The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-28


CoNGREss.-Tbe bill providing for the establish
ment OF branch mint in New York, has been
defeated in the House of Representatives by
the most narrow minded, sectional prejudiccs,
unworthy Of the Congress of great nation like
this. The only objection ever yet urged against
the measure is that it would add to the already
overgrown Importance of New York, and make
her, still more than she is, the great commercial
emporium Of the country. A Philadelphia CON
temporary, in rejoicing over the defeat of the
bill, adopts this very language. 1t says :
Considering the means employed, and the exer
tons used for the last three or four years past and
especially during the last and present sessions of
Congress- to secure its passage, this repulse would
seem to indicate that the national Legislature has at
last become sensible of the monopoizing spirit Of
New York city, and of the injustice done to other
localities in complying with all her demands, and
making her the great commercial emporium of the
country by the patronage of the general government
TO the exclusion OF other cities, equally entitled to its
fostering care and protection.
Nothing can be more silly than this Nature.
before Congress ever existed. made New York
the commercial emporium of the country and
it is not in the power Of Congress to prevent it.
The progress of the United States has increased
the commerce Of New York and it is its mani
fest destiny to concentrate still more and more,
as the country goes ahead not only The com
mercc OF the United States. but the commerce
Of the world, one would think that instead of
envying the greatness of New York, every true
American would feel proud Of it as an index to
the rest of the world Of the glory and prosper-
ty Of this mighty republic. But it is too true
that there is' q host of small potato politicians
who cannot take pride in anything beyond
the precincts of their own city or vii
lage, or township. and can take no interest
in what does not bring grist to their mill.
But the injustice of refusing branch
mint for the accommodation of the merchants of
this city cannot materially affect it's commercial
enterprise, however it may annoy individuals,
and crafty petty, paltry local jealousies. And
it argues a sense Of weakness. as we'll as little
ness. on the part of Philadelphia, to object
to branch in New York especially when it
is not proposed to remove the mint from the
City of Brotherly Love. all whose charity
seems to begin at home, and end there. 1t
shows upon what slender thread its prosperity
hangs, when it could be affected by Congress af-
fording a little accommodation to the citizens
of New York. or, rather, by rendering them
simple act Of justice.
What right has Philadelphia to mint more
than any other city in the Union? 1t has no
right to it at all; and the mint ought undoubt-
edly to be located either at Washington. the
political capital or New York, the commercial
capital Of the country. The theory Of republi
can government is. the greatest amount Of good
to the greatest number. On this principle.
New York has the highest claim for far greater
number of people-a hundred to one-would
be accommodated and served by mint in New
York than in any other city in the Union.
Facts demonstrate this During the year 1852
the enormous sum Of $51,949, 295 of gold dust
was sent to the mint in Philadelphia being
an average Of million in the week. All this
gold, except about half million. has been sent
there from the city Of New York, where all the
gold comes, and the merchants and others to
whom it is consigned are at the expense of send
ing it to Philadelphia and getting it back, for
none oft remains there; and they are subjected
to Inconvenience, and delay, and loss of interest
in waiting for it. without any material advan-
tage to Philadelphia, and absolute disadvantage
to the rest Of the Union.
The mint at Philadelphia is not adequate to
meet the increased quantity of gold sent to it,
and on this ground alone branch is due to
New York In the last two years one hundred
millions worth of gold has been sent from here
to Philadelphia for coinage, instead of being is
sued from this, the great heart of the country,
whose pulsations are felt to the remotest extrc
mites A mint in New York is but question
of time, and though the bill has failed now it
will ere long become the law Of the land.
EDITORIAL. PLEASURES n SPAIN.-Our con-
freres in Spain seem TO be more pleasantly
situated ris-a-pis of the government of Madrid,
than are The Journalists even Of the French en-
pirc, under the control of the Elysee. They
have the finest possible chances for discussing
philosophical subjects. seeing that they are not
permitted to exercise their talents in enlighten-
ing the people on political matters. We are
pleased to see, therefore, that they cultivate
philosophy, moi only in theory but in practice.
Let our readers perusc the following brief no