The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-14

U6s
make repairs % they stoald be. We repeat
former observation, that unless the railroad
companies institute tho reforms necessary to
keep their tracks In proper aud safe condition,
their passenger cars in comfortable order, and
do other things necessary for the convenience
Of the travelling and trading public, Congress
or every State Legislature should adopt the
necessary measures to compel them to do 80.
In some States-New Jersey, for instance-the
railroad Is the State and the State the railroad;
and Is no reform can be hoped for from either
source, the national government, through the
action Of Congress, should pass the requisite
laws to demand reform in the mana cement Of
the roads, and to suppress, as far as may be,
the exactions of an odi0us monopoly.
Our Naval viotoriss--TAs Capturs OF
Plymouth.
We present our readers this morning with
copies Of the oiioial report Of Captain
Macomb, commanding the Districts OF the
Sound, on the capture Of Plymouth, with the
results Of the examination instituted into the
injuries Of the rebel ram Albemarle, aud
number Of other official documents having re-
lation to The gallant feat Of Lieutenant Gushing.
Among these is a report of the commander Of
the ram to the rebel Secretary Of the Navy,
Mallory, which was found In the Plymouth
Post Office.
The Importance Of the events to which these
documents refer cannot be overestimated,
although the rebels endcavor to make light Of
them While the capture Of the Albemarle
relieves our squadron operating in those
waters from formidable danger, that Of Ply
mouth gives us entire command Of the Sound.
The possession Of Washington, at the head Of
the Pamlico river; OF Newbern, commanding the
Neuse river, and now of Plymouth, commanding
the Roanoke river, gives us with the exception
of Wilmington, control Of the entire coast Of
North Carolina. The capture Of Plymouth will
also give US, if not possession Of the railroad to
Weldon, at least such power Of interference
with it as to render it practically useless to the
rebels. All these advantages would have been,
fruitless to us so long as the formidable rebel
iron-clad, which was such terror to our vessels
continued to maintain its supremacy in the
waters of the Sound.
To the gallant young officer by whose dash
and hcroism the destruction of the monster was
achieved, we owe the opportunity Of enjoying
the full results of the costly sacrifices that have
already been made in that quarter. Much as the
feat is admired and app!auded, it will be more
appreciated when the public learn the TACT dis
closed by Captain Macomb's report, that Lieu
the intention of landing on the wharf and
cutting out the ram from under the
batteries-a project which would have
undoubtedly succeeded but for an acct
dent There are no rewards in the power
Of tho governMent to bestow too great for
conduct such as this. A step in rank or even
the thanks o: Congress do not sufficiently mark
its character. II is not, we believe, within the
rules for the Navy Department to go further
than 1t has already done until Congress takes
some action of this kind. As there is no doubt
that it will do SO as soon as it meets we trust
that the Department will lose no time in pro-
noting as soon rs possible afterwards this GAL
liant young officer to the highest grade that the
rules OF the service VIII allow 1t is only by
such encouragement that we can hope to MAIN
tain that reputation for heroism and SELL
devotion which the conduct of such men as
Farrsgut, Porter and Dupont has already
earned for our navy.
1t will be seen by one Of the official reports,
accompanying Captain Macomb's statement,
that the injuries to the rebel ram Albemarle
are greater than was at FIRST supposed. 1t is
said that she was second time blown up after
Lieut.. Cushing's exploit, whether by the rebels
or by tie fire slowly reaching her magazine
from the burning spiinters sent flying about by
the torpedo does not appear. The entire top
of her casemate Is blown off, and her ma
chinery is entirely under water; so that it has
oxtent Of her injuries. She appears, however,
to be very much shattered, from the fact Of all
the jennings above water being found discon-
nected. There is no doubt, however, that a
largo portion of the vessel, the iron plating
especially, can be turned to account. ANY
further specuations on the subject are, how
ever, useless; for until she is raised no exact
expect from her. This, we presume, will be
done as soon as the proper vessels and ma
chinery for the purpose can be got from New
York.
The VALIDITY or LEGAL TENDER NOTES.-THE
newspapers have published decision OF Judge
Grier, Of the Supreme Court, rendered in Phil
adelphia, touching the validity of Treasury
notes as q legal tender, about which there ap-
pears to DO some misconception. Judge Grier g