The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-21

NE lives of the myriads Who died of actual starsa
ton but also to render the occurrence Of the famine
OCCUR to the lrA taxpayer that it would be better
| 10 expend the resources Of Ireland in promoting
substantial measures OF utility than 70 squander
Them in wars relative to the concerns Of countries
with which the interest OF Ireland has scarcely an
| ims giDabe connection!
III this letter had not already extended beyond
| the limits within which was DESTROYS TO confne 1t
| would have asked you to consider also what mo-
tive can il duce You to encourage the continued Or
cupation of Greece by the maintenance there OF
British force, to the support of which your income
tax lends its contribution? The occupation OF the
| Piraus was ineligible, and possibly exousable,
during the with Russia but since the conclusion
OF the peace have not heard even the pre- ext OF
an aIeum ent which can Justify its continuance; and
can myself testify that it is most CALLING TO the
high spirited natives of that interesting country.
Had space permitted would have endeavOred 70
convince you that, instead OF unfolding the cruel
domination Of Turkish minority, European states.
men ought rather to develOpethOse noble elements OF
nationality which exist among the Christian popu.
latioD of Turkey in Europe and th0t they would find
IN this population, cons itutiDg, as it does large
majority Of the inhabitants of that land, much
| more effective barrier against Russian aggression
ibsn is to be found in the eete decreptude OF the
Turkish empire.
would alio have dvelt at some length upon the
Irish view of these financial questions. About fl
teen years ago studied with much attention the
writings of various patriotic lrishmen who endeav.
oed by many elaborate statements to prove that,
inasmuch as England was subjected before the
union 10 a much larger amount OF debt than had
been contracted by the Irish Parliament, IL was
only reasonable that the interest OF the aneunon
debt of England should be borne exclusively by the
English people This separate obiigatlon vas cal
culated to amount TO above els 600 900 sterling per
annum, and il was argued that grievous injustice
had been done to Ireland by the gradual equaiiza-
ton of lish with English taxation Az present. IN
stead of separate taxation amounting TO 50OO,-
coo, the exemption enjoyed by Ireland from taxa
ton common to the United Kingdom, amounts to
mere fraction. / may be excused, however, Tor
neglectDg to recall these considerations, since they
appear to have been forgotten alike by the writer's
by whose arguments l was convinced and by the
Irish public to whom they were addressed.
But truth and Justice do not change with the vary
ing expediency of the hour, and these arguments
are as valid they were in the pamiest days OF
the Repeal Association.
For the present i can dispense with the cumula-
tive force of this reasoning, as trust that have
said enough to convince not only the Irish, but the
British reader, that common effort ought to be
made to check the tendencies which are encouraged
by that deplorabe facility with which nations open
their purses at the suggestion or for the beh,of OF
those who excite the passions OF ambition revenge
or cupdity.
If the observations contained in this address be
deemed by you well founded you will instruct your
representatives to resist the longer continuance Of
the war income tax paid by you, or at least to de-
mand that it shall be applied to objects beneficial to
ireland.
That is your duty--I have fulfilled mine.
WILLIAM $. OBRKN.
CAHERMoYLE, Dec. %, 1856.
The Cunard Steamers and the English Mail
Contract.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SIR--As several letters have recently appeared in
the Times relative to TIE Development of the Ca
NADIA trade, in which the mail contract with the
Cunard Company has been severely animadverted
upon il ay be we'll in reply TO these remarks, TO
give a short statement Of the origin and work
ing OF this contract. shall feel obliged by your
inserting this communication in the Times.
Nearly twenty years ago the government adver-
tised for tenders for the conveyance of the mails by
steam to America; several proposals were sent in,
the one from me being the lowest, and the plan
most approved, was accepted. The contract en-
tered into has done no dscredit to her Aejestys
government with whom 1t was made and think
the country will not soon forget the good service
rendered by me in originating 1t and carrying II
out.
The duty has ever since been faithfully perform
ed; the ships have departed ct the appointed time
without one single exception.
For many Years the amount received by the Post
Office for letters carried under this contract exceeded
the sum paid by the government. Recently the
rate OF postage has been reduced from Is. TO Cd ;,
and the amount Of the postage may now be short
Of the contract money; this important service
has been performed at small cost to the 'untry.
The mail service cannot be performed by transient
ships; there times in the year when freight ana
passengers are not to be had under such circum-
stances ordinary ships would ne detained. A.
this present time the passage money will not pa
Tor the coal consumed on the passage, but The cor
respondence between Europe and America Is of to-
much importance TO admit of delay or to be q
pendt mt on irregular departures. n our government.
should abandon the regular mail service the Ameri
can government would continue it, and do the
whole.
The ships required for this service cost a large
sum Of merey and are not suited for any other pur
pose II they were now offered for sale they would
not brig one fifth Of the cost This observ alton will
apply TO all the Atlantic mail steamships, the Amer
can the West Indian, and the Cunard lines at the
termination Of the mail service the ships would be
valueless (; they are too expensive TO use FOR any
other purpose.
II is absolutely necessary TO haze large ships p,ts
great pOtrsr, 10 secure The regular deiirery Of the
mails, and also 10 Keep pace cih IN, American ships
Of equal pou.r and siss; the American government
give much larger grant for the same service than
that paid by our government. The mail seamers
do not materially interfere with the steamers en-
poyed In carrying merchandise. 1M nnu steamers
the Arabia OF 2 500 tons, can only carry between
400 and 500 tons Of goods. screw steamer OF the
same tonnage will carry 500 tons, and sail at half
the expense. large portion OF the freight by the
mail steamers consists Of French goods, brought
from Havre by branch steamers which we keep for
that purpose. that the mail steamers, departing
once week. cannot materially interfere With other
ships, and II Is an argument only used by persons
who have some particular object In view.
The Canadians say that the Cunard steamers
should be compelled 70 go 20 Quebec during the
summer, and 20 Portland in the winter; but Il Is
not likely that any other persons viii agree with
them.
Boston and New York were the ports In the
United States first selected and there are no good
reasons for substituting Quebec and Portland. Que
bee IL closed by ice, and other dangers, for six
months. Boston and New York are large cities. are
always accessible, and have great facilities for for
wardpg goods and mails 70 every part Of Canada,
and throughout the United States. Portland Is far
inferior in all respects.
No rOO nor ID
The contract ,cos ndds for their especial benefit,
and no other. bat they in error. The contract
contemplated the conveyance OF the correspondence
between Europe and the whole continent OF Ameri-
ca but Cauada has derived the greatest benefit from
IL. Previously the maus were carried once month
by an irregular. uncertain and dangerous convey
ance, by which many lives were annually lost The
postage to Canals was then -. letter; now they
lar Ax1ilar and lxlce Neel-