The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-26

has foundered, and the wreckers and breakers
are tearing it to pieces.
As things have come topass, we hardly know
what ADVICE to give to Judge Douglas, except
to keep cool, and see what can be made OF the
Dickinson scheme. The democratic ship is
aground; but it may be cot off in 1860 or '6l.
The Judge IL young aud must bide his time
Missing one tide, he must wait for the next.
Thus the world wsgs on, good boy.
-------
THE INCONSISTENCIES OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
1t has long been common saying that
"there IS but single step from the sabine to
the ridiculous" and this is SO forcibly ilustra-
ted in the policy OF Mr., Secretary Guthrie that
his acts are sometimes deserving OF passing
notice.
Since the inauguration of Gen. Pierce, his
Cabin. have done little else beside puzzling their
brains about expedients for the depletion Of the
public chest; and although the most lavish ex-
penditure has characterized The career Of the
administration, and the tariff has been tinkered
at until it has become like Lorenzo BOWS old
mckenzie with seven new blades and four
new handles"--tbe most contemplate parsi-
moDy is oftentimes exhibited in the collection of
the revenue.
During the past week. while Mr.. Guthrie was
urging, in the strongest manner, the passage Of
the amended tariff in the House of Representa-
tives, as the only means of checking an accn-
mutation Of revenue, which defed even the
most reckless prodigality Of an army Of spoils
men to expeDd, he was quietly instructing the
Collector of this port to institute rigid search
Of the government store ships, and to exact from
the officers and men of the Japan expedition he
payment Of duties on the trifing articles brought
by them to the United States, whether in the
shape of presents from Japanese officials to
their families, or as mere curiosities from the
remote regions they had visited. And such is
the extremity to which this public stinginess
he's been carried, that the duty has been ordered
to be collected upon broken teaset, sent
home by an officer to his wife. Even the jars
Of preserved snakes, picked lizards, and pots
Of jellied worms, brought here as specimens
of the japanese cuisine, are not exempt from
this misery tax Of the government. Yet while
these exactions are being made from the infe-
rior officers Of Commodore Perry's squadron,
that gentleman's luggage-to the extent of a
good sized sloop load-has, we understand,
been passed in free. In like manner an excep-
ton has been made in the case of his predeces
sor, Captain Au,ick, who was permitted to
pass the portals Of the Custom House without
the necessity, OF the opportunity, of feeling its
,incorruptibIe guardians. This system of
making g fish of one and flesh Of another"
does not seem to us to be exactly just, and the
poverty of the rule is demonstrated in its not
working both ways. To say the least of it, it
10 distinction which is remarkably invidious,
and amounts to an indirect imputation on the
honor OF our junior naval officers. These gen.
tlemen are sworn quite as solemnly as those
of the Custom House, and we opine that they
are quite as scrupulous about infringing the
revenue laws Why, then, subject them to this
scrutiny, and, above all, to the payment of
such paltry tax! 1t is entirely without pre-
cedept, and altogether unworthy Of tho
ngbreped views hitherto expressed by Mr..
Guthrie. 1t looks like Quixotic effort to
stop the hole in the Treasury made by the ten
million grab to Mexico.
Now it 60 happened that many Of the articles
on board the store.ships at the Navy Yard, (and
we presume it will be the case with the remain
ing vessels OF the squadron, on their arrival)
are merely curiosities, Of no earthly intrinsic
value, presented to the American officers by
Japanese officials, in return for similar civil
tiea. That the japanese were not subjected to
the scrutiny Of the Custom House minions Of
Jeddo or Hapgasaki, is question, we suppose,
no one at all familiar with those outside bar
bsrians" will ever venture to ask. Cons istency
is, indeed, jewel; but it is not easy to deter
mine the character Of that consistency prac-
tised by government which sends out feet
on a mission of enlightenment, and is itself the
advocate of domestic policy which even the
pagan people of Japan would be ashamed to az
knowledge.
A JUST MEAsuRE.--The Senate have passed
a bin which we trust will be concurred in by