New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-04
FROM ALBANY.
From Our Own Correspondent

ALBANY, Dec. 81, 1851.
The last day of the old year goes out with a
snow STORM if the snow falling gently and MOSTLY
and lying undisturbed by the wind, can be called a
Storm About four inches makes clean and smooth
sleighing, and so the new year will be ushered in
with the merry jinglng of bells.
Navigation is practically closed. The Ice in
some places is four inches thick. The newspaper
boys crossed on it last Tuesday, just below the
railroad ferries. The steamboats, have broken it
up, and omr first natural bridge has gone down
stream.
An attempt il TO be made to keep the river open
bety zen Albany and New-YOrk the whole Winter,
by means of boat sheathed with bOiler-ron and
with wheels constructed with very heavy oak tim
bers, and strongly braced and bolted with wrought
iron bolts. have no faith in the scheme. The
boat may be strong enough to break the ice, but
when the ice is broken the difficulty is not removed.
The broken ice is not carried away by the stream,
because between this place and Hudson there Is no
current. Ii is Just about as hard To push boat
through a field of ice crushed into small blocks,
floating in water at the freezing point and clingng
together as if they were covered with glue, as
through an unbroken field of it. The strong ferry
after they have broken it i'll pieces | have seen
them more than two hours in etiecting a landing.
On several occasions they have lain in the middle of
the river all night. IT, therefore, the whole dis
lance from here to Hudson could be broken, the
most powerful boat would still be unable TO force
its way along because there is no means OF dlsp0s-
ing of the broken ice. Where there is strong cur
rent ,as in the East River, the channel may be kept
clear. Above Albany there is a current and have
fba Poth Earr
coolest of weather.
Notwithstanding the hard times, preparations are
making to keep New-Year in the good old Dutch
fashion The string of the dOOr-lat will hang out
| from nearly every house, and the ladies' VIII be
happy to welcome all friends and renew old ac-
auaintances There will be- refreshments to crafty
every palate, from plain crackers t" frosted cake,
| from cold water to Streaming whisky punch. 1t Is
| to be hoped that temperance will be the general
rule and that very few will be tempted to Oversep
the bounds of moderation and decency. 1t is to be
feared, however, that repeated sppings from cups
offered by fair hands, seconded by smiling faces and
persuasive lips will imperceptiby lead on the weak
| and unwary to the derium of drunkenness.
The new State officers are in town. and Will all
| assume their duties tomorrow.
The Hon. Gideon j. Tucker was a clerk in the
| Controllers office under John c. Wright, whom
| the old Hunkers had nominated as one OF their
| reliable men, and for whom Thu Albany Argus had
! sold out all the rest of the ticket. He had not
been long in Office however before he showed
| symptoms Of going over to the SOts. The Atlas,
at that time edited by William Cassidy and II. H.
| Van Dyck, ALWAYS spoke of Mr. Wright al
"sn excellent Controller" and was liberal Of
| honeyed phrases and sOft-sp0ken compliments, and
it became apparent in few months that me Argus
| and the Hunkers had been sold out by Mr. Wright
| Mr.. Tucker was an uncOmpromising Hunker, and
| By and by articles began to appear III the Argus
| written BY him. bitterly denOunclng wright ior III
treachery Tucker did not attempt to conceal thell
author.hip and even took pains to have 'our excel
lent Controller informed that he was the author
| Wright, for long time, bore with the waspsh as
saulis of his saucy clerk, unwilling to turn hllI
out. and give him an opportunity 10 claim th'
| merit and rewards of msrtyrdOm. Tucker mac
| IA RESIGN and became an associate edltO
Of The Argus. Ere long the proprietor
of The .1rgus. mpelled by the dire approach OF po
Etical and pecuniary bankruptcy, hardened TO pro
| posals of union with The Atlas The only obstac,
in the way of this union the refusal OF Van Dyer
n mart with Cassidy without a liberal allowance o
sliinonv. Tucker had to leave, and went TO New
York and kept the Hunker faith through the her!
| trials and tribulations of poor Pierce AdlnnIstId
tiop He went TO Cincinnati, aud aided IN III
slaughter Of Pierce and the nomination OF Buchanan
At the Syracuse Convention he sought the noiIllna
ton for Secretary of State, not with the least eA
recitation of success at the election but IN the
that defeat would give him claim to some goou IN
from the President Quite Unexpectedly, and con
trary to his wishes, he is fast anchored in Ai9an
for two years, in an Office in which he VII, nav
little to do and no chance TO gain honor, influence
or profit He has designated Samuel ". M nIn.9,
| AS his Deputy. He has also restored 10 ms ceih
ship Mr.. Wakefield. who was discharged cy III
secretary Headley for political misconduct III Ill
Tate campaign. IL ,aro
The Hon. Sanford +. Church has had larg
experience in public Office. He has served In III
Assembly and, as Lieutenant Governor was
member of the Canal Board. He has the exper
ence and the capacity to make good oiiicer an
will bring to the discharge of his duties as SoI
troller more ability, mere legal knowledge and el
perence in affairs than has been possessed by al
incumbent since Washington Hunt. lie was vel
culpaby connected in 1851 with the various scheme
for distributing the canal contracts to political iaVo
ties. under the law for enlargne the canals and u
| g Il and Drpssiltt