The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-29


posture of affairs in Europe, be of the most abb
sorbing interest.
Our Relations with Brazil.
We learn from an authentic source that an or
der has just been issued from the Treasury De-
partment at Washington, requiring the collec-
tors at the different ports of entry to levy duty
of twenty per cent upon coffee imported from
Brazil, in the vessels of that nation.
If there is authority for this, we have
some curiosity to know why 1t has not
been put in force before this, and why it is en-
forced at this particular juncture. If is merely
for revenue, it will not amount to much, as very
little coffee is imported into this country from
Brazil in Brazilian bottoms. There is Bra
lillian vessel now in Boston with coffee, and
another in Philadelphia, but this is an unu-
sual occurrence, and is attributed to the scarcity
of American shipping at Rio Janeiro, and other
Brazilian ports.
We have no commercial treaty with Brazil,
and the commercial intercourse Of the two ma
tons is regulated by the tariffs of each. We
have not heretofore been aware that there existed
authority for such restrictions upon the COM
merce of Brazil with the United States, and in
the absence of anything definite as to the object
of enforcing the law, we are induced to believe
that the recent acts OF the Brazilian government,
relative to our whaling vessels visiting their
ports have been the principal cause of this move
ment on the part of ours
The Question OF COmpromise-ItsI Importance
to the Union.
There are cheering indications of a more
moderate tone Of feeling at the South as well as
At the North, on the slavery question, as con-
nected with the acquisition of the CALIFORNIA;.
The Wilmot proviso, so violently thrown in the
teeth of Southern men, last session, drove
them, in the height Of evaporation, to an equal
ly impracticable extreme. Many, and among
them Mr.. Calhoun, declared against the Mis-
souri, compromise. But if a serious resistance
to the extension OF the compromise line to Cali
fornia was ever contemplated by Mr. Calhoun,
and those who acted with him, there is reason to
believe that the recent frank declaration of Mr..
Buchanan against the proviso, followed by the
very general approval of his sentiments by the
press of the North, has softened the asperities
of feeling which have existed at the South ever
since this ill-advised doctrine was first promul-
gated.
Many of the more influential journals of the
South, among them the reputed organ OF Mr..
Calhoun, have recently declared their approval
of the extension of the Missouri compromise
line, as means of adjusting the difficulty raised
in regard to the further acquisition of territory.
Why, then, open up this question anew. if the
South be willing that it be decided on the basis
of the Missouri compromise
The position has been assumed that the con-
stitution itself was a result of compromise, and
that with its establishment all compromise was
at an end. Wherefore =! II is true the constitu-
ton was the result OF compromise; but why
should compromise cease with its formation I!
If the wise men who framed it had been averse
TO the perpetuation of the system of compromise,
they would not have built upon that system an
instrument, which they intended to transmit to
posterity as the ark OF the covenant made be-
tween the several members of the confederacy.
In that instrument they set lasting example OF
compromise and it is fair to assume that they
would not have done 30 had they regarded such
an example az dangerous. To argue that, be-
cause the constitution was the result Of compro-
mise therefore all compromise should cease
from its establishment, would involve as great
an absurdity as that, because this fair world was
created by a harmonious combination and ar
rangement of the various elements of its organi-
cease on earth, and the example set by the Crea-
tor, in the formation of the universe, should not
be followed by his creatures in their daily inter-
course with each other.
The whole machinery of this government of
ours is regulated and works on system of COM
promise. The very revenues that maintain it are
derived from tariff, which is practical .exem-
plifcation of this spirit. The laws of the Gen.
eral Government are framed with an impartial
regard to the interests Of every portion Of the
country; but the interests of different Sec
tons of the country are adverse each to the other
therefore impartial laws must involve mutual
accommodation and compromise. 1t will no,
be contended that what suits Massachusetts, il
for the interest Of South Carolina, or what il
pleasing to Maine is equally so to Louisiana
The habits of the people, their feelings, their In
terests, their occupations are different, and mus
ever remain so. Laws framed specifically to sui
each must consequently be Numerically opposit,
in their aim and character. Therefore, in order t.
do equal justice to both sections, mutual conces
sion must enter as primary element into al
laws Of the General Government. This mutual
concession is what is commonly known by the
name Of compromise
II, then, into the formation of laws regulating
commerce and other domestic concerns, this
thing, called compromise of necessity enters pri-
marily, 1t should also enter into the formation of
laws relating to slavery, for the reason that the
North and the South differ as much on that
question as on any other. But difference of
opinion on questions of commerce and other
cognate questions, does not involve danger of a
dissolution of the Union. Difference of opinion
on the slavery question does therefore, a ma
jore, should compromise enter into the adjudica-
ton OF all questions relating to slavery.
Accordingly, prudent statesmen ofthe Nortl