The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-18
Post Office Restrictions on the

American Post Office Restrictions on the
Press.
British s ss, M0 Paat Ams Cd%S, Royal Ma"
Office, II Water street, Liverpool
"GENTLEMEN-From the probable difficulties that may arise
in to The b, any
80 On
18th Sept, lsis. % & c. MAcIvER.
In publishing the above letter. addressed to ourselves
and the press and public generally deem it proper
to Which we 40 on That TINS step
North American Mail Steamships, in consequence Of
the company's agent, at Boston. ntimatins to them
warranted his pointing out that infringement of
American post office law, their part, might be
visited with heavy penalties.
The agents of the British steamships have from the
first hour Of their operations afforded to the American
press the greatest facilities in the free conveyance
and instant delivery Of their papers, and deeply
regret that there should be any interruption to ac
lily which has always been of such vast assistance
journals.
We are assured that the owners of these ste amers
they have heretofore given to the press America
but they must first be put in a position to do by
the post Office authorities at Washington, it lie with
them alone the difficulty has originated and they
alone remove 1t.
Doubtless the carrying out Of this order will entail
great inconvenience and annoyance to the whole
press of the United States and which will of course
extend to the American public All parties, however,
connected with the press know from long experie nee
every assistance We must, therefore, in justice state
that, in their present movement no choice was left
them and that they not acting from caprice, or
intention to disoblige.
Negotiations between the United States
and Germany.
The Paris Presse Of the 2lst ult. says -" Mr.. A. G.
Donelson, American minister at Frankfort Is at this
moment occupied In negotiating treaty of commerce
the most liberal basis with the Central Government
which has substituted itself for the Zolverien Eng
land, by her agents. is making thousand Efforts to
bdrrass this negotiation"
Ireland.
TRIAL OF SMITH oBRIEN-APPEAL TO THE HOUSE OF
LORDS.
From the Dublin Freemens Journal, Sept. 301
We this day place before readers report OF the
proceedings had at the Special Commission up to the
that the entr6 day occupied with preliminary
tons and arguments and that the trial, properly
speaking has not yet commenced
These arguments and motions however, though Of a
preliminary. and, apparently, purely technical cha
racter will have a most important influence on the
appeal to the House Of Lords, by a writ Of error.
The late hour at which our express necessarily
precludes doing more than very briefly abiding
to one Of the more important points raised by the
able counsel for the prisoners point which, being
now on the record, entities the prisoner to a writ
of error and which, II eventually decided in his ia
yor will REMODEL the treason law in Ireland in one of
its most important features-the facilities for defence
to be afforded to the accused. The case will be
found clearly put in the argument of Mr.. White.
side We may here, however, state that a person
q copy Of the panel ten days before he be called
upon to plead and also to list of the witnesses who
to be produced against him. These privileges are
obviously essential in order to enable him to make his
challenges and to expose the untrustworhness Of the
witnesses so often relied upon by the Mr.. w
law which guarantied those rights to Englishmen
applicable also to Irishmen. The court, never
theess, decided otherwise, and Mr. OBrien got neither
q copy Of the panel, list of the witnesses. The
point raised, however, too important, well to
Mr. Brien as to the general public to be allowed to
drop there and the able counsel for Mr. OBrien
placed the question the record with view to make
1t the ground for appeal to the House Of Lordsin
the event Of verdict Icing recorded against his
client.
We cannot close this hasty notice without d.
rectng ate ntion to the facts elected with regard
coty where w.
stand that Catholics on the jury book in the
proportion Of three Catholics to Protestant the
panel for the present commission gives eighteen Ca
thocs in list oftwo hundred and eighty eight. This
panel was Of course, challenged, but Of course the
trers appointed dsallowed the challenge
private note received from our reporters assures us
that Mr.. O'Bren g counsel resolved to issue writ
of error In case Of an adverse verdict.
GENERAL NEWS.
MIR. Smith O'Brien Is visited daily by his wife aud
mother His agent Mr.. Potter Is actively engaged In
preparing for the defence Of his client notice has
been s ~ nm S ON mr. hodges the
trial the notes OF all his speeches. which Mr. Hodges
has reported or the transcripts Of them as It is Mr.
them. The agent has also informed Mr. Hodges that
IL is his intention to him with subpoena duces
to produce the documents, and that the notice
served to enable Mr. Hodges to have the speeches
ready for production.
The Freeman's Journal Of Thursday, contains the
following from Clonmsl -
Several Of rank and position will u at
tend FRI England evidence behalf Of Mr. Smith OBen
in reference TO the matters which originally contempat
ed that Lord John Russell should be examined but whose s
will equally apply matters referred to- and thus OBJ
yate the necessity for requiring the personal attendance Of tho
Premier
prisoners Balipgarry the coieres de-
Tended Mr. scnsy 0Caahan, bsrser who has specially
rived their behaM
Mi Gen. Donald. with hi: adode.camp Capt EKeaaie.
arrived from Kilkenny at three o'clock and will remain in town
during the attngs Of the commission
Cork paper. In abiding to the charge Of Mr.. Smith
O'Brien, remarks -