The New York herald., 1870-11-14

Word TO Our Congressmen.
Although the Congressional delegation from
the city Of New York elected on Tuesday last
do not take their seats until the assembling of
the next Congress-, which may be over year
hence, we do not consider it untimely to give
them few words Of advice. In the mean
time we will say that we have no reason to
think that the delegation as it stands in the
present Congress-, which meets on the first
Monday in December next, will waver in their
fidelity to the measure we are about referring
to.
That measure is the act allowing Americans
to buy steamships at any port in which they
can purchase them the cheapest. Further
more that Congress authorize the transfer of
American registers to foreign bottoms when
ever American merchants may deem it their
interest SO to do. IF this law had passed at the
last session of Congress, and it undoubtedly
would, had it not been for the "ilibuster-
ing of a member Of the Senate (Bayard, of
Delaware and the Wilmington Iron Works.
and member Of the House (Potter, of New
York and the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany), who contrived to procrastinate legisla-
ton until the hammers of the presiding officers
fell and Congress finally adjourned-had this
law passed ct the last session, we say, the
American flag would now float over steam
marine more extensive than it ever foated
over before, and American merchants would be
realizing benefit from one Of the most profit
able transatlantic traffics that has arisen since
the republic was established The steamships
of the Bremen and Hamburg lines alone-all,
with possibly one or two exceptions, first class
vessels Of two thousand five hundred tons and
upwards each-comprise a feet of twenty
seven steamships. They could all have been
transferred to the American flag in twink
ling had not Congress stupidity prevented it.
This great addition to American commerce
would have given an impulse to our trade with
foreign nations that would have inspired our
people with the hope that American CONNER
cial enterprise had not entirely faded out, and
in the end infused new vigor into that essen
tial element Of American industry. American
shipbuilding itself. "Competition is the life
of trade," and with the North German mer-
camille fleet sailing upon American bottoms
and under American colors the commerce of
the world would have been amazed at the
magical transformation and given the
"Yankees" the credit of being really the
'ssmartest nation in creation" Seriously, the
law which came so near passing at the last
session of Congress should be urged again at
the earliest hour of the assembling of the
next session and pressed to its ultimate pas
sage without fear or favor toward any class of
interested parties. The present delegation
from this city are bound in honor to press the
measure to fnality, no matter what obsta-
cles the gentleman from New Rochelle"
Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter, may throw in its way.
But suppose this important measure should
again fail-and we sincerely trust it will not
what is the duty of the members elect to the
Forty-second Congress? Three Of this
delegation will be new members-to w.t.
Messrs. Roosevelt, Roberts and Ely, Jr.-
who will be joined by two new members from
the first and second districts, Messrs. Dwight
Townsend (of Queens) and Kinsella (of Kings),
the interests of whose constituents are identi-
cal with those of New York These new
members will have as mentor and counsellor
veteran in legislation like Fernando Wood,
with such adopts in the ways of Congress-
which, like the ways of the "heathen Chinee,"
are ''very peculiar"-as S. S. Cox and James
Brooks. Thus, from the First district to the
Ninth inclusive, comprising nearly one-third
of the Congressional delegation of the State,
the ''free trade in ships" project should meet
hearty and Influential support. Then will
be the time for Mr.. Roosevelt to make his
mark as useful legislator, just as he has
already made it as useful journalist and an
estimable citizen. 1t will be the same with
Mr.. Roberts, who will have something besides
Feniansm to attend to- Mr.. Smith Ely, Jr.,
with his accustomed good sense, viii come to
the rescue with energies revived and courage
renewed. Mr.. Townsend and Mr. Kinsella. as
we'll as General Slocum, old member from the
Third (Brooklyn) district will each have their
duty to perform when any measure comes be-
fore them calculated to promote the great OBJ
ject in view. If we cannot have free trade in
almost everything-and we believe it would be
capital thing for the whole country il we
ceuld-let us, at least, help along American
ommerce-languishing as it is at this time,
almost unto death-by securing so great
point as establishing 'free trade in ships"
Archbishop Spalding ON the Roman Ques-
| We publish this morning report of the