The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-10-03 00:00:00

TUESDAY

MORNING, OCT. 3, 1854.

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

Ir, amidst the exciting incidents of war in

Europe, we can turn our attention across the
Atlantic, the treaty which has just been concluded
for reciprocal trade between the United States and
the British possessions in North America will be
deemed of the highest importance. Ever since
the declaration of American independence, the
right of fishing on the shores of the British
Colonies has formed a fertile subject of dispute, at
times proceeding so far as almost to threaten war
between the two countries, and requiring the con-
stant presence of armed vessels in order to restrain
the encroachments which were of repeated occur-
rence. By a convention, made in October, 1818,
the Americans were allowed to fish on certain
parts of the British coasts, provided they did not
come within three miles of the shore. This
arrangement might have been supposed to be
sufficiently clear for all practical purposes ; but it
seems that while the British construed it to mean
an exclusion from all bays and harbours, by making
the boundary three miles from the mouth of each
harbour, the• Americans alleged that it only meant
an exclusion beyond three miles from the shore of
each bay. All causes of difference have now been
set aside by the treaty which has been entered into,
and which it is to be hoped will prove mutually
advantageous, tending not only to avert the causes
of quarrel, which before were of such frequent

occurrence, but, by reciprocity of trade,
those benefits to both countries which cannot fail
to result from the interchange of comm

,dities and

commercial relations.
By the first article of the Treaty, the ratifications

of which were exchanged at Washington, on the
9th ult., and which has just been published by the
President of the United States, the inhabitants of
that country shall, in common with British sub-
jects, have liberty to fish on the sea-coasts of any
part of the British North American Colonies ; and
also to land for the purpose of curing fish, or dry-
ing their nets, provided they do not interfere with
private property or the rights of British fisher-
men—such rights to be decided by Commissioners
chosen by each Government. The right of fishing,
however, is not to extend to rivers or their mouths,
or to shell-fish. By the second article, British
subjects are allowed to fish on the coasts of the
United States, north of the 36th parallel of north
latitude, under similar conditions and restrictions.
By the third article, a variety of articles, consisting
chiefly of the products of the sea, the forest and
the soil, are to be admitted into each country
respectively free of duty, so that the British Colo-
nists will have a free market for their cured fish
and agricultural products. By the fourth article,
the inhabitants of the United States shall have
liberty to navigate the River St. Lawrence and the
Canals in Canada, upon payment of the same tolls
as are levied upon British subjects ; the latter shall
have full liberty to navigate Lake Michigan, and
no export duty shall be levied on lumber or timber,
cut in America and floated down the River St.
John, when shipped from New Brunswick to the
United States. The fifth article provides, that the
froaty shall take Pffeet as germ ac the necessary
laws to carry it into operation have been passed by
the several Legislatures interested ; and that it
shall continue in force for ten years, and further,
until after twelve months,-notice for its termination
shall have been given by either of the contracting
parties. The sixth article has reference to the
Island of Newfoundland, and the seventh refers to
the exchange of ratifications.
It will thus be seen that, while there are con-
cessions on both sides, there are also advantages to
be gained, which far outweigh those which are
surrendered. If the British Colonists admit
American fishermen to their coasts, they obtain a
valuable market for their cured fish and surplus
agricultural products, from which they have,
hitherto, been excluded by protective duties. On
the other hand, if the Americans surrender the
navigation of Lake Michigan, they obtain that of
the River St. Lawrence and the Canals of Canada
upon equal terms with British subjects. Some-
thing may be anticipated from the preservation of
good understanding which is likely to arise from
the commercial intercourse which this measure will
promote ; but the Canadians will find a considerable
advantage from being enabled to dispose of their
breadstuffs and other productions to such near
neighbours ; so that we may anticipate an additional
stimulus will be given to the rapid strides which
are now being made in this, which is one of the
most important of the British possessions.
As the advantages of Canada, as a place of
settlement, become more known, emigration in
that direction is rapidly increasing, and we may
look forward to the day being not far distant when
its rich agricultural fields will furnish the greater
portion of our additional supplies of breadstuffs,
and its inhabitants prove the most valuable
customers for our exports. a The highway for
speedy communication has been opened by the
Canadian Steam Navigation Company, whose
engagements have hitherto been kept with laud-
able punctuality ; and now, that much of the cause
of disquietude has been removed by the Treaty to
which we have referred, it is but reasonable to
anticipate a still more rapid progress. Should
these hopes be realised, the Reciprocity Treaty will
form one of the valuable State documents upon
which modern statemauship may build a reputation.

LOCAL PORT CHARGES

THE report of the Commissioners who were
appointed to inquire into the subject of local
charges on Shipping has not given that satisfac-
tion which should result from any improvement
where the necessity for it is admitted. As the
substance of the recommendations will be found in
another column, we, therefore, need only briefly to
allude to them here. It will be observed that,
notwithstanding the number of them, the first is
by far the most important, inasmuch as it proposes
to vest the control of each public harbour in a
single body of Conservators, to whom all existing
rights and privileges are to be transferred. In
considering a question of this kind, it is difficult to
disconnect from it the probable results upon exist-
ing interests, and to oppose any scheme which will
interfere with advantages at present enjoyed.
Where there is, however, a practical benefit to be
gained, it is indispensable that such considerations
should be set aside, or otherwise no improvement
of any value can be carried out. It may be that
the recommendations of the Commissioners will
involve the loss of certain rights at present en-
joyed by local authorities in this port ; but the
question, after all, resolves itself into a point
which the Commissioners do not appear to have
touched, and that is as to the constitution or
appointment of the proposed Board of Conservators.
If the appointment should be made by the Execu-
tive Government, without any reference to local
peculiarities, or the wants and wishes of those
most directly interested, the proposal involves a
degre6 of injustice which cannot be too firmly
opposed. But, on the other hand, if the Conser-
vators should be chosen from those most competent,
by long experience and local knowledge, to act
efficiently and with scrupulous regard to existing
privileges, the scheme may operate to the advan-
tage of the Shipping interest, by reducing and
equalising port charges, as well as strictly defining
them. It will be observed, that it is proposed to
abolish passing tolls and all exclusive privileges, to
separate harbour dues and debts from those be-
longing to municipal purposes, and to make such
revision of tariffs, from time to time, as may be
justified by change of circumstances. Whether or
not such changes will prove beneficial, must depend
in a great measure on the selection of the Board
of Conservators, and this point will, consequently,
be found to be of the most importance.

THE WAR-DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS,

GREAT VICTORY IN THE CRIMEA

EVERY day during the past week, the public
have been looking with almost unreasonable impa-
tience for intelligence from the East, of the long-
expected attack on Sebastopol, by the allied army
in the Crimea, and the anxiety has been kept alive
by occasional mysterious reports received by electric
telegraph of victories over the Russian forces.
The first point at which any resistance was anti
cipated by the troops under the Russian general-
Prince MENscHIKOFF, is where the road from the
landing-place to the fortress crosses the river Alma;
but it appears that, owing to an =expected delay
of two days in the arrangements for moving the
allied army, a corresponding delay has taken place
in the receipt of intelligence of further operations.
We have now, however, a telegraphic despatch
from the British ambassador, at Constantinople,
stating that on the 20th ult. the allied army attacked
the Russians, who were posted on the heights of
Alma to the number of 50,000, and, after a san-
guinary conflict, in which about 1,400 of the Eng-
lish and as many of the French were killed or
wounded, the Russians fled from the field, leaving
a few prisoners in the hands of the allies. This
important intelligence was received by the govern-
ment late on Saturday evening, and immediately

published in a London Gazette Extraordinary.
In making the announcement, the Duke of NEW-
CASTLE cautions the public against expecting any
details for several days, as he fears none can be
received before the 6th of October. Notwith-
standing this warning, we have intelligence from
Boulogne that• on Saturday the EMPEROR, while
on the field, received a despatch, after reading
which, he turned round to his generals and the
troops, and said, " Sebastopol is taken." Another
account from Vienna states that Sebastopol was
invested on all sides on the 25th, and, after a
short but sanguinary contest, was compelled to
surrender, and it is stated that the Russian fleet
immolated itself in the harbour. It is possible
that these latter accounts may be anticipatory of
a result which is deemed all but certain ; at the
same time there is some probability of their truth,
as the news of the surrender of Sebastopol might
reach Bucharest in almost as short a time as it
would arrive at Constantinople, while from the
capital of Wallachia the means of communication
by way of Vienna is much shorter than from the
capital of Turkey. But if we confine our attention
to the victory which forms the subject of the
official announcement in the London Gazette, there
is sufficient cause for congratulation in the simple
fact that the troops of the Western Powers have
at length been brought into collision with those
of the Russian Autocrat, and with such damaging
' effect that the-Crimea is lost to Russia. Whether
the remainder of the intelligence, which comes
through another channel, is or is not true, there
is little doubt as to the ultimate success of the
enterprise, and we may imagine the desperate
strait in which Prince MENSCHIROFF is placed,
cut off from all resource both by sea and land, and
thus doomed apparently to certain destruction,
unless indeed he should outmanoeuvre the enemy,
and, making a rush for the isthmus at Nekerop,
leave Sebastopol and the Russian fleet to the fate
which awaits them.

It is, perhaps, one of the most gratifying cir-
cumstances connected with the present war, that
its operations impose no restrictions on our com-
merce, involve none of the expense and delay of
convoy for our merchant ships, and require no
additional premiums for marine insurance, or the
important clause " warranted free of capture."
Were it otherwise, we might fancy a growing im-
patience for peace on any reasonable terms, but
fortunately no such excuse can be pleaded for not
pushing the war to extremity with vigour, in order
that its real object may be completely gained.
War is at all times to be avoided for obvious rea-
sons, dictated alike by religion and by human
policy ; but, when the necessity is urgent, and
peaceful negotiation has been stretched beyond the
verge of forbearance, it then becomes as positive a
duty to use every exertion to render the appeal to
arms effectual, even for the sake of humanity and
the economy of human life. It was the wise and
judicious advice of the great master of the age,
the Duke of WELLINGTON, to enter into no little
war, but to do everything on a scale commensurate
with the greatness of the nation, so that the mag-
nitude of the blow may ensure its success, and
render unnecessary its repetition. It must be re-
membered that we are not fighting to maintain the
ascendancy of Mahommedanism in Turkey, but to

resist the aggressions of the CZAR of Russia,
whose inordinate ambition, had it been permitted
to go much longer unchecked, would have brought
Turkey within its grasp, seized upon Constanti-
nople, cony

ted the Mediterranean, like the Baltic
_
Sea, into a Russian lake, and step by step reduced
the rest of Europe to the same despotic tyranny,
with the fanatical view of extending that gross
superstition, which, under the name of clristia-

TUESDA

OCTOBER 3, 1854.

pity, deifies the Autocrat of all the
Russian'
her P
he
therefore, with the more regret we
?a witnes
the sue,
poverty of action of the Baltic fleet, al to
placed magnanimity which has allowed Prlissi'rts
coquet with pretended neutrality, wbile fr°oo
have been used to shield Russian commerce
the restrictions which the blockade of toss
a
ports in the Baltic was intended to effect; „btea
sailors and soldiers will display their ullut our
courage and risk their lives to little purpose, their
rulers fail to take every advantage within , •rit3
power ; and it is, therefore, that just comPialhicy
are made of the apparent insincerity with sr
the war has been conducted.
ii