The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-08

consent of the grantees who hold the right Of way
from the Mexican government. IL will reduce by
onethird the mail expenses, and the highest rates
Of passage will be one-third less than those now
exacted by the Pacific Mail Company. The mail
service between New Orleans and San Francisco
will be effected in thirteen days. and that between
New YORK and San Francisco in eighteen. line
of steamers from Bordeaux to NewUrleans is also
contemplated by the same company, with a view to
still further reduce the expense Of the passage from
-the European ports to California
The bill proposed by Mr.. Scott to provide Tor the
adoption OF greater precautions for the preservation
Of human life on board ocean steansers IL most Ia
vorahsy spoken Of, and is calculated, IT ~ SAID 10
meet most of the dangers arising from negligence or
ncapacity on the part of the companies or their
officers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1858.
1he Case Of tic rsyvatser Gen. A,rastrong.
This case was reported both houses OF Congress TO-
Say by the Court Of Claims, wherein it has been pending
III the past two years If there was case OF cruel
injustice wrong INJURY besped upon eur citizens by
government it Is this.
NE terrible couHst of the General Armstrong with q
British feet in the neutral port OF Faya in 1914, ny
which the English 500 in killed aud wound
3D. proved to be the means of delaying the expedition
against New Orleans, and consequently saved Louisiana
from the hands OF the British The English were three
days buryng their dead and sent back two ships Of war
with their wounded
Immediately aiser the affair Portugal demanded an
apology and decentralization from En- land for having VIC
hated neutrality of her port, contrary to the law Of
nassons as well for the loss of the American brig,
which had been finally set IRE anddsstroyed. Eng
hand unhestatingly accorded 10 Portugal an apo
Aoay and 0demnf ;ation, through Lori Bathurst aud
Lord Casteregh, but refused pay for the destruc
Won Of the brig. In the meantime, before any
demand made by this government. against Portugal,
the Prince Regent OF that kingdom voluntarily admitted
~ liability to the United States in proof of the purity
and loyalty of his royal Sentiments, and informed our
government demand for fun repsraton had already
been made against Great Britain for the destruction OF the
brig.
10 prosecute this claim and finally abandoned IL, when
Congress- by resolution in 1876, referred the case back
the Department of State with instructions to enforce the
sla,m Under General Taylors administration peremp-
tory demand was made Portugal suppor led by England
pefused offered 70 lot at other old claims, never
urged by this government We would agree to ar
bitrate Armstrong claim Mr. Clayton, Secretary
OF State considering so clear case of right improper TO
refer to European arbitration determined never 20 submit
b that would eopardise the rights OF the claim
ants The American feet was sent up the river laeas
and Portugal allowed twenty days 10 comply with our
demand oh her nps reiusa M, D. o. Gay, 'he aihc-
Yican Charge at Lisbon demanded his passports and LETT
Tor the United States.
Gen Tay Tor died in the meantime and the succeeding
administration the bonus proposition OF Poru
gal and the referred to the President of the
public of France for arbitration on "a point OF public law
The important evidence in the containing the al mis-
stons Of both Portugal and Engand was entirely sup
pressed before the arbter and Louis Napoleon, be
coming Emperor having effected an alliance with England
decided the case not point of public law involved,
but found the facts against the United Sate5that the
American brig, and not the British ships first violated the
neutrality OF the Portuguese port This arocous award
made IN violation Of all moral aud legal rules Of right and
good faith, by man who peIiured himself and uamped
under his foot the constitution Of republic. accepted
under the protest of the claimants by the American gov
eminent. ,o,,
me claimants appealed TO Congress for redress IN 1854
end the Committee Foreign Affairs Of both houses
unanimously reported tn their favor The lost
Cor want Of time in the House, and was referred after
wards the Court OF Claims Tnis Court after thorough
. argument and investigation, decided in favor
Of the claimants, the opinion beng de-
hvered by Chief Justice Gilctrist with Judge
SCubrougb. Justice Blackboard dissented, and found
the facts in favor British government Testimony
taken prove the amount of losses Of the owners
Officers and Of the brig and the agas argued
the evidence. The Court then tied the case up for
year after which Judge Scarborough asked for ehearng
and desired TO hear further argument The case was again
reagued when Judge Scarborough reversed his opinion on
the Of the case, while admitting that T might be true
that the claimants entitled TO relief on other grounds
Ths is the position in which the s presented
10 Congress appeals directly to the Justice,
and humanity Of the American people, aud well that
The constituents of every members district throughout
me Union should be made acquainted with these facts
The public be squandered away for picture
books surely the blood anu treasure freely mvsbed
defence national honor should not be permitted
been heaped upon gallant sailors half century
Let Congress do justice in this case, and we fed will
meet with the unanimous approval OF the American
people.