New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-12

il will prevail provided. always, we bog leave 70
add. if you can get at it. Truth crushed to earth
will rise again. That was the deliberately OK
pressed opinion of Mr.. Bryant, who went to the
trouble of putting his sentiment into verso of
quoted. But suppose that Truth turns out nero
ey-away and hde-snd- seeker, 90 that the false
cannot get at her to crush her, neanders in such
mary regions and intricate lsbyrinths that even if
she should be laid upon her back, the veraclous
weuld not be able to find her, to pour oil into her
wounds and TO set her upon her venerable pins
again We think il was Voltaire who said that
falsehood had its charms. The philosopher should
have lived here and now. Then he would have
had the satisfaction Of beholding the ancient Presi
dent of this Republic, together with the flower of
bis chiyalry, doing everything possible to promote
Fasehood to legislate upon detected and notorious
les. and to keep poor Truth as recumbent as
if the pyramid of Cheops rested upon her gentle
bosom. And he might have enjoyed still purer
triumph if he could have attended the meeting
of the Committee on Ferries in this city on
Wednesday last. We have vast respect for an
ignoramus except when he is called as = witness
We have compassion for mnemOnic shortnsss, ex-
cept when the disability has evidently been self
incurred. If gentleman says to us that be cannot
recollect date number, or an ordinary occur
renee, we pity and pardon him. Very respectable
persons are said to have forgotten their own names
But Mr. Non.mi.ricOrdo upon the stand is very
suspicious personsge, and should not be let OF
lightly The number of those who know nothing
after they have been sworn to tell the truth and the
whole truth rapidly increasing; and if the oblivion
which prevails in the present is to be proportion
ately dsrkened in the future, may just as we'll,
and at once, strike out from dictionaries such words
as evidence" testimony" and perjury"
Somebody has squatted upon the Battery. Some
body has there, without leave or license, construct
ed pier; and from that pier the Staten Island
Ferry Company is running its boats. Now, TINS
proceeding, however creditabe in an architectural
point of view, and however much it may have
tended to the establishment of Whitehall street,
and of the poor Battery, which is sadly in need OF
fixing up" was nevertheless fraud upon the
city, and one calculated to keep money out OF the
treasury, now so painfully depleted II is, how.
ever, a singular circumstance that nobody thought
of making any fuss about the business until the
pier was completed, and the Company was in full
possession. This is always the case. When our
best horse has trotted of, with bis interruptions
appropriation in the saddle We buy the biggest lock
We can find and put it upon the barn-door SO,
after the Company had been comfortably ensconced
for two yesr, some civic magnate, taking, per-
haps, Sunday stroll in that vicinity, discovered
Mr.. George Laws ferry.boats, and imposing
wooden gate, and illicit pier. Now there is, Of
course, to be an investigation.
So upon Wednesday the Ferry Committee sent
for the witnesses. First came Mr. Jacob Smith,
Lessee of the Ferry Company. This gentleman
was exceedingly forgetful. He declared in the be-
ginning that " it was of no use to swear him." ard
this was probably the most truthful remark which
he made during his examination. He was like the
beggar boy in "Bleak House," who didn't know
nothink." He did not know when the Staten
Island Try boats began to run. He did not know
when the pier was built. He was X. n. from sole
to scalp. What an unsophisticated Jacob Smith
His numerous relations have reason to be proud of
him.
Then advanced Mr. George Law, King of Steam
boats, Lord Of Railways, and lately The Heraids
candidate for the Presidency of the United States
He took the oath with cheerful slacrity. He ad
mtted, 10 begin with, that he was President of the
Ferry Company. But after that he became very
cloudy and Oblivious. He did not know who built
the pier nor yet when it was built. He did not
know that it was violation of law to establish the
farr Ia in @ If
concerning title (if he has one) to secure which
be without doubt paid tall pile of money Who
credits this! The Committee did not We do not;
the public will not. Mr. Law undoubtedly does
know when, by whom and in what way the pier
was constructed; and we do not think it at all
reputable for man of his standing thus to bubble
and prevaricate, if not do worse. He is the owner
of several highly valuable franchises. But these
are not whit more sacred than the property of
the City in the Battery If his rights should be
attacked, how would he relish a sudden loss of
memory on the part Of his chief witnesses
The Committee, in despair turned again to Mr..
Jacob Smith "Mr. Smith," said an Alderman,
We think you could tell US something about the
"per and ferry if you were inclined" Mr.. Smith
replied (being still in the "don't know nothnk"
mood, II don't know anything at all about it.
Now, who does know anything about it, There is
the pier. How did it get there Did il drop from
Heaven! Did it rise from the sea, like some
islands! Was it the work Of invisible hands
Was it erected in the Silly night by benevolent
fairies in love with Mr.. George Law Was it the
production of the coral insect When il was con.
structed was the work done secretly and 10 silence
Did no hammer fall no ponderOus anvil ring Did
all at once the mighty structure spring.