The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-11


to Kanes memory-after reviewing the speculations
of that undaunted traveller with regard 70 the phys
cal geography of Greenland, referred to the question
OF the open Polar Sea, supposed to have been dis
covered by Morton the steward and the Greenlander
Hans, and threw great doubt upon the accuracy OF
their statements and upon DR.. Kane's theory OF the
Polar Sea, assumed to be kept open by branch OF
the Gulf Stream, from Nova Zembla, down Smiths
Sound, to Bafin Bay, &c.
At the request Of the chairman DR.. Shaw then
read letter addressed to the Hon. G. M. Dallas by
Professor A. D. Bache the superintendent of the
United States surveys. and one Of the medaliss OF
mnation had been made of the data for Mortons
northings in the expedition by Mr. G. A. Schott,
sistant in the coast survey, and who was chosen by
Dr. Kane to reduce many of the results of his OBJ.
adopted the mean of the results by the two me-
thods'-by dead reckoning and astronomical obser-
vations-instead OF that given by either method
singy; and concludes by saying that, believing the
confidence so deg. So min. for the latitude of Cape
Constitution should be adopted in preference to 81
deg Is min, as given in the chart in vol. l. In no
could latitude %hs Lower than SO deg
considers the correct one but remarks that the
conclusions in regard to the open Polar Sea do not
| depend in any way upon this difference"
The meeting having been addressed by Captain
Collinson and Professor Alexander, of the United
States the chairman stated that another Arctic ex
petition was about being organized in the United
States.
The New Orleans Vigilance Committee and
the Know Nothings In a French Point OF
Translated from the Paris Constitutional June 24) for
| the New YORK HERALD1
The American democracy gives us cause, from
time to time, for strange surprises. 1t Is not I'M
common to hear of some brutal Eruption of bucca-
neers on the borders of Kansas, of some new flbus
| tering expedition preparing, of some slave trader
sailing under the American flag and captured by
British cruiser animated by too much zeal and who
is eagerly disavowed by his government for the sake
of peace and in consideration of the cotton question:
| The story of pugilistc fight in Congress is not
very thing for Ms. But, if we learn all at once
that the great city of New York is given up to dis
order, to violent struggles of two rival mayors, of
| two inimcal policies, and that blood runs in barr
caded Streets if the news reaches us that in Wash
ngton, even the generally peaceful seat OF the go
| without violence and bloody battles; If, finally,
steamer brings the particulars, hour by hour, of
| drama of which the city of New Orleans has been
the theatre, we wonder how the American republic,
where we were told that absolute liberty was to
reign without peril, should not be free from those
| painful calamites
1t is true that we remain nearly always ignorant
of the of those distant events which have a
purely local character, and for those very
| we are inclined to exaggerate their bearing There
are some among us for whom municipal emetite, an
energetic resistance in the midst OF city afflicted
by bandits, appear, at distance as frightfu symp-
toms of revolution which threatens the whole coun-
try and which, spreading itself from the mouths Of
the Mississippi to the great lakes of the North from
the Pacific to the Atlantic, going to change entirely
the destnies Of the New World We should be eau
tious regarding those ignorant perversOns and those
excessive alarms. Undoubtedly the United States
contain many elements of future connections; and
we are not such great admirers of the system which
reigps there now thanks to certain exceptional
ditions of limited duration, that we should feel
disposed to palate the. defects of scarcely orga-
nized society Neither is it reason that we should
take pleasure in eXaggeratng the importance OF the
accidents of which we speak.
The disturbances which have just taken place in
New Orleans cannot however, be lessened to the in
| significant proportions of a domestic and purely
local disorder. We know that they are the conse-
quence of an administration which has been for
several years in the guilty hands of a party
which would wish to extend its calamtous influence
| over the whole American Union. That party is the
one called, mysteriousy, Know Nothing, and its
doctrines exhibit il as the champion Of a universal
system of political and religious intolerance. The
for foreigners, and by violent fanatcism in the
formula, America for the Americans" which is a
formal denial Of the history Of their country; and,
in the meantime, in its present application, II 1t was
possible to carry it out would be the fasest and the
most deplorable of maxims. 1t seems that for the
three or four last years the Know Nothings
reigned in the capital Of Louisiana, the thefts, the
murders, the crimes of all kinds perpetrated in open
daylight and with impunity, have multiplied them
selves in a frightful manner. The journals Of that
unfortunate city describe them TO US in really
mournful picture, and which reminds of the most
barbarous times. The Louisiana Courier says that
the order of things established there is gnomnious;
IL entreats all honest and courageous men TO rege-
nerate Sodom; it asks that blood should cease 70
run; that paid murderers should not any longer be
| permitted 10 promenade the streets and boast OF
their crimes. To incite public indignation and
awaken the energy Of the good citizens, the Courier
reminds its readers OF women themselves sometimes
outraged under the very eyes OF father, a mother
OF husband Finally, it exclaims that the hour is
solemn one, and that II Is time TO clear the city Of
the bandits who decimate it.
That mournful picture of the situation Of New Or
leans sufficiently explains the formation OF a Com
mtee of Vigilance similar TO that established some
wears ago in San Francisco TO introduce order
and justice into that rising city, mostly settled by
adventures and bandits of all the nations OF the
world. In the already old capital OF louisiana as
In the midst Of the young and brutal society OF Cali
fornia the honest men have been obliged TO form
league for the return Of public security, and 10 au
gurate, with the best intentions reign OF sautary
| terror.
The municipal elections of the 18th Of June had
been chosen excellent opportunity TO attempt
| that laudable undertaking. From the I'd OF June
| the sound fraction Of the population had formed
separate organization and prepared itself 10 resist
| the violent manGuvres, by means OF which the
| Know Nothings had already won the victory on
4 similar occasions. The Committee OF Vigilance
| seems TO have from the beginning obtained an inn
| portant success in the resignation Of the Mayor,
| whose powers were about TO expire; but the last
| telegraphic news tells rs that the elections have
once more gwen the victory 10 the hnOW NOtulnk-,
their candidate for the highest Office Of the munich
| pal administration having obtained nearly 300 ma
jority. This triumph IL, however, lessened by the
defeat which that dangerous party has sustained for
| several less important offices Of the municipality.
The same dispatches add that after the elections the
| Committee OF Vigilance had dsbanded; but It re-
mains doubtful II il has renowned its intention to
| still further resist.
Now, IL we endeavor TO understand how the great
est number of votes In city like New Orleans has
been given 10 the partisans Of dsorder-to men who
ince hatred against the newly arrived foreigners so
much as 20 make them victims Of the most criminal
attacks-the whole American press agrees In ascrb-
ing that deplorabe result to a single cause. This
is the apathy of the honest men in presence OF
the evil doors, always holder; Is, in one word the
guilty forbearsnce Of the good citizens when called
i upon to fulfil the duties imposed upon them by the
/ rule Of universal suffrage. Such is the origin OF
| frightfu tyranny which one of the most important
cities of the American republic endures, notwith-