The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-04

SPECIAL EDIcT or COMMODORE SroCKroN.-l
1852, The Legislature Of New Jersey conferred
upon a mammoth corporation the exclusive right
OF the transportation by canals and railroads OF
freight and passengers, through that enterprls'ng
State, celebrated for its bouncing girls and extern
eive peach orchards One of the conditions OF
this monopoly was, that from the passage money
Of every through passenger the Joint companies
should pay contribution Of ten cents as a tax, to
be collected from the people Of other States, topay
the debts of New Jersey.
The restriction was an imposition upon the
people of the State the condition was an impo-
sition upon the people of other States The people
of New Jersey have taci,ly assented to this
sweeping contract for seventeen years, under the
idea that the money thus collected by the State
the Trenton and Camden and Amboy Railroads
materially relieved them of the burdens of tax
aion Recently, however, they have made dis
covery. The monopoly, inhibiting the consruc-
ton of other railroads, has arrested the prosperity
of the State. Other lines are wanted. The con-
structon of other lines would increase the traffic
and develope the resources of the State. The
monopoly interposes, and not hing cah be done.
But this is tine age of progress. Meetings have
been held, and an organized anti-monopoly party
and have published an address, exposing the impo-
silions and gripping restrictions suffered by the
State from the JOINT stock corporation, and intend
to push the doctrine Of repeal through the Legisla-
ture. The monopoly, startled by the holiness of
these attacks, comes forward and pleads the invo-
liability of contracts. Commodore Stockton, the
railroad king himself, is compelled to take the field;
ana the champion of the three titles OF Grand Adj
miral, COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Army, and Go
vernon of California, has issued another proclama-
ton as peace maker 1t covers a newspaper
broad.de, and is one of the most plausible argu-
ments in the world. In navigating ship, in COM
handing an army, in governing conquered en-
pire, in working Virginia gold mine, Commodore
Stockton is hard to beat and in this argument for
the Jersey monopoly, he has shown legal inge-
nuy that would do credit to Philadelphia lawyer.
The whole CYST Of his appeal is, however, that the
monopoly is contract, and cannot be repealed.
lie concludes as follows:-
The joint companies satisaed with the contract,
but they willing to yield ythng and every thing
to the public which can be demanded by justice
ceptsd with hsnor. II, therefore the people Of New
Jerpey Of opinion that the experiment has been suf
hcisnly tried and desrons take immediate pos
session of all the railroads of the companies, think
(thouga speak for myself n'one) that arrangement
ear be made by which the State may be enabled to do
so and to nav for them within nte.n years without
the hazard Of dollar and without sscridos Of her
own unsullisd honor, or the property Of Individuals
who have cenfdngly pledged their all the integrity
Of their fellow citizens
Does the contract last fifteen yearsi Is it
valid, or is It void! We think the State has
the power 10 shorten the term at Its discretion; for
the grant or sale to a monopoly of an exclusive
right of way over lands not possessed by the State
nor the mon opoly, is of itself Of such doubtful
validity as to justify the repeal Of the act. How
the matter Is to terminate, is another question.
Commodore Stockton stands upon the strength Of
profitable monopoly. He has tact, skill, inAu-
ence and enterprise, and is one of the few men
who can manage railroad or gold mine to the
best advantage.
The responsibility rests with the State; for while
it is her duty to abolish the monopoly, she should
assume the damages, as she has shared the profits
of the concern.
The RETURN OF TuR UNITED STATES MINISTER
TO STockHoLN.-The Hon. Henry l.. Ellsworth,
lateleharge de affairs to Stockholm, has recently
turned to the United States, and passed through
this city TO his residence in the State of Indiana
Ii will recoecied that MIR. Ellsworth was recalled
m consequence Of the publication Of certain slam
ders, connecting him with the charge Of using his
drlomstlc privileges for smuggling purposes, in
Stockholm. The charges fret appeared in an
evening paper Of this city, Of a small and declining
circulation. conducted by the smallest specimen
of an editor, of the name of Innan. lie no doubt
received the slanderous information from some OF
the diminutive scandal mongcrs, who 20 about
from country to country, and who Immediately
contract bad feelings towards our representatives
abroad, If they do not receive the attention which,
by their own fase estimate Of their importance
and consequence, they think they are entitled to-
Mr.. Ellsworth was tTiumphan:ly yindicaied Of the
charges made against him by the government at
Stockholm, but notwithstanding that, he was re-
called by the administration, and has retired to
Indiana. We certainly think the injustice thus In
flicied on Mr. Ellsworth should be countcrbalauced
In some way by the government, and we hope ,ha,
Ju.tice will be done that gentleman before very
long.
TnE sUsEEns AND THEIR OProvgyrs per-
ceive that an attempt IL being made in New Ifamp-
shire and New York to prosecute and hlni down
the society known as Shakers, and. II possible. to
deprive that innocent, industrious, and harmless
fctt of their property and rights, religious and
cular The ground on which the Shakers are
sssailed il, that r,eir religious views and princi.
pies are at variance with Christianity, as well "a
The spirit Of the sge but the motive which prompts
the attack Is plunder-a desire to "trip the Shaker,
Of their property, and scatter them TO the fo1r
winds Of heaven.
We hope this unholy and unjusiifablc crusade
viii not be sanctioned by either the people or the
Legislature Of New Hampshire or New York. To
sanction il would be to promote religious ianati-
cism on the one hand, and favor robbery on the
o,hcr for to deprive the Shakers of their property
would be nothing but robbery, whether done by
authority Of law or in any other manner. Their
religious views and opinions are 40 doubt pecu-
lar; but no matter however % much onfrc they
may be in the opinion Of some, full liberty and free.
dom in the enjoyment Of them arc guaranteed to
them by the constitution Ct the country, provided
they do not conflict with the rights OF others. II
they are FANATICS in this respect, they are no,
whit more so than those who persecute them be-