The New York herald., 1861-12-31

pd'nyy." England ought to be very proud
her Williams; but she should never permit
i'm to make speeches. Thsworld might think
Fhat be was really the great man England pre-
knds IL he could only be persuaded to hold his
Kongue. Since he has been foolish enough to
speak, however, we need only draw attention to
H1e moral that, in the conduct, character and
Feportment Of her agent, Captain Wilkes, as
compared with the gasconading British vii
Jams, this country adds another to the many
advantages she has gained over England in this
Trent affair.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE CRY GOVERN
tHEr.-A gladiatorial squabble is preparing in
New York, in consequence of The changes that
kare about to take place in the city government.
pr Opdyke, In less than week, will be
Mayor. The Offices of Sheriff, County Clerk,
and District Attorney, viii. have new incum-
Fbents, and fresh tribe Of Aldermen and Coun-
,ilmcn will pour into the City Hail. ready to
form new Rings and all sorts OF fresh combina-
etions to deplete the city treasury. The State
Aegislatnre is also about to convene, and every
ycity clique will have lis lobby agents in Al
loAny. ready to carry its grievances, with some
mode Of redress, before that body. One party
will go in for Wholesale change Of the charter;
another will content itself with fundamental
amendments of the old: others. still, have only
in view their own special job or axe to grind,
Tor which they will waste their breath and
spend their money, IN hopes of its returning to
them increased ten thousand fold. Now, how
easy it would be for the State authorities, by
simply falling back upon those high principles
which have made the United States q great
nation, and applying the principles of the fede-
raj government to that Of this city, to pour oil
on the troubled waters and heal the evils by
which we are afflicted. No one questions the
integrity of Mr.. Opdyke. He has proved him.
SILT, by life Of upright citizenship, and indus.
srious honest enterprise TO be worthy Of i'm
plicit confidence. Let the State Legislature
shrow upon him the exclusive responsibility of
the coming welfare Of our metropolis. Let the
control over the depaltms Of the city gov
ernment be given into his hands, in such
Qanner that the heads Of the respective
bureaus form cabinet, subject to his direc-
tion, removal at his pleasure, and with autho-
City derived from him alone, just as the
various Secretaries at Washington derive their
power from the President As matters stand
sconomy, or wise local legislation to look to.
Tive us Mr.. Opdyke. Let the power of giving
contracts be taken away from the Common
Council; the fees of the various offices in the
city be reduced judicious system OF GEN.
sTalization impose upon the Mayor the burdens
Of administration, and We have no doubt that
tsxation would speedily be reduced one-ihird
that the money expended woald be applied to
wise purposes that security Of life and property
would be enhanced and that an epoch would
be inaugurated which would rejoice the hearts
Of those who have. of late years despaired of
reform and Of the beneficial effects OF free insti-
kutions in our midsl. If the Legislature espe-
cially the disinteres,sd country members Of the
Senate and Assembly win take up our affairs
dispassionately and wisely, they may confer
tasting benefits upon the city Of New YORK. by
adopting the method we have suggested.
Pos7P0NEMEkT FOR Twenty YEARS or TIE
ANNEXATION OF CANApA.--We fear that Secre-
sary Stewards letters, and the surrender Of
Messrs. Mason and Slidell, will fall like bucket
Of cold water on the heads and shoulders Of
our ueighbors on the banks OF the St. Lawrence.
How they have, lately, splurged and founder
ed! What oceans of bilious bnncombe they
have expectorated! What quantities OF small
beer they have imbibed What horrid night
mares of Yankee armies pouring by every rail
road, every steamboat, in perfect delugaf from
disiacal plains and valleys Of the Bluenoses
they have been afflicted with! Precious neigh
bors, calm your anxious minds. We assure you
we don't want you yet. If only out OF disin-
terested regard for the lungs Of your stump
speakers, we agree to postpone your annexa-
tion for twenty years Please leave of splut-
tering; let the rum bottle alone-we honestly
intend letting John Bull have the sole and
entire care of you for the space of half gene
ration. But, highly cherished neighbors and
friends, you cannot have the benefit Of that Re-
ciprocity treaty any more. II will be our pain
All uhhy W lahJ ~ away ilVtH vous icu AuuW
you have been ungrateful and don't deserve it
We have fostered your commerce, protected
your manufactures, spared your weakness,
turned our eyes away from your seryile snob-
6ishness and shallow vUlgarity, and you have
not appreciated our kindness. We must re-
move the sunshine for while and leave you in
darkness. The Reciprocity treaty must be alb
rogated, and you must be left to your own
devices.
THE PRrss AND TIE CORPORATION ADyERrI5-
MG.-Thc advertising patronage Of the Common
Council appears to be nsed just now for the
purpose of subsidsing the press, and the man
aging spirits in the two boards seem to have sue
ceeded pretty effectually in their work as far as
two of our contemporaries are concerned. The
SYorid has now gone through both boards over
the vetocs Of the Mayor, ard that sheet passes
over in silence the jobs that are being put