The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-23
pliance with the treaty, or to effect its abrogs

pliance with the treaty, or TO effect its abrogar
ton.
We have said this is question which in its
nature does not admit of arbitration. If the
treaty do rot mean what we claim it does
mean; if it does not accomplish the purpose for
which it was negotiated, and the sole object
for which we consented to waive all
of our interests, present or prospective, in Cen
trail America, then we will not have the
treaty at sl. We have made fair bargain fer
a specific object, and taken upon ourselves re.
ciprocal obligations to secure it. II the object
of our bargain be not secured, then our obliga-
tons cease, and it only remains for us to can
Gel it, and to adopt as principle for future
action, never to deal with knavea
Our position is easily illustrated: Farmer
Jones agreed to buy horse from his neighbor
Smith. But instead of horse Smith brought
a mule; and since Jones, who only wants a
horse, demurred to take the mule, Palnerston-
ian Smith (who, according to his own account
Of himself, is the most honorable man in the
worldly gravely proposed to leave the question
TO Jenkins, Dutch tailor, who didn't know
the difference between the two animals. The
sequel Of the story runs that Jones refused the
arbitration, and Smith becoming insolent, he
kicked him out Of the stable.
STEAMBOATS, AND FERRIEs.-The Mayor has dis
covered that the steamers and ferryboats ply
ing to New York are unprovided with sufficient
life saving apparatus, and that such an acct
dent as the one which occurred at Philadelphia
last week may occur at any moment in the
Hudson or the East river. Two policemen
were detailed to walk round the wharves,
and board every steamer, incog., in ordsr
to ascertain what and how many boats she
carried. Eighteen steamers, plying to vari-
GUS ports at some distance from the city, were
visited. OF these only fve-the Bay State,
the New World, the G. Vanderbilt, the Ira
weller, and the Commonwealth to %
adequately provided with boats. The Bay
State has six life boats; the Commonwealth
four life boats and two row boats, the G. Van
derbilt has three metallic life boats and two
row boats and the New World and Traveller
two life and two row boats each. Many Of the
others have three boats; some-which ought
to be better provided, as the Keyport and New
Haven--only two.
Twenty nine ferry boats were boarded, being
in some instances one out Of six, in others one
out Of two or three of the boats running. The
Fulton, South and Hamilton avenue ferry boats
carried two life boats each; but all the others
only one--and that in many instances, as on
the Staten Island ferry, small, wretched row
boat, slowed away 60 as to be wholly use
less in the event Of accident Many of
these boats carry five hundred passen,
gers on a trip. To expect them to carry
life boats enough to rescue this number would
perhaps be unreasonable, though ten of Fran
Sis's life boats wonld do it. But there IS
nothing unreasonable in expecting them to
carry life preserving stools enough to save
every passenger. These stools are common
enough, and cheap enough: they would not
take up room which could be better Employed;
on the contrary, the want of A4ing accommo-
dation is an old subject Of ocnrNaAt on board
of all our ferry boats, and ~ would Ger
tainly answer the purpose.
Mr.. Mayor, you took the trouble to see how
life is exposed on board steamers and ferries
is the matter forest there? Is knowledge of
the evil to precede an effort for remedy, or
not? Will nothing be done till boat load Of
people are drowned? The Common Council
mas the power to compel the use of life saving
stools. VIII it use it or not?