Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-04-16

distinguished statesmen, whose report we shal
have occasion particularly TO notice. After the
European war was over, Great Britain still, for
a time pursued her old measures, and continued
to augment her duties. But il was not long DO.
fore she discovered the folly of such u course,
and returned to the sound commercial policy of
Mr.. Pitt. Mr.. fIuskisson, under the adninistra.
ton of Mr.. Canning, proposed inportan, chang
es IN the colonial and commercial system of
Great Britain. The Ministry commence 10.
gislative war against those ancient anJ stubborn
prcjudices in favor of prohibitions which had
closed narrowed almost every channel of
trade. They wisely and steadily persepered till
they reduced the duty ON wool, iron, silk, cot.
ton, and their manuiactures-nay, on almost ev.
cry raw material and manufactures, without ro-
gard to foreign competitien, and i'm spite of the
ontcries and remonstrances Of the woo,growers.
iron masters, and manufacturers, who, according
to their own wise calculations were to be inevi-
tably ruined by enabling tho British people to
live cheaper, and BY substituting free trade for
restrlctions-new life for le,hatgyg The state.
ment No. 6. shows what changes have been
made by parliament since the war. The alaru-
ed capitalists of that country were astonished
to see silk, wool, iron---a raw materials and
Observation-Disclosures and foreign indiscrimin-
iely--exporiod and imported ; the consumption
and expectation of foreign and British produce
lions greater than before new channels Of
trade opened old ones enlarged and importa-
lions increased and that all these things should
exist without making them bankrupt. The shin
owners denounced the ministry; British navi.
gauon' according to their sage predictions.
would be ruined if the colonies were permitted
to enjoy the liberty of ,eading with foreign ma
tons The most calamitous consequences would
result from brushing away their ancient colon.
al restrictions, and the naval glory of Great
Britain would be extinguished forever. Minis.
ters were, however, inexorahle, tho colonies
were emancipatcd; and TO their establishment.
Dr'tish navigation increased in every branch
which had been liberated, MISUNDERSTANDING The
ioua remonstrances and melancholy predictions
OF The shipping interest. And what was still
more strange to them, their navigation increas-
ed least with those colonies which their selfish
counsels had aided in retaining in colonial vas.
salago While the navigation Of Great Britain
with her emancipated Northern provinces in.
s'"ased from S6,247 to 4oO,s4l tons, the tonnage
employed In trading between the mother coun.
try and all her West India colonies. beqan in
lol4, at 242 ,OS? and ended, in 1923, at 272 500
'he three previous years averaging actually less
.han The tonnage of lSl4. See No T. The
last victory gained by the people of England
over an aristocracy ignorant of their own sub.
s'ahHal interest, was a material modification of
the corn laws /; the most obnoxious absurd;tv
mong all the wild speculatons of the mercan.
tile system. These were approached gradually
iear aiteT year, under various pretexts author.
NY was given for the partial admission of bond.
ca gram, at length the barriers were broken
down, and grain was admitted on certain con.
Idtions; and although still at high rates, thew
are yet lar more moderate than most of our du.
ues Inc farmers of Great Britain will soon
discover that their apprehensons were as III
founded as the alarming predictions of The ship.
plhg interest. 1t never yet injured any branch
OF industry, in any country to lessen the cost
Oh supplying the wants of the people. The
comfort and happiness of no people were ever
hostile to the wealth and security of the aristoc.
racy These fundamental CHANGES In her ,o,;.
cy nave regenerated the British Empire, given
Woe range 10 her commerce, and an active
Impulse 10 her power and RESOURCES, infinitely
more beneficial to that nation, than any cues.
able honor she might have acquired, in an at.
tempt to limit the boundaries of an emnire
reaching through half the longitude of the
globe, or IN an alliance tn perpetuate the domin.
ION OF an uren!ightened and absolute govern.
ment over the commerce of nations with the
rich countries Of Euxne'
(To be continued)