The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-05

assume consistent, cohesive and enduring
shape.
Tho Proposed Steamship Subsidy and Public
Opinion.
Nearly all the newspapers that have ex-
pressed any opinion relative to the proposed
subsidized American line of steamers to
Europe have criticised it in such terms as to
arouse the ire of the projectors, and particu-
larly that of Mr.. John A. Baxter, the Presi-
dent of the Commercial Navigation Company,
who has vented his wrath in several ridicu-
lousy indignant letters to the offending editors,
and, according to his own account, he and his
co-incorporators in the enterprise in question
are much injured individuals. He evidently
wishes to be considered public benefactor of
the most disinterested kind, but at the same
time he is painfully solicitous to secure the
loaves and fishes which Congress granted,
under certain clearly specified conditions, in an
act passed in July last to substitute q new line
of Transatlantic steamers to be owned and
managed by the Commercial Navigation Com
pany. Such legislation in behalf of any par
ticular corporation is, however, invidious and
calculated to check steamship enterprise in
others, thus diminishing that free and equal
competition which is the life Of trade. A
curious feature in the history of this Company
is stated in q letter which appeared in our
columns on Friday, that not single vessel
is yet contracted for, although the bonds are
issued and agents employed in Europe to
secure emigrant passengers. The President
Of the Company states that fifty-six thousand
emigrants are already engaged to come out by
this line next July. How the steamers sufi-
cient to carry this number are to be built is a
problem which the managers have not yet
attempted to solve If they can accomplish it
miracle in shipbulding will have to be
brought about by somebody.
The true way to encourage our mercantile
steam marine is to so modify the tariff upon
the materials used in the construction of
steamers as to enable our shipbuilders to COM
pete with those of other countries and free
trade policy will do much more to increase
American shipping than a protective one.
The subsidy system is a mistake, and Great
Britain, after long trial, is about to aban-
don it. Moreover, 1t is not in harmony with
the genius of our people, and public opinion is
decidedly against any such special privileges as
it would confer upon the recipients. The Presi-
dent of the Commercial Navigation Company,
who has an axe to grind, doubtless wishes the
case to appear otherwise but thus far his let
tiers to the newspapers have convinced no one
that subsidized line of steamers to Europe
would be a national advantage while on the
other hand his il-tempered remarks have done
something to prejudice those who have read
them against the job he is trying to execute.
General Rosccrnns and Mr.. j. g. Bennett.
The facetious Don Piatt, in a letter to
a Cincinnati paper reporting the substance
Of a recent conversation Of his with General
Rosecrans on the famous White Sulphur mis-
sion and correspondence, gives the following
as part of what General Rosecrans said in
reference to the publication Of that corre-
spondence +
al care nothing" said General Rosecrans, with
some warmth to this suggestion "what people think
or saw. only know that they do me great Injustice
! received this appointment without even my know.
ledge. Twas confirmed in the same way. had
really strong inducements held out to In Califor-
MA TO come into the support OF Mr.. Johnson But,
poor as was no ONCE could tempt me to give my
aid TO what consider erroneous. But never ad-
vised with or consulted any one. beg pardon. I
did consult with one man IA to the proprety OF pub
lshng this correspondence. And you'd never guess
the man went to. lie was James Gordon Bennett.
said if this shrewd old observer OF human events
seeks to publish this correspondence exclusively or
at iirst In his own paper win put II under lock and
KEY; but n he advises me to send IL through the
Associated Press, to the country, will publish It,
He urged the last and threw 1t out"
The General, to the best Of our recollection
and belief, is correct in his statement as to Mr..
BENEFITS recommendation, for, of course, as
q newspaper man, he would suggest the pub
LEGATION; but still II the correspondence fell
fiat as q pancake II is not the fault Of Mr..
Bennett or the newspapers. The responsible
ty Of the failure belongs TO the General, and
that was his lookout, not ours.
THE RraHrs OF BUILDERS, &o.-we should
like to know from some one Of the peoples
lawyers-Oakey Hall, for instance-how much
of any street and for what length Of time par
ties engaged in putting up new buildings or in
repairing old ones, &C., are entitled to blockade
the public highway. Let Mr. Hall take ride
in corporation hack up Fifth avenue to the
Park, If he can get through, and then give us
the law on the subject and the officials through
which the law can be enforced.
THE WAY IT RUNs.-The ilth in our streets
in the event Of a heavy rain runs for the river,
while our Street Commissioner runs after
Peter Cooper. and our Mayor 10 running for
G0varnoe.