The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-02
Oppressive Customs Regulations.
TO THk EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

in which any bcnent), to the following
"last general order" from the Custom House.
In "a &c Of {. The Of .ss m :sc,9n
the United States after the ist OF July. 1885, VIII be
saVe been resolved oy the o unea sses
reesivsd. : '''''' y - 'ne''1 ZIP
vessel arrives and wait an hour and half when
the clerk looks for trplicate, and no nd Il.
because there four thousand lying the Custom
House not arranged aud consequently OF We then
merchant, but OF the Custom House, by which We
are detained, as was the case the other day, for
for the privilege" In the mean,ne our goods
going under "genersl order" which
ceive permit to land them he sends them to ware
house, where they charge outrageous prices and b
said somebody" has an interest IN them besides the
storekccper and II suits this somebody" have
many goods sent possible II Is great outrage upon
the american people perfect svnde-doing injury 70
thousands and beneatting somebody They say "
70 prevent frauds but that Is only veil thrown
ia very Transparent one-as the invoice which the
merchant receives has consul certificate attached
Whist gratitude TO show the New York merchant Where
docs Mr. Chase to u he wants Atty or one hundred
treated OF thieves and yAsabonds, not worthy
10 be trusted was limited BY Of the high oicais
ma.,erf Let meeting be called and some action be
fcred enough. ONE or THE INJURED ONES.
The Court Martial On Col. Belger.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
BAlrMoKs. July 10, 1853.
The co1rt martial In the Of Colonel James Beger
brought their abors close to-day and have adjourned
The argument for the defence, by Hon. Henry Winter
ravis aud Milton whitney, Hq., was marked by great
ability and in all respects worthy OF their reLuta
toa. Dsdainng all mere technicaities, they mot the
charges fairly and squarcy, discussed them canddy and
Upheld them with signal The principal charge
against COL Beser grew out Of the charerng vessels
through Mr.. Hall, Of which The pubic have heard
much already, and Of the purchases Of COAL which
stated to be at exravsgant rates. and attempts
made TO prove by quotations OF market prices that ho
could have purchased at much lover rates As the
charters OF vessels, " was clearly shown that the
the prices and terms were 6xcd at washington and tia,
Colonel BIGGER acted under orders Ia signing the
papers, 10 order 10 bring them to proper Official form,
and beyond this he had nothing to do with the
ton and the blame II any exist, cannot be attributed ~
hun As 10 the purchases Of coal. attempts were made
10 show by testimony OF disappointed competitors Tor
tho business that coal could have been bought from them
felves At lower rates, and large batch o. evidence
submitted IN reatin 20 the market rates At the time n
the purchases. This evidence very contradictory,
and nothing culd be gathered from IT, except ,hat tho
price OF Coal very unsettled ami nuctafed greatly
from day 10 day and sometimes within few hours
II shown that the price depended the qua ity
purchased the place and crcunsAnceg OF the delivery,
The time mode % payment, aud that coal could be
bought for cash delivery much better terms than
for Inc gov ernrnent certac.tes which were al con
siderable and nuciuatng discount, which could not bs
estimated with certainty IN advance u their
issue. II was also shown that Colonel Belger
than loyal citizens aud that The principal witnesses TO
the low prevailing rates repuied 20 be- ~ gncs
tonabe character In that respect that he tsre
fore unable 70 take ADVANTAGE ~ their disposition ant
desire obtain the patronage of the There
not the slightest shadow OF evidence 10 show that
Colonel Belgcr in any way interested IN benefited
by any contract or purchase actually made nor was his
Integrity In any way impeached; and his counsel very
happily alluded 10 the absurdy OF surprising their client
actuaed by desrc 10 make the fortunes Of tho coal
dealers Al tho 81 the government and at the
sacrifice OF hts own reputation. The and substance
OF the evidence seemed - be that the hidden aud press
hug demands OF the government for coal 20 be deliver
ed IN the shortest possible time, and 10 be
paid for In certificates Of Indebtedness, uncertain
IN their issue AID OF nuctusting, deprecated
value impossible 10 estimate with certsinty prevented
colonel Begcr from going into the market equal terms
with purchasers Tor cash and that the urgency OF
demands OF the government did not him time 20
hagge with the dealers for small Ia tho
price, which, after all, nothing compared with
pronptness Ia ng the orders. avoid all possible
delay The Judge Advocate, regret 10 say seemed -
advocate tho more In the spirit of feed attorney
than impartial government orciAi This
position az sometimes painfully apparent. II would be
presuptu0us Of IN Wow Of the result a the Ftx
John Porter trial predict the verdict 10 this cssr but
there was but ne opinion among the spectators Who
heard inc argumeDs FOR the deicnccthat hero could
other than a verdict q aogaittA n u.