New-York tribune., 1869-06-10

or the rghtfulncSS OF human olaNcTyJ rs Oh JIC
matters at issue between our Government and
that of Great Britain. When Mr.. Sumner
reaches California he will find the Chinese
question much more absorbing topic than
the Alabama question. and one quite as likely
to tax all the resources of our craftsmanship.
-
OCEAN CABLES md UNITED STATES Law.
Our French friends who were so fast with
their new Atlantic Cable find lion III the
way. The opinion of the AttOrney-Gcneral
which we published day or two ago, compels
them to await an express grant of authority
from Congress before landing their cable on
our shores. At first blush this, irrespective OF
any constitutional question involved, may seem
narrow, illibcral policy for the Gov
e1nment to pursue Our coasts. 1t
would appear, ought to be free to
all comers who bring such rich gifts.
New cables would provoke competition secure
lower rates of tclcgraphing, increase the ease
and facility of communication between the con-
tincnts and in thousand ways promote tho
advance of civilization. The more capital can
be induced to enter this business therefore,
and the more cables we can have, the better.
Bnt there are two or three points i'll the case
less obvious than this one, which nevertheless
deserve consideration.
The decision of the Attorney General prom
ises to bear harder upon the French enter
prise, but it affects likewise the Ncw-lork,
Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Com
pany. This organization represents that great
ocean -telegraphic triumph in which all OF us
take lust pride. Several millions of its stock
are held in this country. 1t was the pioneer
Company Its history appeals to the sympathlcs
of all Americans, and it, as all feel should be the
first to profit by any grant ofauthority to connect
with our shores To this Company the decision
of the Attorney General as we trust, means
only temporary delay. TO the other, styling
itself the Franco-Amcrcan Company, 1t may
mean something more. Mr.. Eranger, OF Con-
federatc Loan memory, Mr. Reuter-. whom
Americans have no cause 10 love, and
other favorites of the French En-
pcror, have obtained from the Imperial
Government n monopoly of the whole Atlantic
coast of France for itelegraphic purposes. Sc
curing an organization under British law, ana
putting forward a British Chancellor oil the
Exchequcr for their President they have pro-
posed, in tho singular language OF the En-
peror's grant TO assume, without waiting ior
! Congressional action, the right 20 land
| on the shores of the United States,
between Now-Yorl and Boston, Sup
pose Mexican Company, composed
mainly of men conspicuous in the movements
against Maxman. with some eminent SYM
pathizer among our ollicc-hOlders for its Prcsi-
dent should assume under a grant OF our or
any American Government % land a cable on
the coast of France: how long would We have
10 wait for French ships of war TO warn off
tho intrudersl Suppose the provincial author
tiles of Brittany or Normandy should assume
10 grant such q Company the right to land It's
cable at Brest or Hayrc: how long would the
Emperor be in informing those authorities that
such affairs of national concern could not be
intrusted to their exclusive dccisoni
We are not arguing against the enterprise of
Messrs. Erangcr and Reuter- We merely OBJ
iect to any assumption of privileges 10y these
enemies which we could not properly grant
even to our friends. If they wish the profit
able right of constructing cable between
France and the United States, let them obey
the decision of the Attorney General, and ap-
ply TO the United States authorities for leave.
American citizens would have TO do no less in
constructing a cable TO France. What is fair
for MS is at least not unfair for them.
The English Government has always refused
its consent to any concessions that were all on
one side When the Mediterranean Extension
Telegraph Company of London obtained from
the Italian Government the exclusive right to
connect Italy with Malta, it applied to the
English authorities for permission to land It's
cable on that Island, but received decided
refusal unless it would give up its cx-
elusive privileges 1t surrendered its
monopoly, and on that condition only
obtained the desired permission. Let
the French Company do the same: give
up its exclusive privileges, surrender its
monopoly, and apply in the proper manner, ut
the proper time, to the United States Govern
ment. Then let the French and American
Governments enter into an agreement that the
coasts of both countries shall be free to the
people of either, and there will be no more
trouble. At present the advantage is all on
their side. We give up everything and get
nothing in return. The Attorney Generals de-
cision rcmanding such cases to Congress, which
is in itself sound, is likewise peculiarly timely
in its applications to present movements.
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TIE MIDLAND RAILROAD.
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