The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-07

showing that the dues pad by French vessels
in our ports were nine times less than those in
CURED by American vessels in French ports.
We trust that the treaty TO which the President
alludes will be pushed forward with vigor.
Spain is handled with gentleness; the absurd
rule which forbids the Captain General to
treat directly with our Consul is said to
have led to annoying occurrences and
the scheme of purchase of the island
is judiciously ignored. Martin Koszta's
case is reviewed, and IDgraham is of
course sustained. Not word of news respect
ing China or Japan is contained in the para
graphs devo ted to these countries. In abiding
to Mexico, the boundary dispute is mentioned,
but nothing is said Of topic of equal moment,
the Tehuantepec right of way. A treaty has
recently been negotiated by Mr.. Gadsden with
Santa Anna disallowing the old Garay grant.
and confirming the grant to Sloo and it is I'M
derstood that the American Executive will
sanction the conduct gifts envoy. The Fillmore
administration sustained Garay's assignees !;
and Mr.. Mason's report almost went as far as
to threaten to declare war against Mexico in
Pierce's Cabinet takes an opposite view, and
consents to withdraw the American claim to
the land conceded to Garay. We SHOULD have
liked to hear something Of all this from the
President. The opening Of the Parana and
Paraguay to foreign vessels is briefly men
toned; and hope is expressed that Brazil will
follow the example Of its neighbors in throwing
open the Amazon.
Turning to our home policy, the President
refers to the prosperous state Of our finances,
the surplus, and the prospect of liquidation
Of the public debt He does not, however, at
tempt any defence of the suh-treasury system.
or make the slightest allusion to several claims
on Congress, such as that OF the Texan bond
holders which the national honor requires should
be settled. The revision of the tariff is declared
to be necessary. In abiding to the Post Office
the President mentions that the deficit accounts
exceed So 600. As he states, this is
owing to the high rates paid to railroads
for the transportation Of the mails. He
does not, however, suggest any prac-
teal method Of meeting the difficulty.
1t occurs to US that as Congress is empowered
by the constitution to open and create post
roads, q liberal Interpretation of phrase would
include railroads, and empower it to compel
railroad companies to carry the mails for rea-
sonable cost. Railroads are obviously our
modern post roads" Under the present sys-
tenn they fleece the government, and are, ia
great measure, the cause of the Irregularities in
our postal system. We shall hereafter have oc-
casion to suggest to Congress the propriety Of
passing some law to prevent railway accidents;
and, at first blush. one can hardly see why such
a law should not also contain some provision
compelling railway companies to carry the
United States mails for reasonable remunera-
ton. The President does not recommend any
essential change in the land system. He objects
to grants Of wild lands to railway companies,
where the railway does not appear on the face OF
it to be feasible and profitable undertaking. He
is opposed to internal improvements by the fcdc-
raj government and gives utterance to q variety
Of sentiments on the point, which will be likely
to pass without contradiction. On the Pacific
Railway the Message dilates at some length,
but the meaning is so ingeniously yelled in
cloak of fine ,sords, that it would not be diff
cult. in case Of necessity, to repudiate any ap-
parent statement it contains.
Such are the principal topics to which the
Message adverts. They require no comment.
Cuban Affairs knell Of the Africanization
Phantom.
We presume that the letter from Lord How
den, which we publish in another column, will
icf,r 4 o 4Lat A. -
the Authorization Of Cuba was, as we described
it when it first made its appearance, mere
hoax There will be people, we dare say who
will broadly assert that Lord Iowden, being
British nobleman and having in virtue of his
office as ambassador, an appreciable interest in
the furtherance Of British designs is more like
ly to disguise than to admit the truth but then
there are men who regard all Britishers as mon
sters with hoofs and tail. For oar part. know
ing az we did, from the first, that the tale was
forged, we derived no fresh information from
his Lordship; but we confess that his letter. to
our mind, bears on its face the stamp Of truth
1t confirms all our previous intelligence with
regard to British interference in Cuba, aud
seems entirely consistent with Lord Howde1's
well established character for probity and rec
titude.
Now that it is dead and buried, it is curious
to trace this Authorization story to its origin
and note its career. 1t first appeared in the
columns Of this journal; having emanatcd from
the Cuban Junta established in this city. Their
object in giving il currency was very simple.
Tney were anxious to excite among the people
of this country feeling Of animosity against
England, in order that their iilibustero schemes
should be watched less narrowly. Taey hoped
that if the American people could be convinced
that England gas about to mature scheme
detrimental to American interests, our govern
ment might possibly wink at illegal ex-
petitions, one Of whose objects would be
to Illustrate that scheme. In short they