The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-10

Vno COmmorchal ~ ax1no OF inc Ontse0 DS~Ssss
We give, to day, in another column, in ae-
vance Of any publication at Washington, or
elsewhere, a statement-and very important
one-showlng the amount of the commercial
marine of the United States, comprehending It's
details, both of foreign and American tonnage
and of the various places of arrival and depar-
ture. We have been enabled to procure this
valuable document, for the good of the public,
through our extensive arrangements made, by
bribery, in every department, necessary for
the interests of the public. Those pure
and uuspotted sons and servants of God
Thurlow Weed, of Albany, and David Hale,
of New York-have stated that we procur-
ed the Comptroller's Report of this State, by
bribery and corruption. Be it so. Our system
of bribery and corruption is on so extensive a
scale that it enables US to procure public docu-
ments, speeches, and other public matters, far
ahead of any other newspaper in New York, or
any other through the State. Bribery and cor
.aption, like steam and electricity, are good
things when properly managed, as we know
how. In fact, the devil may be fitted for direc-
tor of the Tabernacle yet, and take his seat with
Parson Hale himself.
But for the statements themselves. The COM
mercial marine of the United States is only Sc
cond to that of one other country in the world, and
that country is England. The aggregate amount
of entrances and clearances are nearly seren
millions of tons, being not far short of the whole
of the tonnage for the British dominions, in Eu-
rope, Asia and America. Of this amount, two
thirds are American tonnage, and one-third for
eign.
The aggregate amount of men, or seamen, re-
quired TO navigate such tonnage, is over one hun
dred and sirty thousand and of this number, we
may reckon, probably, one hundred thousand
American seamen and if we add to this number
an estimate of the steamboat men employed on
the Western waters, the amount will reach one
hundred and sirty thousand-so that we have an
aggregate of l6O, 900 men, in the United States,
accustomed to sailing or to steam vessels.
The principal ports Of exit and entrance, Of
this great amount of tonnage, are New York,
New Orleans and Boston. The others are small
The tonnage of New York Is increasing more
rapidly than any other port. New Orleans is the
only one that seems to compete with 1t. Another
fact lie, the extraordinary tr ,de which the United
States possesses with Cuba and the West Indies,
including, also, the British North American Co.
lonles.
The present commercial satisfies of the marine
of this country have considerably increased
statistics which, when compared with the former,
or with those of any nation in Europe, must now
cause those in the old world to pause and consi-
der the future. In the recent war with Mexico,
the navy has gained no part of glory or
honor. The American navy has been an idle
spectator of the brilliant deeds Of the army.
Yet it would be wrong to suppose that the Anne
rican navy had not tho same mettle which was
displayed by the American army in the Mexican
war. Unfortunately, some of our Commodores
had not the talent for the position which
they occupied. The GOODNESS and courage
of the brave and heroic Hunter were lar
better than that displayed by those most pom
pous naval chiefs who were only actively engaged
in doing nothing, but yet the day is coming
when the American navy will loom forth; and
the commercial marine will form basis upon
which will be founded the glory of that navy
for it is certain as the MONDAY sun, that there
will yet be conflict between some of the naval
powers OF Europe and the American navy. The
war with Mexico is only an episode-as was the
last war with England. We are only preparing,
collecting, energizing, for that great conflict on
the ocean, with the naval powers of England and
all Europe and we have already the materials
to come out Of that conflict victorious but the
time is not yet ripe for action.
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