The New York herald., 1862-12-04

az nand are employed against then." Nov
these means, whatever they are, have been
equally at hand from the beginning of the war.
Why were they not employed before instead
Of expending 50 much Of the white mars
blood and treasure In vain! But the simple
answer to Mr.. Stanton's logic is that the
President has pronounced any emancipation
scheme by force as no better than the Popss
bull against the comet. We must conquer the
white population before we can get hold Of
the blacks, and when the whites are subdued
nobody but handful Of impotent fanatics will
desire the sudden freedom Of the black race.
Such are the visionary and impracticable men
at the head Of our national affairs in this great
crisis.
The Effect or tho Alabama's Depreda-
lions on Oar Commerce.
Since the receipt Of the news OF the capture
and destruction OF some dozen or more Of our
ships by this scourge of the seas, there has been
decided falling off in the shipments from this
port to Europe in American bottoms. During
the month Of November the number of vessels
cleared at this port for European ports was one
hundred and eighty-two, Of which only seventy
gave two hundred and forty-two clearauces for
the same destination, of which one hundred and
thirty eight were under our flag.
The fear of this new reigning terror has net
only crippled our commerce, but 1t has had the
effect ofsuddenly reviving the disgraceful system
Of putting our vessels under the protection
foreign flags, so'much in vogue year ago, when
Senmes commenced bis piratical cruise In the
Sumter. Few persons are aware of the immense
number of American vessels that have been
placed under foreign flags since the commence
ment of the rebellion, or Of the effect 1t be-
produced, involving as it does an immense ioss
of American tonnage, and consequent increase
Of the tonnage of our commercial rivals. Since
April Of last year ne less than one hundred and
thirty-thres vessels, with an aggregate tonnage
Of more than fifty thousand tons, have, BY this
inexcusable practice, been subtracted from our
mercantile marine at this port alone. and
added almost entirely to that of nation
ready at any moment to take every advantage
of our necessities and which at the present
moment is doing her utmost to aid the rebels
in breaking up our government. Notwithstand-
ing this, scarcely week passes that one os
more of our would-be patriotic citizens do MOI
lend their aid in decreasing the tonnage Of the
country
Through fear of capture by cruiser which
flies the British or rebel flag at pleasure, and
the loss of few 2altry dollars, they set them
selves systematically at work to aid the very
nation that built and set the pirate aaoat, and
indirectly to pull down their own. The starry
emblem Of our countrys glory, which has wavea
SO long and proudly at the mastheads Of their
ships, whose every timber grew on American
soil and was shaped into beauty and grace BY
American hands and Yankee industry, must
give place to the flag of Britannia, because they
fear that the old Stars and Stripes, under which
they have sailed SO long and under whose pro-
lection they have perhaps amassed fortunes
will no longer protect their interests. In their
greed for present gain they forget their coun-
try and the future and instead Of manfully
the dust of avaricc and selHshness. Instead OF
claiming the protection of their country and
indemnity for loss by pirates at war with her,
they voluntarily place their vessels beyond ber
reach and their own control, with no hope of
return to the old flag, except by act Of Con-
gress and the leniency of the government they
have outraged. To make the matter present
even a worse aspect, 1t is known that
in many cases these transfers are merely
nominal. The British law requires that the
owner must declare himself British subject,
and, az matter Of course, his name must ap-
pear in the register az such; but In these cases
q mortgage for the full amount Of the pur-
chase money, or power of attorney to manage
the entire affairs of the vessel, is given by
the buyer to the seller, and the seller il
still to all intents and purposes the owner,
except in name
Il is to be hoped that our loyal and patriotic
citizens will consider the Importance Of this
subject, and that they will not seek by this
practice to still further decrease the tonnage
OF the nation through fear OF loss by the acts Of
rebel pirates. If we speak thus strongly in
condemnation Of those who thus misuse
their rights and position as shlpowners, whas
language ought TO be used in reference to the
conduct of the Secretary Of the Navy, who has
SO grossly neglected his duty ~ 10 compel
these commercial men to disown the Stars and
Stripes and seek foreign protection for their
property and patrIotismi The government ID
bound by every principle Of Justice and honor
to protect the interests and property Of her
loyal citizens, and to indemnify them for losses
sustained by them at the hands Of those in TO
bellion against her.
RESULTS or THE CHARTER ELECrroN.--As We
nredicted during the canyase the election Of