The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-07

Secretary Chase issued hiseegal tenders at once
The tax and tariff laws did not come until some
time afterwards and were then 40 burriedly
drawn rs to require almost immediate amend
ment. To be sure, this kind Of inaucier-
ing was like putting the cart before
the horse, or building the roof Of the
house before laying the foundation; but what
did that matter to Secretary Chase His
only ambition at that time was to kill off
General Mcclellan, and our finances were of
comparatively little consequence. So it hap
pens that we hit upon the same financial scheme
as the rebels. Chase and Memminger adopted
about the same system Memminger, however,
has this excuse: that he expected to obtain all
the gold he wanted by selling cotton in Europe,
blockade. Chase has no excuse whatever, un-
less incapacity be his excuse. Memminger has
already wrecked the rebellion by his mis-
management. We may endure our financial
difficulties longer, on account of our superior
resources, commerce and business; but still we
arc going the same road and must reach the
same end if something be not done to save us.
1t is unnecessary at this time to examine more
particularly the financial failure of Secretary
Chase. It Is sufficient to knew that he is a
failure, and that he has no chance what
ever for the Presidential succession. That is
all Mr.. Chase thinks about, and any inquiry
which shows that goes quite far enough
for him. Mr.. Lincoln has been no greater 6zzle
as the chief Executive; Mr.. Welles has been no
greater iizzle as the Secretary Of the Navy; Mr..
Stanton has been no greater izzle as the Secre-
tary Of the War Department. Colorado Jewett
has been no greater fizzle as a peace nego-
tiator; Vallandigham has been no greater fizzle
as a political martyr; Bull Run Russell has
been no greater fzzle as an American cores.
pondent; Seymour has been no greater fizzle
as the Governor of New York; Greeley has
been no greater fzzle as gun contractor, than
has the Hon. Salmon p. Chase as the Secretary
of the national Treasury. His financial meas
ures have pleased and benefited nobody ex-
cept the stock gamblers in Wall street and the
government contractors The soldiers and tbs
iaboring men are paid in money worth only
half as much as specie, while the prices of all
merchants and manufacturers are heavily taxed
for everything they import and everything they
make and sell, and the paper money paid to
them by their customers is really worth only
forty-eight cents on the dollar. The stock
gamblers and the shoddy aristocrats compose
Mr. Chase's sole constituency. To them,
and to them only, can he appeal for
support. The rest of the country owes him a
debt Of ingratitude which it will not fail to
pay. The bank system which he has devised
to remedy the evils he has caused will only
complicate and aggravate them. If he would
but recognize the principle, adhered to in every
civilized nation, that gold and silver constitute
the only safe basis for the currency, he might
still reform his financial abuses. With the as
sistance and cooperation of the government
our banks could resume specie payments in a
month. But if that assistance and co-opera-
ton be withheld we shall certainly drift along
to our utter financial ruin.
MUNICIPAL REFORM, ABATToIRs, New MARKETS
AND CRY RAILROAD REGULAToNs.-Mayor
Gunther has vigorously adopted in his message
the suggestions made by City Inspector Boole
for the abatement of the down town slaughter
house nuisance and the establishment of abat-
Ioirs on the Partisan plan. 1t now only remains
Tor the Common Council to take action in this
matter, and our city will have made great
step in the direction of becoming thoroughly
civilized, healthy and handsome metropolis.
We shall no longer be disguised by the appear
ance and smell Of cutters reeking with blood
and feculent matter around the two hundred
and fifty slaughterhouses which are scattered
through the various wards of Manhattan Island.
We shall escape the loathsome sight Of carts
heavily laden with the hides, intestines, and SO
forth. OF slaughtered oxen. sheep and pigs, of
which an aggregate of seventeen thousand five
hundred are consumed every week by our
citizens. The bills OF mortality will be lessen.
ed by the removal from our midst of the
noxious gases and atmospheric poisons which
are generated in these revolving establishments,
and our streets will hereafter be free from the
kinds, now forming one Of the most serious
drawbacks to pleasant driving or safe walking
in the up town and middle wards. The down
town market nuisance is another evil in regard
to which Mayor Gunther enforces the protests
heretofore made by the City Inspector, with
demand for redress at the hands of the Com
mon Council. We commend both subjects to
the earnest attention Of our municipal legisla-
tors. If they will enforce these reforms and
pass ordinances controlling the action of the
city railroads in reference to overpacking the
cars, the present Aldermen and Councilmen
may make for themselves an enviable reputa-
ton, which will commend them in future years,
again and again, to the confidence and support
Of their fellow citizens, without distinction of
party.
PLYMOUTH "RocKs."-The annual auction of
the pews in Beccher's (Plymouth) church, Ito
the highest and best bidder" took place on
Tuesday evening last, in the holy precincts Of