The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-16

halls OF some OF the States and also in Congress, 1t
may not be amiss to give brief history OF the
causes which have led to this discussion, and also
the present state of the question. 1t is desirable
that all our citizens far and near should be inform
ed on the subject, and Judge of Its merts-particu
larly as the pilots, whose rights have been sadly in
ffinged upon, and the very bread taken from them
selves and families, by hasty and imperfect legsla
ton, have now a memorial before Congress, pray
ing that those rights of which they have been de-
prived may be restored to them, and that the inus
tice under which they have been suffering for ten
years past, may be removed.
Previous to the year 1887, the pilotage of this
great port was in the hands of what are termed the
New York pilots, class of men, that for energy,
perseverance, sklfulness, and disregard of their
own life and comfort, In the discharge Of their du
ties, has seldom been equalled and, we may conf
IDENTITY assert, never exceled In the winter of that
year, two shipwrecks occurred on our coast attend
ed with loss of human lte-that of the Bristol,
and that Of the Mexco-two emigrant ships.
These shpwrecks were caused by violent hurri-
cane, attended with a heavy fall of snow, which
rendered view OF object, but at a short distance
impossible In fact, the storm OF the year 1886
as violent, and nearly fatal to property and life,
the storm which caused the loss OF the John Minturn
and other vessels, short time since. The calam-
tous effects of that gale, was to be expected,
caused a thrill of horror in the whole community.
Previous 10 and at that time, there were some
differences between the Wall street philoso-
pliers and the pilots, on political matters and
party spirit being very high, the opponents Of the
pllets composed, they always have been OF wings,
looking upon the latter as dependant upon them, at.
tempted to coerce the pilots into voting their op.
ponents dictated. These men, who are to a man
democrats, rebelled against this interference with
their political privileges, and refused to sacrifice
their right OF voting as they themselves thought
proper, to any set OF men. Hence we date the
commencement of the unholy warfare against the
pilots, that has been relentessly carried on ever
since. In the meantime, the Bristol and Mexico
were wrecked, and the opponents of the pilots lost
Ito time IN using the excitement thus occasioned,
Tor their own advantage, furherance of their per-
secution OF the pilots Stories the most exaggera-
ted were immediately circulated, and the lamenta-
bic sacrlhce OF lite and property, attributed to the
negligence and ncompetency of the pilots. portion
OF the press was brought to bear against them. Pet-
tons were industriously circulated, and signed by
persons who believed the misrepresentation of
their opponents and their newspapers, and sent to
Congress, which was then in session, pray ing that
the pilot business OF this port might be thrown open
to all PERSONS ho in the opinion of the Pilot Com
mlssloners, were competent for the business. The
excitement created in New York extended over the
whole country, and Congress partook oft. Thinking
that legislation was necessary to prevent if possible,
recurrence of such disasters and believing the false
reports setaoa blythe enemies ofthe pilots Congress
hastily, and acting under excited feelings, passed
law throwing open the pilot business of this port to
the citizens Of every State tina, should engage in it,
In this way the vile purposes Of the Of the
pilots were attained, and Immediately then sprung in
to existence class of pilots, who, it was ardently
hoped, would cut up the plotage of this port, and
ruin the old pilots. The Jersey pilots, as they are
called, were thus at admitted upon footing of
equality with the old pilots. and perfect yros in the
businessmen who, IN the nature of things, could
not undertake the business they were ushered into
without undergoing the ordinary term of probation
and apprenticeship, were put In the field to COM
pete with others who had followed the business
from their childhood, served long appren-
ticeshlp, underwent a most rigid examination
in fact, men who had made the business
their profession, as means OF supporting their
wives and families, and devoted years to the ac-
quirement of the skill and experience requisite to
enable them to earn their living and follow their
profession.
This rank injustice was defended by the oppo-
nents of the old pilots, the ground that certain
degree OF competition was necessary to be intro
duced into the pilot service and for the purpose of
creating this competition, 1t was considered proper
by Congress- to admit the citizens of other States to
partake Of its advantages This absurd reasoning in
fluenced the action of Congress-absurd, because as
long as the nature of man remains as IT always has,
there will be individual competition among all class
es of men, whether they belong TO one State or ano-
Their. But the injustice Of it is manifest The old
pilots had spent tn best part of their lives in study
ing their profession they had braved the dangers
OF the sea for series of years, and hourly incurred
the risk of lfe they had invested their property in
the business, thinking that no Legislation could be
unjust as to deprive them Of the rights that they
thought they were entitled to !; they were not in
the slightest degree, as has been fully proved, to
blame tor the loss of the Bristol and Mexico yet Con-
gress steps In, and at stroke deprives them OF all
those rights, and allows men who are not subject
to the laws OF our State, who pay no taxes for the
support OF our State government, and who vote in
another State to come In and stand on equal foot
ing with the citizens of New York in plotting ves-
sells into the harbor OF New York, and TO and from
the city OF New York. Is not this palpably absurd
And is II not doing gross injustice to the New York
pilots II cannot but be looked upon as an inter-
ference by the General Government with the rights
of the State OF New York
II never has been denied that our own Legisla-
ture is capable OF enacting lis own laws II our
Legislature had thought the alteration in the pilot
laws necessary, surely they would have made il.
without calling upon the General Government for
assistance BY this improper interference of the
government, the New York pilots have suffered
considerably and unjusty. They have, however,
appealed to public opinion, and endeavored to set
it right on the question. They have shown, re-
peatedy, the fasity of the charges made against
them-the injustice of the law passed by Congress,
in the winter of 1887 and are now striving