Morning Herald

Meeting of the Board of Assistants— The South Ferry Scheme.

We shall have a rich scene tonight at the City Hall, in the room occupied by the Board of Assistants. The place will be crowded with all sorts of characters. All the speculators in South Ferry lots will be there, with their pockets well lined with solid reasons and substantial arguments for convincing the sceptical members of the Board that it is necessary to pass the resolution to unite the ferries. Business of various kinds will be brought before the Board, but the absorbing topic will be the discussion upon the resolution of the Board of Aldermen to unite the Fulton with the South Ferry.

The scene will be alternately ludicrous, serious, laughable, lamentable, droll, and disgusting; and we call upon all those persons in New York who are in the habit of crossing the river at the Fulton Ferry, to assemble tonight in the Board of Assistants, and see how recklessly the whig party will act in this and other measures, now that they are about to lay down the wand of office and power. We call upon all who wish to be simultaneously amused and astonished, to attend the meeting of the Board of Assistants tonight, and see them perpetrate one of the most flagrant outrages on the rights of the public generally that has disgraced any legislative body in this country for a year back.

The appointed hour for meeting is 5 o'clock, but they are never punctual. Nevertheless, a little before six the members of the Board of Assistants will drop in one by one, full of mystery, and importance, and folly. They will gossip a little, laugh a little, scribble a little, and talk a great deal of nonsense and then adjourn to the tea table. The tea room will present a rich scene, oysters and lobsters, tongue, beef steaks, and coffee, and wine, will be swallowed in large quantities. The speculators will be at the table and round the table, lobbying and log rolling, and ear-wigging, and humbugging the members of the board; and in all probability they will send the wine for the evening from their own choice cellars.

The supper will be the most important performance in the evening's entertainment; for before that is finished or the members leave the table, the vote will be taken, the solid reasons rendered and received, and the question of union decided in the affirmative. An adjournment will then take place to the council room, and the last act of the farce will commence, and will in effect be probably similar to the following:

Present.—A full Board—Assistant Alderman Woodhull in the chair.

Chairman—Papers from the Board of Aldermen are now in order.

Whig Member—I move you, sir, we now take up the resolution to unite the South Ferry with the Fulton Ferry.

Spectators outside the bar—Hear, hear.

Chairman—The sergeant at arms will keep silence and preserve order.

Here the speculators inside the bar will dodge round amongst the members, whisper in their ears, exhort, entreat, promise, threaten, and scribble on pieces of paper, some of which may probably resemble blank checks, or some sort of scrip.

Locofoco Member—I should like to know from the chairman of the Ferry Committee whether they have examined this matter thoroughly?

Member—Oh yes, we have looked into it. We went on Friday over the South Ferry in Mr. —'s private carriage, and he took us all over the ground, showed us all the lots laid out, and convinced us by the most solid argument that he could use, that we must vote for the union; gave us an excellent dinner, and what with the excellence of the ride, and the view, and the dinner, and the wines, we are certain that the public interests require the ferries to be united. Indeed, it is wonderful that the thing has not been done before, considering what choice wine is to be had so cheaply on the other side of the river.

Locofoco Member—I am perfectly willing to take the word of my colleague, that he received sufficiently solid reasons from the owners of lots on the other side, but I should like to know what those reasons are, and judge for myself of their efficiency.

Here a speculator will immediately creep up to the last speaker, place a piece of paper on his desk, and he will say no more. Then another of the ferry committee will rise.

Assistant Alderman—I am sure that my honorable colleague will be convinced before he leaves the room—but as we like to do everything fair and above board, I will tell him what passed. I myself was sceptical on this point, on Friday, and asked our host for a reason, and he satisfied me. "You see," said he, "this is a great country—the bottle is with you—and New York is a great city—your glass is empty—the ferries are now two—you must not fill on heel taps—the boats on the South Ferry are fine—the wine is superb—they are made to order—I imported it expressly for my own use—we don't wish them to be used in common—shall I have the pleasure of a glass of wine with you?"

This was the introduction to his argument. "But," said I, "I doubt very much," said I—He stopt me short, and replied—"I know you do, my dear fellow—but I imported it direct from Xeres." "But," I again observed, "about this ferry—people think"—"I know they do," said he, "that this is the finest wine in the city."

"But I must give some reasons to the Board," said I, "and now what reasons do you advance?" "Oh, my reasons," said he, "my reasons are—another glass of wine. That's right, drain to the dregs. My reasons—are—the ferries—all up again—the reason for the union is, that—that union is strength—strength is good—this wine has strength—another glass of wine with you."

But, about these two ferries," I repeated. "Oh, yes," said he, "you are right—I have two sherries on the table—pale and brown—you have been drinking pale—please to honor me by taking some of this brown. It is the finest movement ever made." These were the principal points of the argument; and if the gentleman on the other side has met with stronger reasons, I should like to see them.

After this there will be two or three similar speeches, some more similar reasons rendered and received: the resolution will pass, and be sent down to the Mayor to be signed, followed by the curses of the public at large.

On the Mayor, therefore, all depends; if he is firm and true to himself, he will veto the measure, and preserve inviolate the rights and best interests of both cities. We cannot expect any good from the reckless conduct of the Aldermen or Assistants; we cannot expect so promiscuous a body to be free from temptation—and therefore we are pleased to think that Mayor Clark will have so signal an opportunity for distinguishing himself, and soaring above the trammels and chains of party and corruption.

No Registry Law will pass—and 60,000 votes will be taken next fall in the city—and no mistake.