The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-19

no more OF this extraordinary case. The fate
of Mrs. Brannan will remain as deeply shrouded
in mystery as that of Mary Rogers, or the MUIR
der of DR.. Burdell.
OCEAN STEAM NAvIGATIoN.-It will be seen.
by the statement published elsewhere, that there
are at the present time about nineteen of our
first class ocean steamers lying idle in our ports
THE, taken in connection with the commercial
activity which distinguishes our people, proves
that there must be sad Encouragement some
where. 1t is evident that as long as we continue
to import and export largely there should be
business for this class Of vessels and therefore
when we find foreign steamers monopolizing the
traffic to the exclusion of our own Ships it istime
that we should raise our voices against the in
Huences which produce such inconsistent results
There are two causes to which the blame Of
this unnatural state Of things is to be attributed
The one is the narrow minded and selfish policy
of Southern and Western Congressman, who can
see no advantage to the country in any measure
which does not bear directly on their own inte-
rests. It is useless to try and prove to these men
that what benefits one section of the Union must
They can see no further than their noses
on any question of public policy which does not
take in as its main considerations their local
views and objects The fact is to be deplored,
but it is not the less fact and hence it is that
we have to signalize an anomaly which should
not be suffered to exist for moment in coun-
try where the general good is supposed to be the
prevailing principle of legislation. The other
cause is the shortsighted and suicidal policy of
steamboat companies and shipOwners them
selves. They view competition not in the light
of commercial rivalry, which seeks to divide
fairly the profits Of remuneratve enterprises
but as o means of extorting from the fears of
those engaged in. them an illegitimate harvest
In other words, many of them start oppositions
to established lines in the expectation of being
bought out by the old companies, or of receiving
an annual revenue from them for dropping pro-
jects which they never seriously intended carry
ing out. This ruinous system, which originated
first on our domestic water routes, has been ex-
tended to the Central American, Atlantic and
other great lines. 1t is now producing its fruits
in the consignment to idleness and decay of
some of the finest steamers ever constructed in
our ports
The mischiefs to which this policy must give
rise are incalculable. AS steamers gradually SUI
persede sailing vessels in the carrying trade,
which they are fast doing they will daily be-
come more evident. The English, for instance,
foreseeing the advantages to be derived from
being prepared for the approaching changes in
commercial navigation are establishing steam
lines in every direction for the purpose Of mo-
nopolizing freights. Congress, instead of en-
couraging our shipowners to pursue like
policy by aiding them with mail appropriations
udicously distributed, is limiting as far as pos
sible it's patronage in this way. We have seen
how in the matter of the Collins line an impor-
tant national enterprise was allowed to 20 by
the board because of the illiberality manifested
towards it. If this policy be pushed any further,
we shall by-andbye find ourselves left behind in
the race Of maritime competition. Then, when
it is too late, our Southern and Western repre-
sentatives will perhaps deplore the infatuation
which prevented them recognizing in this
branch of industry one Of the most fruitful
sources of the national wealth.
ALBANY LEGISLATION FOR NEW YORK-We
have already observed that Mr.. Opdyke-the in
evitable Mr.. Opdyke-has introduced bill
into the Assembly creating the Office of Solicit
tor of the City Treasury, and making said Soil
citor an appointee of the Comptroller. Thus,
by the introduction of bill after bill, at average
intervals of four days, Mr. Opdyke attempts
to concentrate all the power and patronage Of
this city, its revenues and its expenditures, in
the hands of O single individual. Mr.. Opdyke
evidently went to Albany very full of tsfs--
gorged to the throat with blls-and IL h equally
evident that there is q wire fastened To Mr.. On
dyke, and that at certain irregular intervals the
wire is pulled and Mr.. Opdyke Immediately
'lets' bill. He has let about four already
and, Judging from appearances, he has not dis
charged quite half Of the origina.i number with
which he was loaded.
Now, we beg you to suspend operations, good
Mr.. Opdyke. We don't desire any more Soil
citors Of the City Treasury, We have so many
already, and they are in such fair way of re-
ceivjng the full amo,nt of their solicitations,
that we really think you are giving us too much
Of good thing, Or If the wire must continue
to be pullet-lf you must still be required to
emit bills-do 1t all at once and put us out Of our