The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-17


Am AND CoMFoRr TO THE ENExT BIZ WHOLE
sAIE.-One of our abolition organs Of this city
published q letter yesterday, purporting to
come from the Headquarters Of the Army Of
the Potomac" which is q contribution by
Wholesale of 'aid and comfort to the enemy
All the declared reasonable or disloyal publ
cations of all the newspapers heretofore sup
pressed by the government amount to nothing
compared with the mischievous disclosures, If
true, Of this sensation letter Of our aforesaid
abolition contemporary. 1t tells the world and
the rebel army in front of ours at Frsdsricks-
burg that the administration looks with dis
trust on the Army of the Potomac" and that
that army "looks with distrust on the admins
tration;' that General Halleck has denounced
this army as "disaffected and dangerous" and
that, in fact, "the Army of the Potomac has
ceased to exist" that "the animosity in
Washington towards the army is amply repaid
by the bitterness of the army towards the
dered to move against the enemy 'last Thurs
day week." and that the order was counter
with the discovery that some Of bis
generals chad no confidence in him." thai the
army itself has no confidence in him; that the
army is demoralizsd and in dangerous posi-
ton, and that the Cabinet is debating whether
to break it up, to appoint q new commander,
or to try another advance under its present
and leader; and so Oh to the end
Of the chapter.
Had spy been employed by JEFF Davis to
come over into our lines and gather all the
that he possibly could calculated
to demoralize our army, to strengthen the enc
my and to weaken the government, he would
have returned abundantly satisfied with copy
of this aforesaid letter. In the simple fact that
the Army Of the Potomac has remained sta
tionary since the battle Of Fredericksburg there
is evidence Of something wrong; and from the
numerous idle rumors, and bits Of fact, and in
genious exaggerations, aAoat in Washington, it
is easy to understand how the disclosures of
the letter in question were woven together.
But, whether false or true, if such efforts among
our professedly administration journals to hold
advantage Of the enemy our army and our
government con be quietly permitted at Wash
ington, it may as we'll be proclaimed at once
that the loyal States are open for the establish
ment of newspapers directly in the service and
pay of JEFF. Davis.
The PAPER MoNoPoLIsTs BEFORE CONGRESS-
A CURIOUS CoNCIDENcE.-Ws publish in an
other column report Of meeting of book pub
fishers, held at the Trade Sale Rooms in this
city, yesterday, to protest against the continu-
ance of the present practically prohibitory
tariff upon foreign paper. and against the out
rageous monopoly which . combination of
paper manufacturers are attempting to impose
upon the public.
The statement Of facts made at this meeting is
brief, telling and irrefutable. Common paper,
which sold for ten cents the pound only six
months ago, cannot now be obtained for less
than twenty cents; and the prices for all
other kinds Of paper have been proper
tionately advanced. Yet, at this very
time, the same grades Of paper can
be purchased in England at four and a half,
FIVE and six and half pence the pound; con-
were it not for the oppressive duty
Of thirty five per cent upon foreign paper, large
quantities would be imported, our revenue-to
which foreign paper yields nothing under the
present tarif-would be largely increased, the
of our papermakers would be de-
stroysd, and the people relieved of the tax upon
which these monopolists have levied.
These facts are too plain to require comment
or elucidation. 1t is evident that the recent re-
fusal Of Congress to reduce the tax on foreign
paper from thirty-fve to ten per cent prevents
q large increase Of the national revenue. Who
benefit by this? The paper monopolists Who
suffer? The people, who are obliged to submit
to increased taxation to supply this deficiency in
the revenue. 1t is evident also that the people
are compelled to pay an unnecessarily high
price for books and papers. Who benefit by
this? The paper monopolists. VINO suffer
The book and newspaper publishers and all
readers Of books and newspspsrs-that is to
say, ninety nine one hundrsdths Of the people.
1t is not little singular that the refusal Of
Congress to reduce the tariff on paper occurred
just after the meeting Of the paper nonopolists
and simultaneously with the appearance at
Washington Of the committee Of lobbyists ap-
pointed al that meeting, and furnished with
ample funds. We have never had very high
opinion Of Congressman; but this coincidence
is certainly curious. Something or other must
have happened to prove to Congress that right
and justice ought not to be considered in this
matter; that the public revenue ought not to
be increased and that the people ought to be
heavily taxed for the benefit, not Of the nation,
but Of few papermakera Could It have
been filthy lucref With the case Of Simmons
before us we must sovrowfully hesitate to
decide.
SENATOR WADE ON West PoINT.--When the
bill making appropriations for the support Of
the Military Academy ct West Point was called
nm IN the Senate the ofhar daY Mr. Senator