New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-08


ton of corresponding with the prospects be-
fore II l. true cannot. ia it important that
should mederpize the width and regularity Of the
| streets Of Old New-YOrk now IT, extreme sOutleu
border; can now, nor i. it desirable that we
should attempt to init ate the great cities of Europe in
| the ornamental grandeur Of public buildings, or
the magnf'eenee of our public squsres and park; but
in all that u essential to the physical welbeing to the
fuI development Of the trade and commerce, and to
the preservation Of property aud the promotion of the
general welfare it i not too late to devise and adopt
permanent measures, keeping with present as
| well a. future condition.
| Having in view another communication more de-
tailed il iis sUggetiOns and more recomrnendaory
its character do not propose nov to go into discus
sion of the improvements required TO remedy the de-
fects and supply the omissions Of the pat; II il suf
cient for the present occasion to revert to the source
whence we have derived prosperity, and generally to
theleading necessary to preserve, maintain
and increase il.
propose, therefore, consider now the questions,
TO Wk0t IS Nev York fhe most Indebted! and tk1f
a. that she most defceHtf II in discussing these
questions II seems that an innovation has been made
in the peculiarly local tenor Of documents of this kind,
by the introduction of national topics beg YOU to re-
member that city il of national interest, ~ success
Of national Importance, and that its rise or down
fall j. nseparably connected with, and more directly
dependent upon the legislation and policy of the Gen
eTal Government than that Of any commonwealth in
the Union Therefore, if for the first time attempt
i made 10 bring the power OF th city, through it,
pOrate authorities to bear upon the General Govern
men BY official demand for a recognition of our
weight, let ask that the magnitude OF the interests
Involved may be deemed sufficient warrant tor the
introduction Of topics apparently foreign to this oc-
casiOn.
FOREIGN COMMERCE
With it, cOncomtant, Domestic Commerce, IL the
germ whence has sprung our might. To that interest,
the frSt and most astngly beneficial Of all depart
mcns Of industry-the richest in it, results and the
most ennobng in s character, spreading the man.
tie Of civilization, disseminating peace and inteli-
gence and goodwill from man TO man; as an instru
ment in the hands OF Almighty God, by which his word
is carried to the furhenos ends Of the earth; we are
indebted for the foundation upon which rests the cor
ner-stone of all our prosperity.
Our power Ii derived from commerce. Our geo.
graphical position, together with the energy industry
ability, and capital Of our people. has enabled Us To
outstrp sister cities in the struggle for commercial
mastery and has placed among the first cities of the
world. Without commerce. could not have accom-
pfshed this; it has added to our population half
million in quarter of q cenury--has drawn TO Us the
capital and enterprise Of every quarter OF the earth
has enabled us to lead in works of benevolence
philanthropy and religion; to aid our sister cities
and States i'll building up their own local.
ties, and has developed the agricultural min
era, and manufacturing resources of the whole
country. Without commerce the New York Of to-day
would have been but little more populous than the
New-York of the last century. II il commerce that
has made Us what are, and to it we must look to
maiutain the supremacy possess. Therefore it is
important TO retain this great element of power unl-
pared. With it can. be everything without 1t,
nothing Now, this interest, Ike all Others, -four
lsnes Nen least 10
ference, undoubtedly, in full consideration OF the
question presented, overlook the restriction:
which have been imposed upon 1t by the Fedora!
Government.
In INV opinion the mode of collecting revenue by
imposts heretofore adopted has been detrimental not
only to interests, but to those of the whole
country.
The levying Of impo>ts upon imporations is to the
extent Of the npOst binderance to commerce, aud
anything that is binderance to commerce is adverse to
every other department Of industry. To declare that
every cargo or article of meeh9ndlse brought to our
por, from foreign country shall be subjected to duty,
viz: tax, before it be allowed to come on shore for
sale or consumption, is, to the extent of the sum
demanded, together with its mode of collection, an
obstruction to mportatiOns, and thus far injurious to
commercial intercourse with foreign nations.
1t matters little to the industry and capital IN New
York in what form and by what mode or proteNt taxa
ton is cxactcd Every operation OF Government the
object Of which il to raise revenue imposes burden
upon the people.
We endure taxation from three several sources to
mid in the support Of three independent Governments
The CITY Corporation spends its millions per annlin,
and makes its levies upon property for reimburse
Inent. The State relies upon Ms for large c0ntlbu-
tions to its School and other fund and the Genera
Government looks 20 NewYork for two thirds OF IT,
whole revenue. Ii is Of little concern whether these
.uns are required in the aggregate, or whether thus
separated into three distinct demands. There l. no
difference in the effect, whether the draught be made
by levy upon our property as ID the case OF the cy
aud State or whether upon consumption ana ads,
M in the case of the General Government Inc MODE
varies but the results are the same.
Ii il no answer TO say that we have pro,pered not
vitb-tandpg these restrictions. Thatwe have Hour
ished even under these BURDENS is the greater wonder
and the higher compliment ~ our enterprise. What
would New-YoTk not have been if left to the law OF
trade and of nature-ree 10 The interchange Oh com,
modities with all other countries If orr port had
been left open friendly egress, and II our affairs hah
been freed from the interference Of the thousand agents
through whom the Goveinmf Mt appropnatesa portion
Of the earnings OF our trade with which to Ill the
national Golfers we should have stood not the
third but the first city of the world. New York, and
indeed the whole country, requires unlimited Free
trade; exemption from restrictive or SPECIAL eglNIa
ton and the severe eXaclons upon the industry OF
the people which follow in its train. We may not
alyays Issess the inherent required To sunoun
tie obstacles in our way arising from this cause.
Spain WIS once foremost among the nations, aud Cadz
among the first of European ports. Ihey have iaien
n sacrifice TO a mistaken commercial pohcy nos Unlike
that of onr own Government. Spain has long since
reased TO hold place among really independent ma
tons and now Ice victim to her own suicidal system.
Her neirhbOrs but await the day for her partition, ana
her island colonies the DOMINION OF r't al" IhoI'
enlightened Government.
or look TO Mexico She followed the commercial
example Of her ancient mother, hdheng Ia error VIII
spanish tenacity. Upon ths rock She too, became
wreck.
know that public opinion in this country traces 10
other influences her degraded DOWNFALL but, whatever
thc immediate causes may be, il l. my conviction nat
the gold collected by Customfou-e duties, ana used
by revolutionary general, ana c0Tnpt rulers ms 0eeh
the instrument of destruction by which Mexican hber
ties and natonaities have been paTayZed aud broken
| down. corrupt rulers thus obtaining gold first de-
moralized and then BETRAYED that Ignorant people;
and now the descendants OF the naughty Spanard IN
! North America are, by the reckoning OF
| an unseen but all-poweiful Hand, following
the fading trail Of the red man. The Influences WREN
control the rise and fall of empires md no truer Illus
| trntion than in the history OF Spanish dominion ID
America The end of what j. left OF it is obvious. II
b. Oh cd Let