The New York herald., 1846-03-05

produce concentration OF public opinion IN relation
to Mr.. Polk, side, and Mr.. Clay on the other,
to test their merits before the people more
1t similar state Of things that was presented
during the first Presidency OF General Jackson. The
isolation OF a large portion Of his party caused the
tion, SO as to give unity and force to his admins
tration. would not be surprised in finding similar
results, from similar causes, in reference to Mr..
clusion OF all other candidates, should be sponta-
neousy nominated by his party for reelection, il
woui tend, beneficially, to the public interests,
and check much OF the idle clamor and asperity
idly speculating on the next Presidency 1t is most
probable that Clay the other side, will be put for
ward by the whigs II SO, this contest will be an ex
citing and Interesting one. Meantime, Congress ls
driving the country to "a. 40 very rapidly When
there, war Is certain.
The New York Pilots-Falsc Statements
against them-Their Case.
The Journal Of Commerce published, on Tuesday
last, catalogue of stupid falsehoods against the
New York pilots, about as stupid as any ever pub
shed in that paper since the day it became the pious
defender OF the immaculate Maria Monk 1t be-
comes our duty to nail these falsehoods to the wall,
for public observation. The Courier and Enquirer.
without taking the trouble to distinguish truth from
falsehood, in its avdy to malign the whole body OF
New York pilots, repubshed the statements Of the
Journal, with some SANDERS ofits own fabrication.
For more than twenty years, the honest and skill
full pilots of New York have been harrassed by the
efforts of the Board Of Underwriters to possess them
selves Of unjust powers. This Board succeeded,
through their wealth, in gaining the most aristo-
cratic monopoly Of the business Of piloage, without
color OF law and with no authority, other than that
conferred by combination of their 900 o.
capital; the ships, lives and property Of the communal
ty have been placed under the power Of class of
"pllots" who are composed generally Of the appren
tces of the New York pilots; and one or more of
these 'pots" of the insurers have been overhauled
by our courts on various charges, the records will
attest. Never was there more unjust usurpation,
and never more tyrannical exercise of the power
of wealth The horrors of the Mexico aroused the
public to the fact that she was very poor vessel,
badly supplied with provisions and sails that she
was covered with ice, so that she could not be work.
ed, and that her unfortunate passengers died three
deaths, viz: starvation, freezing ant drowning, in
gale just as cold and terrific as that in which the
pilot boat Gratitude was lost, with four New York
pilots; and the underwriters, by perverted testi-
mony in relation to the Bristol, succeeded in
raising such a noise against the pilots, that
Congress was deceived, in 1887, into the passage
of law which has, IN its action, given the monopo-
y of the plloage of New York into the hands OF the
underwriters In proof Of this we refer to the state
ment we published yesterday, taken from the office
of the underwriters pots-by which II appears that
fifteen of their pilots have piloted to sea vessels for
which they have, within short time, received 3d.
O3S So, or about $500 per man. whilst the New York
pilot boat Blossom, which has probably cruised as
many miles, within the last three winter months,
any boat in the world, has not received an average
of fifty cents a day for each pilot. Every man
knows that taking ships to sea is the cream OF the
business for time is lost; the weather is chosen'
and the pilotage is earned In few hours. This bu-
sness is gwen by the underwriters to their favored
proteges, whilst the New York pilots are cruising
hundreds Of miles at sea- rsking life, property and
character for these soulless corporations.
In order to retain their chance of obtaining
ty living the pilots have called for fair play and ex-
act Justice The insurers have redoubled their ef-
forts to retain their monopoly but we are happy to
say that the effect Of their efforts, far, has been
to arouse public indignation against them, for their
conduct and their unholy alliance obtained in va.
rlous ways, is about to be broken up by Congress
so that, soon, the people Of the Empire State will
eeisate for themselves, and every one of the thir-
teen New York pilot boats will be dong an inde.
pendent business-each one in honest opposition to
the others and all will be protected by salutary
and an honest free trade in principle, may exist fol
honest and capable men. Then the humbug Of q
Board, established by the underwriters and their
assistants, will quickly end, and the mockery Of az
fordpg Just protection to life and property will cease
and the worthless and mushroom Board dissolve
into their original state.
The Journal Of Commerce states that the Z" old
New York pilots are all acknowledged without
taking any certificate, or being subjected to any
conditions" II the assurance of the Board were
not notorious, this statement might pass for com
piment 10 the old pots-but the statement is q
| falsehood for the New York underwriters have
published a circular, OF which the following is 9
part and it is probably, carefully put aboard Of mos
every vessel. The Commissioners pretend that they
act gratuitously for the Board Of Insurers We shall
hereafter show the real facts, and some Of the con
tracts and profits they derive from their employers
But now
Z" The Commissioners wish to impress on all mer
chants and shipmssters the Importance Of their cordial
enable the Board to fulfil the objects fol
which has been organized and they feel that they
strong claim in asking for such cooperation and
they therefore, beg leave to call your attention to the
bsr Of Commerce. and Board Of underwriters recommend
ing that no ressei receive person pilot excepting
hs producing certificate sgned BY the Board, or thss
issued under the ohsry Of the State Of NeW Jsrsey"
Now, where is the truth Is it IN the Journal Of
the circular
We have referred to the constitution, and find til,
Journal wrong. The Journal does not tell the pub
lie that the New York underwriters actually fur
nished the money to pay for one Of The boats. We
allude to the "Nettle" Of which one Of the commits
sioners has declared himself to be the sole owner
Witness the following certlficate:-
aIn conversation with Mr.. Perkins Secretary to the
Roard of Commssopers of Insurers Pilots, on Friday
the 27th February 1896 he stated that the pilot boa
sNettle was bought by subscription by the Marine In