The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-13
SARDINIA.

Niles as the American Charge d'Afiaires at the
Court of The King of Sardinia. This we be-
lieve is mistake, although we know that Mr..
Niles succee ed two or three years since Ia me-
gotiatng a very favorable commercial treaty
with the Sandman government Another gen.
teman we believe appointed Charge, but,
if we mistake not the Office is now vacant.
The treaty with Sardinia is i'll one particular
more liberal in the privileges which it comedies
TO the commerce of this country, if we do rot
err in our recollection, than any which has been
entered into with any European power. Be
sides securing an entire equality and reciprocity
of privileges 10 the navigation OF the two ma
tons in their respective ports, so that vessels OF
the United States are permitted to carry to the
ports of the Kingdom of Sardinia the produce
not only of this country, but of other countries,
on the same terms, and subject to the payment
of the same duties, as are charged on like pro-
duce imported in Sandman vessels, 1t secures
further for the benefit of American shipping, the
free transit of American produce, and merchan-
disc destined to the United States, through the
continental territories of Sardinia, to and from
the port of Genoa, which for this purpose is
free port This stipulation is in the following
words eAll articles of commerce, the growth
or manufacture of the United States of Ameri-
ca, and the products of their fisheries, with the
exception of salt, gunpowder and tobacco manu-
featured for use, shall be permitted to pass in
transtu from the free port of Genoa through the
territories of his Sandman Majesty, to any point
of the inland frontier Of the said territories, and
vice versa, all articles of commerce coming from
any point Of the Sandman inland frontier des-
tined for the United States shall be permitted to
pass the territories of his Sandman Majesty to
the free port of Genoa, without being liable to
the payment of any duty whatever, levied In
the name or TO the profit of the Government, the
local authorities, or any private establishment
L H. tha,x waErT ffs
meet the expenses of the necessary precaution-
airy measures against smuggling, which precau-
tionary measures, to be observed in regard to
transit to the frontier, shall be the same whether
the said articles of commerce are imported by
the vessels of the one or Of the other of the high
contracting parties"
We are not aware that our merchants have
taken advantage of this stipulation TO any con-
siderable extent; yet from the position and
the wants of the countries accessible by this
route, we should presume that it might become
the means of effecting beneficial extension of
American trade. 1t is probable that the provl-
sion of the treaty is little known at least that
few of our merchants are acquainted with the
methods Of availing themselves of 1t. Had Mr..
Niles, whose intelligence and sagacity were in
strumental in procuring this provision of the
treaty, been appointed to watch over the execu-
ton of il, we doubt not he would have been
alike instrumental in rendering it beneficial to
our commerce. We doubt not there are pro-
ducts of our industry which might be advan-
tageously introduced to the interior of the Euro
pean continent through this channel, and it
would be gratifying to see American enterprise
employed in prosecuting successful traffic in
this quarter. To encourage such enterprises II
is necessary not only that favorable treaties
should be made, but that the men appointed TO
represent our government, and to watch over
the interests of our countrymen, should be intel
lgent, active, and persevering. They should
make themselves acquainted with the state, and
the wants of trade in those countries, and be
ready at all times to communicate authentic IN
formation. They should be able to communi-
cate with those with whom they are required TO
hold intercourse, in the language of the country
which they trade, and thus capable OF readily
ACQUIRING the information necessary 10 qualify
them for the efficient discharge of their duties.
Such man, we believe, was Mr.. Niles, who
pegociated the treaty above named, and who
was previously employt in a successful nego-
tiation with the government OF Austria. we
know not why be was not appointed, after the ra-
tfcation of the treaty, to the situation ofCharge
d'Affairs, for which he had shown himself so
well qualified. 1t was probably because the
place was wanted for some other person, on the
principle on which our foreign agencies are too
apt to be filed.
We have made these remarks, not so much
with special reference to this particular case,
which perhaps may not be one Of any great
consequence. We allude to it as an example of
what we think has often been great oversight
in our government, in their selection Of men to
represent them abroad, of choosing them rather
with reference to their influence and standing
at home, than to their capacity for rendering
service abroad. We might name instances of
the striking wart of adaptation to the stations
which they have filled, in number Of our To-
reign ministers. The government surely does
not consult the true interest, the credit OF the
country, in sending such men to represent us
abroad, and we trust that the new admnistra'
ton in filling such stations, will take care to Sc
lect men of capacity and experience, and with
reference exclusively to their qualifications for
the place, instead of their political influence, or
their services in support of the administration at
home-Boston Daily Patriot