The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-26

four watchmen about the place all night with
rousing fires. plenty of lights and. probably,
separs. What merchant would have one or two
watchmen in his store all night? And what va
lue are watchmen if they are to be shut
out Of the very room in which fire is
most likely to originate? The truth is.
this building contains too much property.
Government. in fact. should have nothing
to do with the storage business. The English
system, Of free storage for bonded goods, is the
true one, and is already introduced here to
certain extent These stores are located at diff
ferent points most accessible to the merchants
and the shipping. They arc all under the SUI
pervision Of a government officer, the amount
of whose salary the proprietor of the store pays
to the Collector. There are many of these pri-
vate stores, in various parts of the city in which
more goods are bonded, in the aggregate, than
in the government store, costing the govern
ment not one cent, while their own stores are
an expense upon the treasury Of probably not
less than one hundred thousand dollars per
annum at this port alone. This shows how
much more economically private business can
be conducted than public or government one.
The Congress now in session should adopt
some measures towards relieving itself from
these bonded warehouses, or at least allow the
merchant to make selection of such regularly
bonded store for his goods as he may deem best
which now is often refused, and we are there
fore glad to see that Senator Hunter has intro.
duced bill of this description into the United
States Senate. 1t is certainly to be hoped that
that body will Immediately pass it into a law
Mr.. Ex-COMMIssIONER WALSH AND HIS VISIT
TO NIcARAauA.-We published, on Saturday, n
letter from Mr.. ex-Commissioner Walsh deny
ing that he was obstreperous and made row
in Nicaragua. when he went ont to Central
America Tor rather to Costa Rica,) Us the bearer
of the precious project for cutting up Nicara-
qua and creating Mosquito kingdom. Mr..
Walsh says that he was not delegated to go to
Nicaragua; and, furthermore. did not get there
until some days after the project had been sig
nally kicked out of doors by the Nicaraguan
government. To all Of this-as Mr. Walsh seems
apt at French--we say tres bien. Yet Mr.. Walsh
had an interview with the Nicaraguan govern
ment, which he describes as " a simple visit Of
courtesy" and in which nothing was said or
DONE" on his part +" which could give umbrage
to any reasonable man."
But it did give umbrage to every body, and
very justly too, if the ex-Commissioner is cor
rectly reported. We happen to have before us
an account of that interview. from the highest
possible source in Nicaragua. and we copy it
by way OF commentary on the ex-Commission-
er's letter. 1t was written the day after the
visit of courtesy" and runs thus =
Yesterday arrived in this city Mr. Walsh who pre-
sented, without ceremony in the Office by Mr. Kerr. HAY
ing already finished treating with Mr. Wyke who pre-
jet) in moderate and courteous manner the senten
ous and little respectful style Of Mr. Walsh appeared very
strange He seemed to think his mission was to give
notice Of matter determined answering all the obser
vations made the subject with sardonic laugh emf
matist, and using throughout ! threatening style /
nevertheless him real sentiments as became the
representative Of . weak power in the presence OF
s3d it # ases sna let him
be debssed. . > He referred rudeiy to Mr. Squier
saying that his conduct in Nicarag had been condemned
by his government inasmuch he had in MANY things
exceeded his instructions &c.
Now. we are constrained to say there is a
very clear discrepancy between the story of
our ex-Commissioner and that of the Nicara-
guam tunctionary. which we dismiss with the
single inquiry-f Mr.. Walsh had no mission to
Nicaragua, wherefore did he mix in what did
not concern him! According to his own ac-
count. he was merely misunderstanding to
that Of the Nicaraguan. he was not only ofici-
Gus. but impertinent and offensive At all
events. he left an unfortunate impression in the
country; and it will require much care to re-
store the confidence and good feeling which ey-
listed there previous to the accession to power
OF the present administration. It's whole con-
duct, and that Of its agents in Central America.
has been characterized by folly. and we shall
wait impatiently for new order of things.
The CHARITIES OF RICH MEN.-The charitable
donations Of rich men are ordinarily but little
or understood by the public On
looking over one or two recent subscrip-
ton lists we find Mr.. James Lennox contribu-
ting $4,000. another gentleman SO 900. w. B.
Astor Sl3 900. and others in sums varying from
50 900 to $4,000. for the building of hospitals
and other useful institutions in this city and
vicinity; and it is no uncommon occurrence to
witness the name of a millionaire heading the
list Of national or individual want with his
$4,000 or $4,000. People generally imagine.
and are too apt to give expression to their feel
ings in the remark. that such sums arc but mere |
drops the loss of which are felt by the man of |
wealth no more than that of a cent by
s5O0-a-ycar dry goods clerk thrown into the |
lap Of a blind beggar.
This may be true, as far as it goes; but if We |
we're to examine the gross amount which many
Itch and charitable men in this metropolis ey-
bend in charity during single year. we should
pc greatly astonshed Every subscription
hat is started for the relief of the starving
needle woman. or the erection of the hospital
5 headed by some wealthy individual. who con-
ributes his S. or $50 900. as the case may be: