The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-21


Common rosin, which sold at about 81 so 81 60 per
BARREL sold at S. Crude turpentne, which sold at 81 rs
a$3, sold at SO. Every cargo which has the
blockade from North Carolina must have realized large
profits.
The Government Ind the Prcss-NIr. Chase
In Wall Street.
When enlightened governments of highly CT
vilized nations, like England and France, have
been, within the last quarter of a century or
more, on the eve of embarking in any grave
political negotiation, or venturing to hazard
some mighty military enterprise, it has become
an understood necessity that the representatives
of leading journals should first be entrusted
with the knowledge of the events in the course
of preparation, and that their patriotic co-ope-
ration should be secured for such measures as
were about to be inaugurated. Ministers of
State, to whatever party they may have be-
longed, and rulers not less far-sighted and wise
than Napoleon ILL.,, Lord Palmerston and his
predecessors, since the time of Castlereagh,
have unfolded their plans in the utmost detail
to those who exercise so large degree of infu-
ence over public opinion, and have had the sa
gacity to comprehend that the press standing
midway, as it does, between the people and the
administrations Of the day, has grown into an
institution which is one of the most important
elements in the fabric of modern society. Aid
ed by statesmanlike and leading newspapers,
government can effect any legitimate and
proper object It can rely, through them,
upon the good will and support of the masses
of the community, which can be obtained by
no other means.
In the United States Of America, no admins
tration has raised itself, as yet, to the high
point of broadly comprehending it's own ext
gencies, and the succor it may derive from re-
lance upon the honor and public spirit of the
Independent press. While every one acquainted
with the inside workings of European Cabinets,
is aware that the Crimean war, as well as the
later struggle in Italy, were paved the way for
by popular journals, whose leaders had boon
taken into the counsels of the English and
French governments, here, where the liberty of
the press is perfectly unrestrained, newspapers
have come to be regarded as the mere re-
echoings of the narrow-minded views of petty,
local politicians and, through the very distrust
in which they have been held, they have failed
to reach the level they are entitled to, of
knowledge integrity and craftsmanship. Under
the dominion of the old parties into which the
country was divided-whig and democrat
and from the beginning of the present century
down to the departure for Wheatland Of our
last Chief Magistrate, the same mean, fettered
and contemplate idea has prevailed concerning
the vocation of the public press, and it is much
to be feared that both Mr. Lincoln and his
Cabinet, are controlled by equally small preju-
dices, and are following track which is GER
tainly impolitic and in many cases must prove
dangerous, with respect to power from which
1t should never cease to invoke assistance.
A few days ago. Mr.. Chase, one of the ablest
and, most Intellectual of Mr.. Lincoln's advisers
visited our city for the purpose of consulting
with Wall street capitalists over the affairs of
the nation. He made speeches to them and
conAded to them the knowledge of the measures
by which the administration hoped to re-esta-
blish the integrity of the Union, provided the
pecuniary means of doing so were placed with
in their reach. Nothing could be more proper
and judicious. The moneyed men of New York,
Boston and Philadelphia are the representatives
of the aggregate surplus Of capital Of the North
ern States. They are the reservoirs of wealth
from which the government must replenish its
Golfers, and reinvigorate its strength. If they
give their money, however, they have right to
know for what purpose it will be used, and to
be assured that it will be properly expended by
the Departments Of War and the Navy, through
which the greater portion of it will pass. But,
while the Secretary of the Treasury performed
what was incumbent on him, in this respect, and
even told some of our capitalists to whom the
Secretaries of War and Navy had given out
their contracts, he utterly overlooked an obi
cation which never would have escaped Bri-
fish Chancellor of the Exchequer, namely that
of calling around him the leading representa-
tives of the press of cur largest cities, and adj
visng and coming to fitting understanding
with them.
No government can ever put itself into direct
communication with the people at large. NoIens
uolens the newspapers of the land must be the
Intermediates between the authorities and the
community. The Independent press, moreover,
Of the North, and especially of this metropolis has
attained degree of power and enlightenment,
which causes Its views to be looked up to with q