The Journal
Of Commerce seems disposed to gve-and We think
we have read something of the same sort in The
Commercial Adrsrtiser-tO the statute Of limita-
tionH That statute is available in law, and for
GOOD reasons, but never that we have heard of in
morals Mayor Wood and his friends, admirers
and apologists, ought to be satisfied with the scr.
vice rendered by the statute of limitations in saving
Mayor Wood from the Penitentiary. For that
purpose it was Legitimate, and the fact that the
Mayor and his counsel FASTENED to avail themselves
of that defense the very hour it began to serve them
showed great deal Of shrewdness and prompt.
tude on their part But in the forum of conscience
m the forum Of reputation, and as to the question
Of fitness to be trusted, whether by individuals or
the public, this defense does not avail. A cheat
swndler and forger of eight or ten years standing
is not the less man to be avoided and dstrusted
merely because, by lapse of time, he is no longer
liable toprosecution or punishment. For our part
We are decidedly of opinion, whatever such kind.
hearted souls as The Journal Of Commerce and The
Commercial Adrrtiser may urge to the contrary,
that rogues and cheats are not to be let off 50
easlly-but that every time they attempt to intrude
themselves on the pubic, and to elbow their honest
neiehbors aside, they should be again and again
shown up, just as they serve rogues and pckpockets
at the Police Office.