The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-03

enforce the penalty. The commissioners are author
lied by the regulations to impose fines but it is
allowed by their regulations but vessels has been
seen, in most instances, refuse or eyade the pay
act it, If pilot offers his services to the east
ward Of the white buoy about three miles from
SANDY HOOK, and Is refused ne Is entitled to half
sioners have no power to make such regulation
They had authority whatever. Their regulations
are dead letter. All the control there is rests
upon the commercial influence welded by the COM
missoners and the snip owners. believe this state
of things to be radically wrong The for sub
jecting the business Of piotage to legal regulation
seem to me urgent and unanswersble. Let me advert
vessels at New York exceed 100 per annum. They
are entirely dependent judicious system of pi-
otage for their safety. The regular trsders may
but foreign vessels without this KNOWLEDGE will natu-
rally take the first pilot that presents himself They
system OF regulation, under undivided au-
thorty that we can do justice to the vast foreign
commerce which centres in the city of New
York. The act of Congress is the only obstacle
to the establishment Of such system. If 1t were
peaed, am entirely satisfied that system could be
adopted in concurrence with the mercantile classes
which would meet the views and interests of ALL and
every public object But to pursue this point
little further, the New York merchants not the
only parties in interest New York Is the centre of
commerce of the whole Union. Foreign countries as
have already shown have also deep interest in the
matter an interest which have right to subject
to the control, without law of single class 1t is
g,eat emporium Of the Union should be made efficient
by judcious regulation, instead Of being thrown open
to uIrestraned com petition The interests at stake
too important not property alone but human life
is concerned am not aware that there is any COM
ing to open petition 1t is Of the few matters
in which regulation has always been deemed ndispen
sable. Strongly impressed as ! am with the import
ance OF freeing commerce and navigation, as far
possible, from all shackes and restrictions cannot,
on the fullest reflection, bring my mind to the concu
that pilotage should be without law But there
another consideration. Those who now control pilot
age In New York to great extent, have an interest
ing done cheap. Bargains frequently made, and
the pilot is compelled to take less than the customary
rates-less than the rates fixed asonabe and just
by the Chamber Of Commerce and the Board of Under
Writer'S. The tendency of this state of things is to
drive the best pilots into other employments and
from the best judgment ! have been able to form,
cannot but think that If this state of things continues
the ttage, New York. instead of having pilots equal
to the best in any country. will have the worst
am not quite certain, Mr. President, that the inte
rest of insurers is decidedly in favor Of the
highest degree Of security to property afoat the
Senator from Massachusetts supposes. Insurance is
regulated by the hazards The rates high when
the hazard Is great and they low when the hazard
is small. Now, ! believe it may be said with safety
that Of the Increase OF hazard and that the profits of
insurance are greatest when the security Is least
speak in respect to the operation of principles, and
not in respect to motives of action and only for the
purpose Of explaining why very defective system
Of pilotsge might exist without prejudice to insurers
the mercantile interest generally is in favor of the
present system and he intmates pretty strongly
that there is not a merchant in New York who is
not opposed to the repeal Now, the Sena-
tor that the memorials from New York asking the
repeal Of the act Of Congress- signed by five thou
sand persons, contain the names Of several highly
spectacle merchants besides large number of ship.
masters and ship-ow can also assure him that
J. have converted with some Of the most respectable
ship masters who sail from New York and who believe
the present system tends to degrade the pilots and to
render lie and property insecure 1t is no doubt true
at fba moro IN n n
peal First, for reasons have stated; and secondly
because it has been industousl circulated by inte
rested that the OBJECT of the repeal to estab
lish the cid monopoly. The Senator from Massaohu-
eets twice said fkd and regretted to hear it. He
ton for the charge 1t is this belief which has pro-
duced so much hostility to the repeal, and regret
that my honorable friend from Massachusetts, should
have fallen into so great an error Let me state
few facts The New York pilots assented in l846 to
the creation Of board of commissioners OF three
persons one to be chosen by the Board Of Under
writer's one by the Chamber Of Commerce, and one by
themselves to regulate the whole business Of potage
They offered to take into the association of pilots all
those now licensed by New Jersey and the merchants
pilots If found qualified on examination This propo
ttion Contemplated repeal of the act Of Congress
and the establishment of system of pilotage by State
legislation The agent Of those two bodies was under
stood to give his assent to it in this city, and sup
But his return to New York they refused to
cede to It, The pilots agreed that the mercantile inter
ro, 20 hs Ul cond
lation Under the existing system this interest has
the control without legal regulation This is the issue
sire monopoly. They do not ask even for control
They ask only legal protection for rights universally
acknowledged to be just. The Senator from Massa-
chusetts also stated his belief that the papers in
his possession showed no persons connected with the
chipping interest o. tne country, except the pilots
this to be mistake. ! might 90 on and say that two
sovereign States have complained of it as injurious
but the pilots desired the repeal Of the law,
would it be reason Why Congress should turn
or an class Of individuals fairly appeal to Congress
for protection against the operation Of its
ments when they are oppressive or injurious to the
peculiar duty Of Congress to that, in the enact
ment of laws individual rights not injuriously
affected The only question IL, how far those rights
shall give way to great public interests? And sir /
insist that the application Of the pilets alone ask
ing for the repeal which has proved oppres-
sive 10 them it would have been the duty Congress
toook into the facts and to grant the prayer of the
petitioners, unless high public rendered
it impreper But have already said, the pilots arc
net the only compliments. Numerous and respect
able classes of citizens unite with them and the Lee
Congress- either oppressive injurious to the
public interest which it is designed to secure. /
saying that entertain for the merchants of the
city Of New York the highest respect. In enter.
prize intelligence in commercial matters, and in an
honorable discharge Of their pecuniary obligations,
they unsurpassed by any class Of in this
try or any other WhenI took my seat in this body,
1t with earnest desire to contribute my humble
efforts to the promotion of the commercial interest of
the country, which thought had not received all the
notice to which 1t entitled and 1t lie to this SUBJ
ject more than any other that have devoted myself
shall continue to do But in this matter of the pilots
am constrained to differ fro what seems to be the ge
neral opinion among the merchants Of New York And
yet am entirely satisfied that If We understood each
other there would be little difference between us.
do not think the great body Of the merchants have
looked into the subject critically have inq ured Of
many Of them why they opposed to the repeal Of
the act Of Congress and have received the
answer in every case" because opposed to the
re-establis hmcnt of the OLD monopoly" And when
have rejoined that was equally opposed to such a
measure, that in favor Of placing the whole SUBJ
ject OF plotaee for the city Of New York legal
regulation and leaving the ADM nisraton Of the
tenn in the hands Of the Chamber OF Commerce and
the Board of Underwriters their represe tatives, |
do not recoltct an instance in which they have
not acquiesced in the propriety Of the suggestion.
What have insisted Is legal control to be exer-
ci,d by those who have practical knowed OF tho