The New York herald., 1876-01-13
The commissioner OF Public works.

of the Common Council against confirming
General Fitz John Porter probably decides
the fate of that nomination and seems to be
accepted by his friends as a final defeat. He
might continue in Office in spite of the rejec-
ton, inasmuch as the law extends his tenure
until his successor is qualified If Mayor
Wickham should not choose to withdraw his
name and send in a substitute General Por-
ter might remain at the head of the depart
ment during the residue of the Mayors term.
But it is altogether unlikely that General
Porter would consent to hold Office in this
way. He is a gentleman of character and a
high sense of honor. His pride would not
permit him to cling to an Office against the
spirit and intention, though not against the
letter, of the law. We are prepared to
expect that he will withdraw from the posi-
ton if the Aldermen should not confirm him
at their meeting to-day, and there are rumors
that he will put an end to the contest by
retiring before the nomination is brought to
a vote. Like a true gentleman he puts q
proper value on his personal dignity, and
will not consent to be put in a false or even
an equivocal position. 1t will be incumbent
on the Mayor to send in a new nomination,
and if General Porter should recognize and
acquiesce in his defeat before the question is
brought to vote the Mayor will make new
nomination to-day. The very best name he
could select is that of Mr.. John L. Agnew,
a friend of himself and General Porter,
sound democrat and a gentleman who
enjoys the full confidence, not only of
his party, but of the community. Mr.
Agnew is a popular citizen and would make
an efficient officer. He is one of the two
or three gentlemen who will be taken up for
the Mayoralty in the next election If he
should not be made Commissioner of Public
Works.
The committee of Aldermen to whom Cen
eral Porter's nomination was referred have
discharged their duty in an extraordinary
manner We have no fault to find with
their decision to advise against confirming
the nomination. This was done in the
exercise of discretion which properly be-
longs to them, and there is no reason to
doubt that their action reflects the wishes of
their constituents. But when they permit
ted General Porters friends to appear be-
fore them and advocate his confirmation
they ought to have treated them with COM
mon civility and decency 1t was gross
violation of courtesy to cross-question
them in the brow beating spirit of
a Tombs lawyer toward a slippery
witness, and ply them with interroga-
tories that had no proper relation to the
question they were considering One would
have supposed that a citizen of the standing
of Mr.. Belmont had title to be exempted
from their rudeness. His eminence in the
highest business and social circles of this
city should have protected him from such
impertinence, quite apart from his services
to the democratic party, which are also a
claim to respectful treatment. Mr.. Belmont
tional Committee for very long period
when the party was under an eclipse, and it
is more owing to him than to any other man
that it did not become extinct during those
dark and trying years. Besides his well
known services as the head of the demo-
cratic organization he rendered others
which, if they should ever come
to the public knowledge, will receive
public homage 1t was he that saved the
democratic party from being swallowed up
in the gulf of destructive and suicidal cop
perheadism. His correspondence with
eminent persons, official and unoficial-a
correspondence which, although it has been
put in type, has been seen only by few
personal friends-shows breadth of view, a
statesmanlike sagacity, a vigorous and en-
lightened patriotism which, if his self-re-
specting reserve should ever permit the cor
respondence to be published, would attest
the value of his counsels both to the party in
power, which sought his advice on financial
questions, and to his own party, on which
he exerted wise, restraining influence that
saved it from fatal mistakes. 1t is discredit-
able to the Aldermanic committee before
whom Mr.. Belmont appeared to state the
claims of candidate that he was subjected
to the rudest kind of coarse impertinence.
The French Cabinet and the Elections.
The French Cabinet is house divided
against itself, but it seems that it has de-
cided not to fall until after the elections