The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-07

/ Iho sentence On OOamD 1Oro w u8eos
The defence made by Commodore wilkes to
the charges preferred against him before the
recent court martial has been printed In
pamphlet form. A more damnatorY document
for his accusers could hardly have been pro-
voked. If anything were wanting to complete
the evidence Of the ignorance, vacillation and
incompetency that preside over the Navy De-
partment, ii would be furnished by this able
and temperate argument.
The Commodore begins by showing that the
idea Of bringing him before a court martial
was never for moment entertained by Secre
tary Wslles until the indignation caused by
the blunders and failures OF the Department
| rendered it necessary for him to make scape-
goat of some one In order to remove the blame
from his own shoulders. Until then he had not
heard word of complaint about his having
taken the Vanderbilt under his command,
which formed one Of the subject matters
of the charges In regard to that alleged
stretch OF authority, he shows, by the acts
of Congress and the rules and regu-
lations Of the Navy. Department, that
| he had discretionary power to do So and that
furthermore, he carried outfully oil Lieutenant
| Baldwin's instructions. OF what he accom-
plished with the wretched tubs previously given
him, he places on record facts that are at once
honorable to him and disgraceful to the De-
partmsnt.
To the other charges his replies are as full
and complete. From the evidence brought for
ward they would appear not to have originally
furnished cause of offence, but to have been
trumped up as the result of afterthought.
Some of them, srch, for instance, as the charge
relating to the communication Of his letter Of
the 18th Of last December to the New York
press, he shows to be as frivolous as they are
unfounded. The statement having reference to
the return required by the Department Of his
age would be incredible were 1t not substan
tiated by evidence. Those reading 1t will at
once understand why the administration of our
naval affairs should have assumed SO much Of
broad farce in its operations. 8E
The finding Of the court will weigh but little
with the country. Appointed by the Secre-
| tary against the dictates of all correct and
honorable feeling, as we'll as against the course
prescribed by the act of Congress, its members
had difficult and embarrassing duty to
| perform. Their verdict may mortify, but 1t
cannot disgrace Commodore Wilkes. His has
been too long and too well tried a career to
same time 1t Is hard that the gallant
veteran should be subjected to such
return for the services that he has
rendered us. If he has erred at ALL it has
been in being too patriotic and energetic for
the men in power. Had his action in Che affair
of the Trent been sustained by Thorn we should
have had little or no difficulty with England.
| Had his sxertions while in command OF the
| Gulf squadron been seconded, the rebel
lion would have failed to obtain much OF
| the support il has since received. For these
services the Commodore is rewarded with .
| public reprimand and suspension from the
service. Let him take consolation. The time
is coming when tried incapacity will find Its
level, and when the brave men who have fought
and bled for the country will meet with the
appreciation which is their due.
|
A Tax ON MINEs.-The proposition before
Congress to impose q tax Of five per cent on
the gross yield of the mines Of the United
States is one that cannot fail to meet with very
general approval. Every other branch of in
dustry is heavily burdened to support the
expenses Of the war, and the mining interests
should be the last to grumble at being asked to
bear their share of the load. There is nothing
that we consume, even those things that con-
tribute to our intellectual progress-such a.
books, printing paper, &c.-that does net pay
its quota, and there is no reason why mineral
products should be exempted. On the con.
trary, seeing that they are not subject to the
fluctuations in value which affect almost every
the miner, they are amongst the most legitimate
objects on which taxation can be levied. The
Northern mechanic would have good reason
for discomfort II, whilst his labor is taxed to the
| uttsrmost, that Of the California or Colorado
gold digger should be allowed TO escape scot
| free. No! the burdens Of tho country must be
distributed equally, or as much SO az legislative
wisdom can insure. This tax upon mining
| products should have been one Of the FIRST addi-
tions proposed to the tariff and, though 1t comes
as an stterthought we trust that 1t will not the
| less be made an immediate and permanent
source Of revenue to the government
i
| The FoRTTrICATIoSs OF RIcHxoSD.-One Of
our city contemporaries. Of the genus copper
head has published map exhibiting the for
nidable system Of Notifications which sncircles
the city Of Richmond Scarecrows. They are
nothing more. They can all be completely de-
molished without firing shot at them, and
| with one little word Of four letters-g-r.u.b-
grub. Richmond is now fed from day to day
through the railroads which run out Of the city