New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-06-02
&0faL SntfAigtrttt.

WRHAyB A CORRECTION to make with regard to
the position of Recorder Witt, Of the Second Dis
rict on the new law relative TO the sale Of liquor to
slaves In our mention of the subject yesterday,
had the following paragraph:
"Recorder Wiltz having declined to enforce the
law considering it too severe and unjust and uncon
stitutional no arrests under that law have yet been
made in the Second District, which is by far the
worst District of the city for the liquor traffic with
slaves"
We penned the above paragraph upon information
given by the police. We asked different policemen
why it was that whilst arrests were being made un-
der the new law in the First, Third and Fourth Dis
trics none were made in the Second District, which
is by all record, most cursed by the evil of selling
grog to slaves. We were given to understand that
the reason why there had been arrests, was that
the Recorder had expressed his opinion that the law
was unjust and unconstitutional, and that, knowing
this opinion of his they (he po!ice) did not deem it
worth while to watch or arrest persons amenable to
that law. No one told that the Recorder had de-
clined taking cognizance of arrests under the new
law; but from what we heard, and from our not hav-
ing seen the Recorder himself upon the subject, we
supposed we were representing him fairly when we
penned the above paragraph. Al
We find, however, that we were mistaken, in a
delicate and rather serious view Of the case The
Recorder does not deny having expressed his per-
sonal priDate opinion, that the law was too se-
we're and was unconstitutional but he does emphati-
cally deny that he declined enforcing it, stated
His position is that If such come before him,
the arrests being based upon legislative enactment,
he will deal with the offenders just as he would un-
der any other legislative enactment, no matter what
his private opinion might be; it not being at all in
his province, as district magistrate, to decide
whether the law were constitutional or not.
He has not had anything to do with the law, no
arrests under that law having yet been made in his
District, and he not yet being officially apprised of
the existence of thelaw. Hearing that the law was
being enforced in the other Districts, he expressed
his personal opinion as to the defects of that law;
but so doing, he ntimated that he would OPP.
pose it any way whenever it might be brought before
him for enforcement. His personal opinion and his
official duty were and are entirely separate and dis
tinct.
We regret having misrepresented the Recorder in
this matter for though we have not always been
able to agree with him to the justice OF his de.
csions we will still bear willing testimony to the fact
that in the discharge of his magsteral duties he has
been gentlemany and conscientious.
We may add, that Recorder Wtz's opinion of the
new law in question does not differ materially from
that of some of the other Recorders and that the
|
ard law. The suit of the cofeehouse keepers, for
writ of prohibition against the Recorders, is to come
up to-day in the Third District Court.
ANOTHER GERMAN AMERIcA AN political meeting was
held in the Third District last night. 1t was at
Jacob Zmmers new house on the burnt ground, at
the corner of Greatmen and Montegut streets. Cit'
zens of all natonaties present, and the meet
ing was gratifying to all. Speeches were made by
| 4 akaru in lisb nd in M
thinner, who called the meeting among his fellow
Germanic citizens, is welI-known respected and in
1uental, in that part of the city and consider
that the meeting was another handsome and well
deserved compliment to the American party. If ther
was anything wrong about the meeting, it was onl,
this, that the Germans did not get permit for
from the ancient demagogues who now call them
selves Independents.
A FIRE broke out yesterday morning, about
> O'clock at the house belonging to Mr. Jas. Titus ii
{ Agiers and occupied as public school for boys
: The fire was kindled with paper and shavings unde
the house, but did not do much damage, the fire
men were quickly hand. This is the second thir
Il time that an attempt has been made to burn th'
house.
BANKS ARCADE came near being destroyed b,
y fire last night. At about halfpast seven o'clock,
y fire started in the Office of Mr. Reizensten, cvi
engineer, in the second story, over Jerollemani
barber.shop, in the back range of buildings whicl
y front on Arcade Passage. The fire spread, not own
to the absence of the remen and their machines bu
y owing to the absence Of water in the plugs. For
full half hour after the fire broke out, the ireme
were powerless for want of water.
The consequence that about rs 100 feet from
l. of the offices and shops on the Passage were de
II stroyed, as follows Jeroemau's barber-shop, be
meath the Office in which the fire started and all tn
" building from bottom to top; the auction Office
N. Vignie & Co.. adjoining Jerollemans, with al
the building above that. The dning-room of th
j. hotel next Vignie q Co.'s, was badly damaged
though more by the water (when at last it arrived
Y, than by the fire. the story over the duingroom be
ing, however, burned
The Bulletin newspaper Office narrowly escape
destruction. The northern limit of the fire was th
1t rear wall of the Bulletin Office. The office muc
f. damaged, as the iremen had to drag their hose in
a the third story window, into the composing room
4 and thence through the scutle to the roof fror
t. which point they did effective service; whilst anotle
" hosepipe was dragged through the composing roor
5 and editorial room, and made to play on the fir
n through hole picked in the wall by the hool
4, andladder men. Fortunately but little pi was madt
though the whole building, from top to bottom, wa
# a slop of water and fallen plaster. The contents G
5. the Arcade bar-room were removed, though unnece
l. slry as 1t happily proved 1t gratfes us to know
as we wrte that the Buletn will issue from its
II place this morning at its usual hour.
d The amount of loss insurance we are unable I
give but should judge the loss to be from $4,000
}. $50 900. Nothing saved from JerolIeman's.
d Vignie & Co.'S books and papers were saved bu
l. everything else went. including nrge number
l. pictorial plans of property to be sold.
u It being a notorious fact that repeatsd attempt
- have been made to destroy the Arcade buildings b
firing it in different parts within year or two past,
is more than probable that the fire of last night WI
,e kndled by the same old inceudiary hand. We hear
different stories to the particular spot in which th
a. fire started, but that which most precise and mil
. ute, was the one which fixed the start of it in NJ
At Reizenstein's Office. One story was, that the fir
i: when discovered, was raging lercely in the rear
re that Office rs if it might have communicated from tn
~, ~ outside.
.. Too much praise cannot be awarded the firemer
al for the promptness of their arrival and the energy
Ell their action. The steam re-engine John Adams Wa
. on hand in due time, and remained wetting dow
A. the fire whilst the hand engines went home slngn
l. {l,