The Van Buren press., 1867-04-05
Our New York Letter.
Tea Houses and Spurious Teas-Finaneiai
and Commercisl-C Connecticut-The
Reconstruction Bill.


stroll down Vesey street. on the len hand side
any Saturday afternoon or evening, would b'
compelled to believe that We are a nation nj
tea-drinkers. There are several large tea es-
tablishments in that street, and during IN,
periods mentioned they are crowded with Gus
toners. It Il truly aminteresting sight 10 en-
ter one ofthe largest ofthese stores. \ counteI
extends along two sides, the space behind
which Is literally filed with clerks engaged IN
putting up tea for the customers who line the
counter fronts. On another side Is raised
platform on which a dozen or more clerks are
also engaged in packing uptea, but for orders
received by express, &c. In the central and
front part of the store, are a number of steam
engines, engaged in grinding cOiiccs. The
walls of the room are embelislled with paint
ings repre- enting scenes in Chinese life and
character which although not executed in the
highest style Of art, are yet quite interesting.
In the evening the establishment is brilliantly
lit up with resplendcnt chandeliers, while the
whole scene Is one of activity and bustlc.-
This is but one of the many tea houses In the
city.
In connection with this subject, the Usrdid
has raised some commotion by alengthy article
pretending 10 expose the process of adulter-
atng teas, asserting that 1t Is extensively
carried on in this city, and calling the atten-
ton of the authorities to the matter In max
ing these spurious teas, not only are the leaves
of the ash and plumb used, but tea leaves
which have once been used are bought up at
the hotels and boarding houses, and mixed
with solution of gum, and redricd. Black
lead and other mineral posons are used to
give the redricd leaves the proper color and
taste, which are resold for the pure, imported
article. Much of the spurious Young lIyson.
which finds its way into the market in this
city" says the HerdM "is made over in this
manner Ii also says that the manufactures
for this purpose are more numerous than peO-
pie would suppose.
Under the apprehension that our paper cur
rency was to be further inflated by a new is
sue of greenbacks, gold went up several days
ago to about l,40; but the close of last week
brought it down to 1,33 and l,3i. Trade, how
ever, remains about as torpid as ever, although
there has been u little stir in some branches.
caused more by a local instead ofa general de-
mand for goods. The papers are predicting
that this stagnation cannot long continue
without eliminating in crash. | do not
however, perceive any signs ola general re-
yiyal of trade, now when our spring busines,
ought to be fairly opened. 1t is evident that
the passage of the Military Reconstruction
bill has not succeeded in restoring confidence
to the business world, Notwithstanding the
sanguine predictions of the crazy radicals.
The political campaign in Connecticut is
waxing hot, both parties making all possible
the race Is about neck and neck, and confess
| am not ready to predict the final result, in
regard to the State ticket But am confident
| that two il not three of the members of Con
gress will be Democrats.
| The National Democratic Committee met
in this city this afternoon, and decided that i,
would be inexpcdient to call a National Con-
venton previous to the regular convention tc
u
be held some time in the summer of 1868.
Now that Congress has done its worst, what
will the South do? The military reconstruc-
ton bill destroys the governments of the
Southern States, and puts the people thereo
under the irresponsible control Of military
officers, whose only law will be their own de-
sires and wishes. Thus the condition of tht
South will be, politically, worse than that o
Ireland, and quite rs helpless. Without dodg-
ing the real state of the case, it is as well K
understand the worst features of the condi
tions imposed upon the South; and to confes
that there is at present no remedy but il
armed resistance, which, accordngto the par
lance of the party in power, would be rebel
lion. presume, however, that this remedy
is not to be tried, for the South IS not suppos
cd to be in a condition to make, unaded,
successful resistance to the National Gov
ernment--and there is no hope of her gettins
any help cithera home or abroad. Ten year,
agu no such measure as this could have beer
enforced against any portion of Our people b,
the general government To have even pro
posed it would have raised the Indignation o
all sections, and would have shaken the I,nioi
to its very foundations. But the war has de-
moralized whatever love of freedom and an.
cient rights that once was thought to be prev.
alent in the North and now the masses ar,
controlled more by their passions and preju
dices than by their reason or their sense o.
justice and right. Hence, so longas the "gov.
ernng classes" in the Northern States do not
feel the burdens of government bearing upon
their own shoulders, and while at the same
time they can allow their enmity towards the
South full play, they object to no action taken
by their representatives in Congress assem-
blcd." The Constitution is dead document
and of no more force here than the laws the
Medes and Persians. Congress is the embodi-
ment of all political power and the will of that
body is omnipotent.
Regret these facts as we may, and wonder.
too, that the American people viii submit to
such an overthrow of their institutions. and
the usurpation of such llegitimate powers, we