“ The general mind has really appropriated the idea that because Branch attacked so important a person as Mayor Tiemann, the whole power of the corporation has been consolidated into one grand vindictive effort to crush out the courageous but silly slanderer. Every one naturally murmurs, therefore, if this be so, who may not be the next sacrifice? Common rumor does not hesitate to insinuate that the character of the proceedings taken against Branch, and the peremptory treatment bestowed upon the counsel for the prisoner, were the result of a preconcerted arrangement of the authorities. ”

“ Should the motion in arrest of judgment reopen the trial, it will doubtless be for the admission of the main evidence in the case, so mysteriously and adroitly evaded by the prosecution. Then only can the provoking rumors, now so general, be set at rest, or satisfactorily determined.
The fate of Branch here, it appears, will be in no degree lenient, as there is more than one petty tyrant under the vice royalty who seems desirous of venting his spleen upon the unfortunate man. ”

“ The Herald takes the occasion of Branch’s conviction to read us a lecture on the enormity of scurrility and libel. No other print in the country is so well qualified for the task. Bennett evidently thinks New Yorkers have short memories, not to recollect the obscene and licentious character of the Herald in its earlier days. He has used Branch as often as any other paper in New York to abuse people towards whom he had incurred a hostility, but now he is down, Bennett kicks him with the rest. ”

“ It is evident that something should be done at once to furnish the Fire Department, the relief that they have a right to expect from the excessive labor that is unavoidable in drawing their engines to and from, and the hazzard and fatigue of working them at the numerous fires that take place.
In the opinion of your subscriber, the plan of placing light carts with hose at convenient distances in every street, to be at the service of a body of police, all interested to use this hose for the extinguishment of fires with the greatest possible energy and effect, is the best that can be adopted. ”

“ We know very well that he intended to threaten no respectable press, or to hint at fetters in terrorem upon its proper independence—but his language may be easily misinterpreted; and when we consider how liable the most prudent journalist is to daily imposition, the observation that “this verdict settles the fact that no man can make an assertion in a newspaper without being liable to be punished criminally, unless he can substantiate it,” seems to us one of gratuitous harshness, and in any body else would be called one of petulence and ill-humor. ”

“ The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The Inspectors of Election in each town, ward, and election district in this State, at the annual election to be held in November next, shall provide a proper box to receive the ballots of the citizens of this State entitled to vote for members of the Legislature at such election. On such ballot shall be written or printed, or partly written and printed, by those voters who are in favor of a Convention, the words: “Shall there be a Convention to Revise the Constitution and amend the same? ”

“ Branch, we believe, has been trying pretty hard to libel us in his abusive little sheet; but we have never considered his slanders worth any sort of notice. It may be well to stop his career, but not to make him a martyr. And we say most decidedly, that considering the libel for which he was indicted was really based on information furnished him by persons whom he had reason to believe, we deem his sentence a harsh one, and trust it may be mitigated by pardon.”
By the press generally, the matter is regarded pretty much in the same temper, excepting the anomalous instance of the Herald! ”

“ Libel Case Characteristics.—The conviction of Stephen H. Branch, before Recorder Barnard, on Wednesday, of a libel on Mayor Tiemann and two other public officers, naturally created a sensation. So did the remarks of the bench. Sentencing Mr. Branch to a year’s imprisonment in the penitentiary and a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars, while such a man as Peter Dawson is subjected to incarceration for only sixty days, is not likely, however, to exert a wholesome effect upon the public mind. ”

“ Such performance will not only secure to them the large fund provided by the Corporation, and in addition the fund to be recovered from the insurance companies, as a reward for reducing the loss by fire below the average agreed upon, but they would, in addition, find the faithful performance of duty the surest relief from excessive labor, by diminishing the number of fires and the amount of crime that now form so great and so unpleasant a part of their present labor. ”

“ The principal idea in the foregoing communication, was presented by your subscriber to a previous Common Council, some twelve years since, under a full sense of the great advantages that would result by saving millions of property annually from destruction, and what is of more value, it would save the health and morals of thousands of the best and most enthusiastic young men of our city from being broken down and destroyed by their loss of time and the excessive labor occasioned by the numerous fires that take place, and which would mainly be prevented by adopting the arrangement proposed. ”

“ Graham proceeded to say, that they intended to show these English scoundrels that they could not libel and caricature respectable citizens with impunity.
Mr. Leslie said—“You had better keep cool, Mr. Graham.”
Mr. Graham, who was evidently very much excited, jumped up and said—“Don’t speak to me, you scoundrel, or I shall not be answerable for the consequences. I ask your Honor to note that this is an attempt to intimidate respectable counsel. These fellows intend to caricature the whole court. I’ll neck the first man I see take out a pencil. ”

“ How Branch confronts his Fate.—The renowned tamer of alligators—I may as well add, en passant—was duly surrendered to Warden Finch on Thursday, having been escorted hither to his prison by a little host of friends, whose temper indicated no disposition to desert him. Sympathy is strongly in his favor, on the ground, of course, that, whatever may be thought of his offence, his treatment at the hands of the officials and lawyers, has been such as only a weak and comparatively friendless man like him would meet. ”

“ It is worthy of remark that the insurance companies of this city have now in their employ eighty (80) men, at an expense of thirty (30) thousand dollars a year, to watch against fires. I am informed that they intend greatly to increase this force; in addition, your subscriber, with a great number of merchants and private families, have for years constantly employed private watchmen, to guard our stores and watch our dwellings from robbery and fires. ”

“ Then, if we consider the hurried manner in which the prosecution got up this trial, and their mode of conducting it, as described above, we must consider the proceedings unwarranted by the premises; and forms a great contrast to the tardy manner in which our Courts mete out their infinitismal doses of punishment to Thieves, Burglars, Murderers and Desperadoes.
There is still another charge, which in our opinion is the gravest of all. After the rendition of the verdict the counsel for the defence moved a stay of proceedings ”

“ JAMES DONNELLY’S COAL YARD—TWENTY-SIXTH street and Second Avenue. I always have all kinds of coal on hand, and of the very best quality, which I will sell as low as any other coal dealer in the United States.
JAMES DONNELLY. WILLIAM COULTER, CARPENTER.—I HAVE LONG been engaged as a Carpenter, and I assure all who will favor me with their patronage, that I will build as good houses, or anything else in my line, as any other carpenter in the city of New York. I will also be as reasonable in charges for my work as any other person. ”

“ By a course of proceedings altogether extraordinary on the part of the prosecution, the apparent real evidence in the case was completely excluded, and Branch convicted solely upon the oaths of his prosecutors, without an actual investigation of the presumed issue on which the libel originated. The public are largely exercised on the matter, and inquiry is particularly active as to who the “Matron” really is? ”

“ At this juncture, a gentleman, who we believe is Mr. Leslie’s printer, got up and told Mr. Graham that he must not speak to him in that way. This style of conversation continued some time longer, but did not lead to any breach of the peace, although it was evident that Mr. Graham needed but a very small provocation to make him take off his coat and “go in.”
Mr. Leslie gave the required bail to keep the peace, justifying himself, in $5,000, and two sureties of $2,500 each. Messrs. Sam S. Sherwood and Alexander Douglass became his bail. ”

“ And again we have been told—how far it is true we care not to inquire—that one man who professed great friendship for him, and became his bail on the last arrest, two days before his trial, on the following day withdrew his bail, and delivered the unfortunate man up to his adversaries ”

“ If all this be true, it is one of the most arrant pieces of villany ever recorded of Christian men.
When we come into court we, unfortunately, if possible, find things worse. The ruling of the Judge was altogether too strict—too severe—in fact too arbitrary. ”

“ No.” Such statements as aforesaid shall contain a caption, stating the day on which, and the number of the district, the town or ward, and the county at which the election was held, and at the end thereof a certificate that such statement is correct in all respects, which certificate shall be subscribed by all the inspectors, and a true copy of such statement shall be immediately filed by them in the office of the clerk of the town or city. ”

“ FASHION HOUSE—JOSEPH HYDE PROPRIETOR, corner Grand and Essex street. Wines, Liquors, and Cigars of the best brands. He invites his friends to give him a call. Prompt and courteous attention given his patrons.
WILLIAM A. CONKLIN, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR at Law, No. 176 Chatham street, New York. Any business entrusted to his charge from citizens of this city or any part of the country, will receive prompt and faithful attention, and be conducted on reasonable terms. ”

“ BOOT & SHOE EMPORIUM.—EDWIN A. BROOKS, IMPORTER and Manufacturer of Boots, Shoes and Gaiters, Wholesale and Retail, No. 575 Broadway, and 150 Fulton Street, New York.
WILLIAM M. SOMERVILLE, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Druggist and Apothecary, 205 Bleecker street, corner of Minetta, opposite Cottage Place, New York. All the popular Patent Medicines, Fresh Swedish Leeches, Cupping, &c. Physicians’ Prescriptions accurately prepared.
WM. M. SOMERVILLE. A. W. & T. HUME, MERCHANT TAILORS, No. 82 6th Avenue, New York. We keep a large and elegant assortment of every article that a gentleman requires. ”