Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-31
LETTER FRoH NEW YohK
lceys.poasnce Of rs NOD aond Enqatr.rl
NEW York, Dec %, 1858

cloudleSS tue sun DTiSuI aiiu tue ali Cleai aNu
bracing. We have seen the people-the masses
manifest more merry making in New York
on Christmas than at present Tho bad state
of trade during the present year, induced by
the panic Of 1857, has had its effect in damp
ing, in some degree, the otherwise natural hi
larity Of the people. They have been made to
feel the expressions and fluctuations of fifty
four bank establishments of this city, to say
nothing Of those in other parts Of the country,
as we'll as the financial misgoyernment of the
city by those entrusted with the administration
of its affairs. High taxes have made extrava-
CANT rents: because it is not the landlord-thc
owner of the housewife pays the rent, but
the tenants who occupy them. If the taxes on
q house are raised $25 to $50, the landlord ad-
vances his terms of rent in the same proper
ton; and hence it is the mass Of people upon
whom the burthcn Of taxation mainly falls
While houses in New York are enormously
high, food is both abundant and cheap.
We took stroll through Washington mar
ket yesterday, which presented a remarkable
scene The premises, with the stalls fronting
the North river, probably cover from one to
two acres of ground The whole presented an
abundance and variety Of food probably never
cxcelcd by any other market in the world
The railways from the West, South, North and
East, had poured during the present week i'm
mense quantities Of meats, poultry and vcgcta-
bleS; coming from distance in some cases. Of
1000 to 1900 miles from the interior. We
saw Yesterday IN the market venson killed 4
day or two previously in Michigan, with bear
meat from the far West wild turkies and other
game in great profusion from the wilds Of this
State and farther West with immense quaint.
ties Of poultry, Of slaughtered sheep, beef,
cattle and hogs, together with sweet pota-
toes and other vegetables brought by South
crn steamers, with oysters and wild ducks
from the Chesapeake Bay, and all were
selling at reasonable prices. For instance, the
latest and best of mutton could be had at and
S cents per pound. The best Of turkies at 10
and II cents per pound; the best Of geese at
9 to 10 cents; chickens at 10 cents; vcnison at
12 cents, and other articles in proportion. The
express companies, alone, brought to the city,
last week, over 900 tons Of poultry and other
food, and this week they have brought to mar
ket about 500 tons. For this great abundance
in tho supply and chcapncss Of food we are
indebted to steam, on land and sea; to the
great railway lines centerins in this city, as
well as to ocean steamers communicating with
Southern ports. If rents bore any sort Of pro-
portion to the abundance and cheapness Of
food, New York would not only prove cheap
and desirable city to reside in. but would in
its growth, outs,rip all other cities on tho globe.
Tho chief drawback to its progress arises from
the plundering government exercised over it
by heartless and unprinciplcd political officials.
In the construction of our great railroad
lines, such as the Hudson, Erie, &c. largo
fortunes were inundated, from which the
people have derived increased trade and aug
mented supplies of cheap food-and therefore
they deserve the gratitude Of the city, while its
corrupt officials, who conduct its government,
or, at least. many Of them, can only be rccol-
ccted with disgust and detestation for all time.
No party engaged in the city government has
been wholly free from corruption. We find that q
native American street commissioncrdie de-
fautcr to the amount Of Sl47,000. The Black
Republicans display equal corruption. We
find 4 police commissioner quietly accepting
the gift of $4,000 house. in which he is ac-
tually living, and which was, to great extent
paid for by black mail imposed by police cap
tains on themselves and their subordinates.-
Neither has the Democratic local party escaped
without having black sheep in its flock, who
have, while guilty Of official corruption, in
jured the party whose principles they assumed.
with views of personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, regard
less of the means to obtain it.
A large number Of churches have been open
to-day. in which public services were perform
ed The Episcopal places Of worship were well
attended throughout the city, and many Of the
more fashonably located were splcndidly or
namented with wreaths and fcstoons Of flowers
and evcrgreens Among those which displayed
much taste and beauty in their ornamental ar
rangemcntS. we may mention CALVARY (Dr.
Hawks, in 4lh Avenue GRACE CHrHcH, in
Broadway. near Union Square. Trinity CHA
PEI, 25th street. near Madison Square. The
Church of the Eanunciation OR. Haughton's),
Goth street; and DR.. Montgomery's Church, in
Madison Avenue. These churches were all
largely and fashonaby attended this forenoon.
The steamship Washington, which was to
have sailed for st. Johns de Nicaragua yester-
day, did not get of, but sailed this afternoon.
She was detained on account Of not having all
her stores on board. She has 1000 tons Of
coal and any quantity of provisions on board.
She took out 200 passengers, SO OF whom were
those who had returned by her.
The Board of Aldermen last night raised the
comptrollers salary from $4,000 to s., 1000 per
annum, and created the Office Of assistant comp
troler, at salary Of $4,000 per annum. A
resolution was also adopted rendering the Hon.
John L. Orr, who is OH temporary visit to
New York, the freedom of the city.
The French government has consented to let
Montalembert carry his case to the Superior
Court where it would be met with pardon,
which would show that there would be nothing
to try, when its dismission from the records
would follow.
The series Of Fetcs held at the Academy Of
Music in behalf of the Mount Vernon fund, ter
minated with the grand Concert on the evening
of the 22d inst. The hall on the 2lst was a
splendid affair, and was attended by an i'm
mense number Of people. The weather, part
of the time, was unfavorable; yet we have no
doubt but the receipts will add materially to
the funds Of the Association.
commend to your attention brief editorial
notice in the Herald Of the oath inst, on the
prospects Of the Presidential candidates; and
in reference to the relations Of Gov. Wise and
Senator Douglas. There can be no question,
should the Charleston Convention adhere
to the hitherto acknowledged action Of the
Democratic party, in alternately selecting q
candidate from the North and the South. but
what the choice will point to GOVERNOR WISE,
as the man for the party and the times. As q
Southern man, he belongs to State, that since
the formation of the government and its par
ties, has never, in Presidential contest cast
her vote against the Democratic candidate,
como from what section of the Union he
might And, in the nominations of the last
three free State Democratic candidates she
took an active part and sustained, in good
faith, Gen. Cass, Gen. Pierce, and Mr.. Bucha-
nan. Virginia has always been national and
conservative in her Democracy. Principles,
not men," has been her watchword, and in ac-
cordance with which she has always acted
Thus, she has voted against natives Of her own
soil, in the persons of Gen. Harrison, Mr.. Clay,
Gen. Taylor, and Gen. Scott; men Of distn.
guished rank, and whose lives had reflected
honor on the State Of their nativity, when they