Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-23
WHOLE NO. 80.

the navigation and commerce of q. Brit
ain upon-the footing of the most taUortd
nation. TO have done thi. would have
admitted British shipping to import into
the United States, OH the same conditions
with native shipping, the productions of
any quarter OF the globe, ,oithoM a recip-
rocaI t'berty on The part Of The shipping Of
The United STATES ~ Brush ports. The
act itself was differently construed in diff
iercnt colonial ports of Great Britain; and
an order OF the local government of Hal
flax, closing that port against our vessels
from the 9th fJanuary, was subsequent
. ly revoked; thereby confirming the im-
preston that The act of parliament was
not intended to dispense with the previous
negotiation. And, to conclude this part
OF the narrative, as late as the Goth Oc-
tober 1896, Mr. Vaughan, the British
minister, upon being interrogated by the
then secretary of state, was totally unin-
structcd to afford any information as to
the meaning or intent Of the act of July,
1926.
Mean time, in March, 1896, more than
six months after the passage Of the act of
parliament, MIR. Vaughan notified the
department of state, that he had "receiv-
cd Instructions from his ma jesty's govern
ment to acquaint you that it is preparing
to proceed to the important negotiations
between that country and the United
States now placed in the hands Of the
American minister in London" #"*
1.-The negotiations will therefore be
Al 4 n = 4 Al
gotiations were spoken of, without excep-
ton of the colonial question, the most i'm
portant of them. If it had been intended
to withdraw that, no time could have been
more suitable to announce that intention;
but no such annuncation was made
MIR. Vaug han was informed that we also
would prepare for the negotiation, (inclu-
ding, of course, the colonial question: &
Mr.. Galiatin was accordingly shortly af-
ter sent out with full powers and instruc-
tons amicably to settle that question:
On his arrival in England, in the sum-
mer of 1895, he was told by the British
government that they would not negoti-
ate OH the colonial question:; that they
had made up their mind from the passage
of the act OF July, 1925, not to negotiate
about it; and he was informed by the sar-
castle Mr. Canning, that as we had fail
&c to accept the BOON, which the British
government had then offered, we were
then to late!
Such is the state of the case on which
the late secretary of state so authorlta-
lively pronounces judgment against his
own government for "Omitting to accept
the terms offered by the act of parliament
OF July, 1852 He adds, indeed, "af-
ter the subject had been brought before
congress, and deliberately acted upon by
our own government" 1t was brought
before cong ress ir the session Of 1856,
not at the instance of the American exec
utive, but upon the spontaneous and i'll
Judged motion Of the gentleman from
Maryland, (Mr. Smith, and MIR. Gala
tin was informed that if the bill proposed
by that gentleman had been passed, it
would have been unsatisfactory to tho
British government.
/ have another objection to this nomi-
nation. | believe, upon circumstances
which satisfy my mind, that to this gen
tleman is principally to be ascribed the
introduction of the odious system of pro-
scripion for the exercise of the elective
franchise, in the government of the Uni
ted States. | understand that 1t is tho
! system on which the party in his own
state, of which he is the reputcd head,
constantly acts. He was among the
first of the secretaries to apply that sys-
TEN to the dismission of clerks in his
| department, known to me to be high
ly mcritorious, and among them one who
| is now representative in the other house.
Ii is a detestable system, drawn from
the worst periods of the Roman Repub-
lie; and i it were to be perpetuated; if
the Offices, honors and dignities Of the
people were to be put up to scramble,
to be decided at every Presidential cleo
ton, our government aud institutions, be-
coming intolerable, would finally end in
| despotism as inexorable as that ut Con-
stantinople.
Sir, the necessity under which we arc
placed is painful. But it is no fault Of
the senate, whose consent and advice arc
required by the constitution to consum-
mate this appointment, that the minister
had been sent out of the u. States with
out their concurrence. l hope that the
public will not be prejudiced. And feel
perfectly assured that, if the government
to which he has been deputed shall learn
that he has been rejected because he has
there, by his Instructions to Mr.. M'LaDe,
stained the character Of our country, the
moral effect of our decision will greatly
outweigh any advantages to be derived
from his negotiations whatever they may
| lao.. .,,..IoJ 40 a.,