The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-27

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another nation.
Our DEALINGS WITH ENGIAND.-The progress
of civilization, and the humanizing tendency Of
knowledge are bringing about, at this moment
two changes in the relations between this coun-
try and England, which are of the highest
moment to the world at large. One of these is
the Atlantic telegraph, the other the modification
Of the laws of war to be produced by the general
adoption of Mr.. Marcy g doctrines regarding the
exemption of mercantile property from seizure
at sea, during war. Strictly speaking both are
| yet mere projects But Mr.. Field has shown us
piece Of the wire that is to unite the two
continents; we know that it will be lying on the
| great transatlantic plateau in few months.
| reasonableness of the American doctrine touch.
ing the rights of merchant vessels in time of war
| is becoming more apparent to the people and
| governments Of Europe. We may safely assume
| that the realization Of both these magnificent
| schemes is q mere matter of time.
1t seems unworthy of so grand themes as
these to draw attention to petty private interests
in connection with them; but in the hard every
day life Of nations as Of men, we must not always
stand upon dignity or sentiment. It is proper,
even in driving the last entering wedge Of civi-
zaton and humanity to look prudently around US,
and see that we are taking no step which adverse
| circumstances or unexpected accidents may rem
der injurious to our children hereafter
There is the inter-oceanic telegraph, noble
| institution, il ever there was one, and one emf
nently deserving not only private patronage,
which is the best, but likewise public, which is
the worst. We are glad to hear that President
Pierce is disposed to meet the Telegraph compar
by half way. and send a message to Congress
recommending that the United States award to
tbe enterprise the same encouragement as it has
received from the government Of England. The
British government have agreed 10 pay $4,000
per annum for the right Of sending messages
over the wire, and have further lent two steamers
10 assist in laying the wire. The United States
! have already vouchsafed the services of the
steamer Arctic; they can well afford to make the
balance Of their contribution equal to that Of
| England. At the same time, while this is being
DONE and for the very reason that IL is done under
the sanction Of the two governments, 70 that the
enterprise il made 70 to speak, an international
one, II is emiDently desirable TINT the term:
on which IL is started be such that DC
| complaint can ever arise out of them, and thai
DO Americans shall ever regret that the company
was successful. That, we are bound to say, nigh,
be the case at any moment, in the event ola wal
between this country and England. So long as
Great Britain holds the termini of the wire, on
either side Of the Atlantic, with power to prohi-
bit the United States from using IL, and to en-.
force monopoly of ocean telegraphing for her
self, the telegraph will be benefit largely mixed
with danger for this country. It might be used
for our detriment; II certainly could not be used
for cur good in the case we have supposed
II, indeed, the government Of England, by spe-
cial treaty, were to declare the telegraph wire
and stations neutral so that neither they nor the
| persons employed on them should participate in
any war that might take place between England
and this country, then the United States might
| iudicously set their national stamp on the
scheme; but hardly otherwise Such an exemp-
ton as we speak Of would not be without prece-
dent In the late war with Russia, the Arctic
discovery ships and Arctic explorers were OK
pressly exempted from the perils of war; why
could not similar convention be made in refer
ence to the telegraph
| With regard to the other matter-the exemp-
ton of merchant ships and merchandise at sea
| from seizure in the event of war-thc peculiar
interests OF the United States are tolerably OBJ
yious Mr.. Marcy offers If foreign Powers will
agree not to modest merchant ships TO dispense
with privateers; but, really, were England 10
strike bargain with us on these terms, the ad-
vantage would be all on her side. Her royal
navy, Get free from the old familiar duty of cos
voying merchantmen, would be quite at leisure
| to blockade our porte. Before we could make
any deferce, New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
| New Orleans and San Francisco might be closely
blockaded, and the ships that we're inside could
not get out or the ships that were at sea return
! to port. II strikes us that we should look par
tculsrly foolish in such fix az this with our
rule iorbidding us to use privateers, and our
merchant vessels, free as the air, Of course, but
obliged to sell their cargoes in France or Hol-
land.
We sincerely hope that both these great
schemes win be realised, and have no doubt but
they viii. But We consider that their value 10
The United States will be gravely impaired II
they be not so modified as to secure us against
making a bad bargain in our haste TO advance
re interests Of civilization.