The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-25
Ocean TeIeErsph,.

The most recent aggression ss well as the
most tstupid blunder, the opponents Of the
States Rights principle is to be found in
the late opinion of Attorney General Hosr
on the slbjee. Of the right to allow the
landing Of telegraphic cables on the shores
Of the several States. The Attorney Gen.
ersl holds that under the clauses of the cor
stitution relating to admiralty and mari
time Jurisdiction, and the power to regu-
late commerce with foreign nations, Con-
gress has supreme control in all these mat
ters, notwithstanding any privileges which
may have been granted by the States. The
opinion was given in response to the ques-
ton whether Q cable from Newfoundland
could be landed on the eshore Of Maine under
charter granted by that State, and be pro-
tsoted there, without the previous author
ity Of Congress. But it applies also to the
French company which is now preparing to
land its cable on the Plymouth shore, under q
privilege granted by the Massachusetts,
Legislature, and to all companies acting
under similar authority. -
The views Of the law officer. Of the gov.
ernment in this case have met with storm
of opposition from the prees. Little as the
Northern newspapers care about abstract
theories Of States Rights, they are all bit
terly hostile to policy which has not 8
single advantage to recommend it. and
which would place the American Govern
mont in position Of absurd and needless
antagonism to the enlightened and progress
siye spirit Of the ags. They urge with JUS
tics that the same principle, if carried out,
would prevent the construction of pier
on the coast, or the landing Of foreign ves-
sells in our ports, without special authority
from Congress. Butitisspecislly with refer
enee to its effect upon the French cable
company that the course advised by the
Attorney. General is denounced as On out
rage against plain public policy and COM
mon sense. The company merely asks the
privilege, for which they are willing to pay,
of landing their wires on our coast. The
United States have everything to gain and
nothing to lose by the concession. The
present cables have both their termini ON
the soil Of q single foreign power, which
may at any moment become hostile. With
the new cable in working order, We should
not have our European information oolored
to suit the tastes Of any particular country,
nor should We be liable to find many Of the
leading uses Of suoh communication closed
in tho event of political troubles. The now
wire would naturally increase our inde-
psndenee, ss wen as the amount Of intelli-
genes given, and it is altogether probable
that the competition would lessen the tolls
charged. In view Of these varied and i'm
portant considerations, it is hoped that the
opinion of Mr.. Hosr will not be allowed to
shape the policy of the government, and
that Maine and Massachusetts, may be
spared the modification of having to sub
NIT to denial Of privilege which they
themselves, in their capacity of sovereign
States, have already formally granted.
Should the event prove otherwise, we of
the South, at least, could afford to look on
with q certain grim satisfaction, while the
bitter cup of consolidation which the Old
Bay State has had so large share in mix
ing, is commended, with poetic justice, to
her own lips.