The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20

cial readers viii find TRANSACTIONS Of the new sanitary
regulations for the Russian Baltic ports recently is
sued from the chancery of the military governor of
Cronstadt The awakened spirit Of commercial aud
manufacturing industry in Russia, the increasing de
mand for great staple, and the gradual relaxation
of the restrictions which have hitherto tended in
great measure to contract the direct movements be-
tween the United States and that empire, suggest
the occasion opportune to advert briefly TO a few
of the disadvantages under which our flag has still
contend with that Of foreign countries in supply
ing the factories and markets of Russia with our cot
ton and other products. AS respects the abolition
of the Sound dues, American vessels will, we fear
have gained but little during the present year by the
change, except in not having to actually pay the
amount Of money hitherto levied at the Castle of
Kronberg. The forced detention of our vessels has
been as much a subject of complaint, and quite
great an evil, the payment of the money formerly
exacted. By the regulations annexed to the recent
treaty for the capitalization Of these Dues the vessels
of every country obliged to stop, and give salts
factory bond conditioned for the payment of the dues
until the treaty shall have been ratified by their gov
eminent As we suppose the s,lalp arrangement
of this question cannot be made by our govern
ment until after the meeting of the next Con-
gress, it would appear that our vessels must
still be subject to the principal grievance until Con-
gress shall have authorized final settlement of the
question by the payment Of the amount assigned to
our flag, while those Of England, and of most of our
other commercial rivals, will Immediately pass clear
When is considered that the abolition of this tax
on general commerce was brought about by the en-
ergy and decision of our own government, it must
appear to be rather astrangc result-nay positive
hardshipthat vessels should still remain subject
to detention and delay, for whole business year,
after most others are allowed to pass entirely free
and nmolested.
Among the principal evils of the forced detention,
so long complained of by American masters, the
time they are compelled to waste on shore and the
system Of differing carried on to great extent
by the shore boats, by their agency This latter
evil, however, cannot long conue to exist after it
shall become optional for vessels to stop pass
as the authorities Of Esineur will doubtless endeavor
to the fine position of that town to the best adj
vantage by removing much as possible all obiec-
tons of this kind.
specified in the regulations dated April IL, (23)
will be. after the final action of our government
in respect to the Sound Dues that American vessels
coming from ports in which disease supposed
to be contagious actually existed, may put into
one Of the ports at the entrance of the Baltic, and if
then found clear of all such disease, may there OBJ
tain clean bill of health, which will be accepted in
D.l4 ~
relaxation will be very similar to that derived by YES
sells bound up the Mediterranean from putting into
Gibraltar to be examincd-obtain health certificate,
and date from that as their last poyt Of departure
When we know that it often happens that really
contagious disease will prevail in one part of large
seaport town. while ships leave the harbor perfectly
clear of infection. the Russian government might in
cases of yellow fever in any United States or West
Indian port be induced to consider the length OF the
voyage and their northern climate quite su-
cient guarantee. Such concession would some
what diminish the advantages which intermediate
ports now have in diverting from our flag the direct
trade in cotton and the carriage of sugar, naval
stores, &c. We always feel more scnsbly than our
commercial competitors the effect Of quarantine de-
lays, because with the interest of money is
higher the command Of capital less, and our
seamen better paid. When free to do so, we
make up for these by the speed of our vessels,
by the many improvements which economic time
and hand labor, and by skill and energy in
managing our vessels and conducting commercial
movements 1t would be Of the utmost advantage TO
our commerce if it were recognised general rule
that the time of the voyage at least the time since
the disappearance of contagious disease board
the vessel shall always count part Of the time
quired for quarantine, which latter should never
coed forty days in toality. Such rule would be
mutually beneficial and commerce with Russia
placed equality with that of European
nations. The delays of quarantine become more and
more busdcnsome that every available means is
used to reduce the time required for article to
pass from the hands of the producer to the consumer
and every abridgment consistent with prudence is
of constantly increasing value, especially to the
American flag.
SECRETARY FLOYD.
We find in the New York Irish Ns~s of the 10th
inst. the following complimentary notice of the Sec
rotary of War
The accomplished and able Secretary of the War De-
partment returned to New York from West Point Sat
nrlay and stopped at tho New York Hotel He proceed
ed to Washington Sunday evening. During his stay