The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-13


MEXICAN CRuIsERs-DANGER or AMERICAN CON-
MRRcE.-It will be recoected that before Almonte
broke up his mission in this country, he stated po-
sitively that in the event of u war between the
United States and Mexico, the latter would cover
the sen with privateers under the Mexican flag.
There is great deal Of anxiety beginning to be
manifested for the result of this threat Almonte,
AT the last accounts, was at Havana. 1t seems
that he was sent there under the pretext of being
accredited as Minister to France; hut instead of
proceeding to Europe, he remained ut Havana,
and sent his Secretary back to Mexico Who
knows that this was not mere FONT, and that AL
monte knew what was about to take place on the
Rio Grande, and went TO Havana for the purpose
OF issuing letters of marque, he threatened
when he was in Washington
This is certainly menacng and important
view Of the case and what makes it
more disastrous, is the probability that it is true
The amount of American property in the Attain
TIC and Pacific oceans, and in the South Seas, is
worth probably one hundred millions of dollars,
belonging to all the sea ports in the United States
The tonnage enrolled and belonging to the
United States, approaches 100000, about
one half Of which is actively engaged in the
foreign trade. This tonnage, estimated at the
moderate sum of $50 per ton for vessel and cargo,
would make the amount Of property now at sea
$9OOOO,OO0. But this is low estimate, both rs to
the number OF vessels at sea, and their estimated
value. To the shipping interest of the country
generally, the past season has been, perhaps, the
most active and prosperous experienced for many
years The comparatively destitute and meagrc
show of shipping which the various ports
throughout the United States now present, is suf.
ficient evidence that this estimate of property at
present afioat is not exaggerated. There. are. 657
whalemen Mt sea, which may be valued at s20, O0O,-
600. This immense amount Of Property is at the risk
of being taken by these cruisers; and the first nfor-
nation we may get, may be disastrous to the ship
ping interest to an extent beyond any anticipation
of the public. The effect Of such designs as those
attributed to Amonte and the Mexican govern
ment, will be felt in all the principal seaports.
The first result will be the complete explosion Of
the insurance companies, and the effect of these
explosions will materially injure the banks in all
the large cities. The aggregate result will be the
bringing about revulsion more disastrous in its
effects than that Of the year 1887. There will proba-
bly, be another revllsion in commercial interests,
and particularly in the shipping business, in all
the great cities. The amount of American pro-
perry that may be lost in this way is ncalculable
This is the view Of the disasters that may be
produced by the present war. Another is, the
effect which the distribution of the funds of the
government may cause in the rise of breatstuffs
and the munitions Of war, in the Western States
and in the Gulf of Mexico, to supply the army on
the Rio Grandc.
Thus 1t will be seen, that while the Atlantic
cities and coast will suffer terribly, the West and
Southwest will be benefited, by the vast expen-
dtures that will be required to bring the war to
successful and honorable termination. These
expectations are gloomy on one side, and
glorious on the other. We must take them MS
they come, and do the best we can. An imbecile
government has brought into this condition;
and as we elected them, we must make the best
we can of bad bargain, and fight it out with the
best energy and courage we have.