The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-07-03

the real work of the oampaign-the work OF
expelling the rebel army. There should be
now, and probably are. some forty thousand
of our auxiliary militia forces on the Sus-
quehsnna; and of these forces we dare say
that the fifteen or twenty Of our New York
militia regiments are, in discipline, GOODNESS
and bravery, equal to the same number Of the
best regiments Of the rebel army. General
Couch Is good soldier We rely upon him to
give active and efficient support to General
Meade; and, with this powerful auxiliary mill
tia army under his command, Il Is only neces-
sary for General Couch to advance to an active
cooperation with the Army Of the Potomac in
order to put to complete rout the army Of Lee,
and scatter 1t to the winds. 8
Rebel Prlvateering-Its Effect en- Oar
Commerce and Tonnage.
Two years have now passed since Semmes
commenced his piratical cruise In the Sumter,
since which time about one hundred and fifty
of our vessels-valued, with their cargoes, at
ten millions Of dollars-have been captured by
vessels under the Confederate flag, and still
nothing effectual has been done by our immense
navy to put stop to their Wholesale acts of
rapine, plumber and piracy. From the first APP
pearanoe Of the little schooner JEFF. Davis they
have gone on increasing in numbers, strength
and power, until, by their numerous swift,
heavily armed steamers, the Confederate navy
has become the terror Of our entire mercantile
marine. Their vessels are found in every part
of the Atlantic; they even capture and burn our
vessels within sight Of our commercial marts,
and still escape III escape it may be called)
from vessels which never seem to pursue, or OF
least never find them. Still nothing is done.
Occasionally, when news comes Of the whole
sale destruction of dozen or more of our ships
and vessels, the Department, under the infu-
ence Of sudden spasln, orders all the idle YES
sells lying at our navy yards in hot pursuit of
the pirates; and, to make the raid certain and ef-
feciive. a number of old barks and schooners
are sent out, which, II by accident they should
happen to meet any of the rebel steamers, will
fall iHto their hands, and in turn, like the Ia
cony, be turned against IS-ot aa;,in0
steamers like the Atlantic, Baltic, Ocean Queen
and others are left by the Department lying at
our wharves, because, forsooth, our merchants
| will not assume the war risk and pay for them
| il lost.
/ This appears like q singular position for
our government to take, when b. every prin-
! ciple OF Justice and equity it is bound to pro-
-. the interests of its citizens everywhere, and
pay all losses sue.-s-ad by Tho cots OF pirates
lett to roam for mon this and wears unmolested
on our coast. Ths effect OF this apathy or cri-
mDai neglect on the part Of the Navy Depart
Inent may be fully realized nv 4 c.laac.. =. ~
~h1 IF Ia.
/ row monopolize the carrying trade at this port,
while our own are rosting at our wharves. Our
merchants fully realizing that the Gag under
which their vessels have so long and proudly
sailed can no longer afford them protection In
the pursuit Of legitimate trade, are compelled
to let them lie idle or resort to the disgraceful
practice Of putting them under the Gag Of a for
eign Power This practice has been carried
on to an almost incredible extent since II his
become apparent that thew lave nosnns 70
hone for or expecs 40 yne hands OF the Depart
ment at Washington.
Since the breaking out Of the rebellion three
hundred and eighty five vessels. with an aggre-
s-.o so.,.Iago Of more than one hundred and
sixty-six thousand tons, have been transferred
| to foreigners at this port alone, most Of which
are now sailing under the flag of Great Britain,
our most prominent commercial rival, and ally
Of the South. At other ports the same prac-
tice has prevailed, and it would be fair to esti-
mate the loss Of American tonnage under it
during the past two years at three hundred
thousand TONS This loss to MS, as matter OF
course, involves consequent increase Of the
tonnage and power of our rivals
| Ara;u 70 ohouy he oNact - - :.
trade, let US glance at the commerce Of New
York during the first six months Of the year
1860, as compared with a like period in the
present year. During the former period the
number Of vessels cleared at this Tort for Tor
eign ports was seventeen hundred and ninety
five, Of which eleven hundred and hirty- three
were American and six hundred ana sxty-tw
foreign-a difference Of nearly one hundred
per cent in favor of American vessels; while,
during the same period Of the present year, there
have been twenty-one hundred and ninety seven
clearances, Of which fourteen hundred and
fifty were foreign and only seven huadrod and
forty-seven Notwithstanding an increase in
the Number Of foreign vessels and difference
in their favor, as compared with the first named
period Of about two hundred per cent.
by this system we not only decrease our ton.
mage and lessen our power a. a commercial
nation, but we suffer financially by Its opera.
ton. The hundreds Of vessels which now sail
under a foreign flag formerly paid into the
Treasury, at every entry at a custom house in
the United States, twenty cents per month for
every person employed on board, for the use
of the United States Hospital This is now LOST
to us, and, If paid now, inures TO the benefit Of
the government under whose flag they sail.
II 10 dificult to imagine where this practice
will lead to II some protection be not Afforded
our merchants and shipowners in the pursuit Of
their trade. Already are they beginning 10 arm