The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-02

Do upon us before TINS schemes goes into prac-
ticsl operation.
rhe Way We supply the RsS eIs-rhe
Duty OF Congress.
We send armies into the field, and vita
them supplies, not only for themselves. but for
those they seek to conquer. We capture cities
and towns, garrison and hold them, yet seem
to be careful to establish depots whence the
rebels can draw tho necessary articles to aid
them in giving US battle II 10 possible that
this follows as natural consequences; but to
the uninitiated tho policy that permits tho
rebel to draw his support from the loyalist in
the North appears very singular ono. On the
opening Of tho ports Of Beaufort, Port Royal and
New Orleans, the Union lines around which are
at the present time only . few miles outside
their respective town and city limits, won.
derful and extraordinary impetus was given to
trade in those quarters which still continues.
The advent Of few thousand troops within
their precincts seemed to have added to their
wants, as compared with former periods. .
hundredfold. Tho soldiers had tho ague and
fever, and We sent them quinine enough In one
month to supply each officer, private and
civilian within the lines with at least daily
ration for year. We sent them drugs and
medicines In unlimited quantities, and no sane
man will for moment believe that oil Of them
found their way to good and true loyal
stomachs. Why should thsys Rebels shake
sometimes with ague a. well "a with fear, and
whom semi-loyalist Is in possession Of quinins
which cost him only two and . half dollars IN
ounce, and BY sending 1t to his full fedged
rebel friend just beyond the lines he can realize
fifty or sixty dollars per ounce, his loyalty to
his government waivers and finally succumbs to
this very pressing claim from Mammon.
This Is our system Of internal trade. Now
let MS glance at our indirect trade with the
rebels, through neutral ports, BY means Of
blockade ranners. The practice here, IS
every one is aware. is to ship goods
to some point convenient for transshipment to
tho various ports In the South, among which
may be prominently named Nassau, Havana
and Matamoros. 1t is true we cannot claim to
have furnished many Of the supplies carried
by blockade runners into Charleston. Savan-
nah and Wilmington; for 1t Is probable that at
least nine.tenths Of them came direct from
Great Britain, and therefore the honor belongs
to her; yet, as our trade with the British West
Indies and Cuba has increased oae hundred
per cent since the breaking out of the rebel
lion, it is fair to presume that We can right
fully claim to share tho honors with her
Majesty's government
Our principal glory, however, lies in another
direction. By reference to our files we nstice
a new and extraordinary feature in our trade
with our neighbors, the Mexicans. whea Ee
take into consideration the fact that prior "a
the 18th day Of August 1851, no clearance vas :s
ever granted at this port for Matamoros, and
that since that date one hundred and afty-two
vessels, with an aggregate tonnage Of nearly
thirty-fve thousand TONS having on board
large and valuable cargoes, have been cleared
for that destination from this port alone, We
may boldly assert that there exists some reason
other than the alleged increase Of trade with
quantities Of goods sent there are intended
for consumption within her borders Large
numbers Of vessels from other ports Of the
United States have been sent there, while
Havana and Nassau have served 40 depots
rom which goods, shipped here osteusibly for
! West Indian market, have been transshipped
10 that destination; and 1t has not uufrequeutly
that from eighty to one hundred yes
'els have been lying at the mouth of the Rio
5rande at one and tho same time. Again the
Foods sent there are such as are particularly
Idapted to the wsnts of the South, and, rs .
general rule, Of the same character as were
hipped to Galveston, Matagorda and Point
sabel in former years.
While we cannot with justice lay claim to
more than. perhaps, one-tenth OF the trsde with
hat point during the past two years, our trade
Nth Mexico has increased nearly enc thousand
,er cent. The return eargoes Of vessels from
his point are Of the same character also -
hose usually brought from Texas in past years,
Of cotton, wool and hides; and there
ever has been any attempt at coucealment Of
he fact that these cargoes were the productions
{ the States in rebellion. Yet for two years
bis trade has been regularly aud systematic
ally conducted without hindrance. No one
ould shut his eyes to, the fact that We
'ere directly aiding the rebels in prolong-
ng the war; yet the practice was continued,
nd Texas is now probably as we'll supplied
nth most Of the nscessaries Of life as in former
ears.
We have repeatedly called the attention OF
government to the necessity of cutting OF this
ource of supply; but, prior to the occupation
Brownsville by General Banks, we believe
70 action had been taken, except to station one
Id steamer, the Montgomery, at the mouth of
be Rio Grande, whose Office it was to watch
nd control the movements Of feet consisting
( one hundred vessels from all parts Of the
vcrld- 1t is true that our customs authorities
ave complied with tho requirement.. OF the
aw in taking bonds that the goods should be
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