The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-08

statesman. They were all supplanted by Can
didates Of inferior talents and Of popularity
that could not for moment be compared to
theirs After the same fashion Mr. Seward has
been uncerenoniously thrust aside by his party
to make room for q man whose only merit con-
sists in splitting rails or splitting the sides of
village audience with his smutty stories.
The --latest Achievement OF the Metropolis
tan Police.
The new General Superintendent Of Police
fred with the hope Of emulating some Of
his nlustrious predecessors, has lately made
o tremendous demonstration against the va
grants and beggars who infest the streets in the
lower parts Of the city. On certain day the
members Of the force not on post duty we've
directed, by special order, to appear In plain
clothes ct the several station houses, at eleven
O'Clock In the forenoon. When assembled, the
policemen were directed to sally forth into the
highways and the byways Of the metropolis and
bring in the sick, the lame, the halt and the
blind in fact to apprehend all the members Of
that grand army who rise in the morning with
out knowing where they win breakfast or dine,
or sup, or lay their heads for the next night,
and who have not the wherewithal to pay their
way, nor any visible means whereby it can be
obtained.
II Is quite unnecessary to say that the
class above mentioned Is very numerous
one. The distinguished confraternity has its
castles and grades like any other division of
society. There are Migrants in purple
and fine linen, as well as in rags and tatters.
Persons liable to commitment under the statute
may be found any pleasant afternoon upon the
dollar side Of Broadway, adorned with oil the
skill of the tailor, the dressmaker and the bot
tier. They lounge in the public rooms Of the
fashionable hotels, and loiter about the saloons
and barrooms. They are far more dangerous
to society than the professional beggar. TIL
latter solicits aims openly, while the former
picks up precarious living by acting as
stool pigeon or decoy for gambling houses,
or q pimp for brothels and panel cribs.
Under these circumstances, so well known to
The police, the men all marked and spotted
offering an easy prey, it might naturally be
supposed that, along with the small fry, Mr.. SUI
tain few of the big fish. Not so. The police
angled for minnows only. They laid violent
hands on all persons whose garb seemed to in
dictate that they were fighting the battle of lite
under every disadvantage. Cripples, chill
dren and old women were seized with
ont ceremony, and carried before the
nearest magistrate. The scene presented at
-. = A., har.o
one Of unparalleled confusion. The magis-
trates were obliged to suspend their ordinary
business In order to hear these new cases so
suddenly thrust upon them, and all their al
rangements for the administration Of justice
were upset. When the cases came finally to
the police had blundered and arrested persons
In no way amenable to the law under which
the force acted. What PREPARATION can be made
to these innocent persons for the annoyance to
which they have been subjected! And what
punishment Il to be meted out to their perse-
cutors?
And this is not all. Not only do the police
allow the gamblers and their agents, the
keepers of disorderly houses, the thieves and
pickpockets to 90 scot free while prosecuting
the poorer Migrants, but the effect Of their
sudden raids is to produce reaction,
during which vice and crime have q
high holiday, the rogues being fully aware
that they may enjoy comparative immu-
nifty for year or so. Such demonstrations,
therefore, do more harm than good, and one
cannot help expressing . feeling Of contempt
for the system which permits policeman to
refrain nom arresting notorious pickpockct,
unless taken In the commission Of an overt act,
and, at the same time, directs all the terrors Of
the law against poor child VINO may be sus-
pected Of an intention to ask some good natured
person for penny. II ID the duty Of the police
to see that peace, order and deeency are pre-
served in the city at oil times Of the year, and
to arrest Migrants who are public nuisances any.
where they may nnd them. whether In the Five
Points or on Broadway. What . police force
needs most d the respect OF the people Tha.
can only be gained BY . steady devotion to
duty and Abstenton from all such absurd clap
traps ~ this last essay OF Superintendent Ken
nedy--a stretch Of authority which, we are
glad TO say, has been received BY the commu-
| nifty with just reprobation.
TnE OnrAcIE TO FrsIoSs-One Of the great
est obstacles TO the fusion Of the conservative
vote OF this State on one electoral ticket against
Lincoln b the arrogant position and the exOr-
bitant demands Of the Albany Regency clique.
This set Of cheating politicians claim that they
have given the Bell and Everett men ten cleo
ton, and therefore they refuse TO give any
to the Breckenridge and Lane men. This Is
sheer impudence. They have given the Bell
and Everett men nothing, nor can they give
the Brschinrides and Lane men anything, Tor
they have nothing 'c ssse. II the three parlss
do not make fair and honest comb;nas,on