The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-24


ers will probably incl,e the friends of General
Cass to make ad tiona efforts for electing him.
1t twill be very Interesting struggle, and we can
safely say that there is abundance of fun ahead.
AMERICAN STEAM SHrPs.--MAH CoNTRACTs-
We learn that the Charleston line of steamers to
be increased to four, in order to have semi-week-
" communication with that city That line has
been highly successful. We also learn, that the
owners of the Crescent City intend to build ano-
ther steamer, like her, to run between this port
and New Orleans.
II must be gratifying to every American to wit
ness this success in ocean steam navigation, The
Crescent City can beat the overland mail from one
to three days, and she will, therefore, afford means
for the Transmission ofletters and we understand
that the owners will take all papers and letters
gratuitously to New Orleans. All will be pleased
TO hear this
II Is to be regretted that government should in
tertere, directly or indirectly, with the success of
private enterprise, exhibited in the above state
ment. 1t is understood that the assignees of Mr..
Soo's contract not able to proceed with that
contract, unless government will make them an
advance of twenty-five thousand per month"; 1t
would seem, them that two hundred and ninety
thousand dollars per annum, or two million nine
hundred thousand dollars gross, is not basis
enough to carry them through therefore, they
feel obliged to call upon government for eight
hundred dollars per day for this purpose.
Ii appears strange that men should obtain con-
tract from government, giving them some thou
sand dollars per day, for establishing route now
successfully commenced by another concern, or
other parties, without any aid except their energy,
experience and capital; and yet, as has been re-
presented, be unable to go on without aid from the
said government. The public will be most happy
to this line in successful operation but accord
ing to contract. When, however, they acknow-
ledge their inability so to do without further aid
from government, and ask for an advance of mo-
ney to enable them to build their boats, the ques-
tion then arises, not this carrying the joke little
too far
There are some men with capital in the United
States, who would be most happy TO make con-
tract by which they could be guaranteed money
sufficient to pay all the expenses, and they have
all the profits; and there are many, apparently
without capital, who in addition to such qua
rantee, would have objection in the first place,
to having the money advanced without interest.
To be serious, however, as both the original con-
tractor and his assignees have been represented
as abundanty able, let them proceed, backed by
the two millions nine hundred thousand dollars,
but don't let them put their hands into the public
treasury in advance. If this, however, must be
done, and they insist upon it, then open the door !;
and, with the new conditions, submit the whole
to public competition.
Such course would save the government more
than half million Of dollars.
The NATURALIZATION LAws.-We are glad to
perceive that there is some prospect Of very Sc
rious defect IN the existing naturalization laws
being remedied, bill for that purpose having re-
Gently been introduced into Congress.
The present laws require =" a declaration of in.
tention," and five years. residence on the part OF
an alien, together with oath to support the Con.
stitution of the United States, before he can be-
come citizen of this republic. If, however, an
aien after declaring his intention to become clti-
zen, should leave the United States, if only for an
hour, or moment, he must commence de novo,
and re-declare his intention. This, surely, never
was contemplated by the trainers of the law; yet
this is the Interpretation put upon i, by high judiciaI
authority For instance, if an alien, who resides
in any of the States bordering on the Canadas, de-
clare his intention to become citizen of the United
States, and who has his permanent residence
in any of such States, should by stress of weather,
if he be travelling the lakes, be compelled, or
should voluntarily enter her MaJesty's Canadian
provinces, and remain there, if only for moment
he forfeits the right he had acquired by his deca.
ration of intentions, and must commence de moro
the usual proceedings in order to enable him to be-
come citizen. The question has been tried, for
the purpose of testing it, and this has been the de-
csion. 1t is to remedy this defect, which is an
obvious one, that bill to amend the naturaliza-
ton laws has been recently introduced into Con-
gress and which we hope will be speedily passed
News from Europe.
We have been, for the last twenty-four hours