The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-01

rived from that part Of the System which con.
csrned the indirect trade but whether they wsrs
to embark upon war Of retaliation with every
country in the world, or by timely concessions to
do more for the prosperity Of British trade than
based upon narrow and jealous distinctions. From
Prussia had already come roice of parning COM
merefa! treaty Duh which pswer pas about to expire
From .4meri too, had come roice, not Of menace
bat Of charlottesville precise nature Of which the right
hon gentleman explained by referring to the cores
pondence which had passed last August between Mr.
Bancroft and Lord Palmerston. If ,re did a little in
the vay Of relocation, dmerica ouid do but little also
j ICE did much, america you'd do mueh-D we did ALL
.imerica cas also prepared TO do all Having stated
the law as it now Stood and his for believing
that it could longer be safely maintained on its
present footing the right hon. gentleman proceeded
to state the alterations which her
about to propose. There were some portions of
the system in which it was not proposed to effect any
material alteration. 1t was not his intention to pro-
pose any material change with regard to the coasng
trade Foreigners were, by nature itself, practically
excluded from participating in that trade that to
permit them by law to do so, would be accompanied
with but little amount of good With regard to the
coastng trade Of the colonies he proposed to
British shipping in the same manner as the coast
ing trade Of the mother country, with this exception
hat each colony would be at liberty, whenever it
thought fit by act Of its Parliament to throw open its
coastng trade to foreign countries to which act the
consent Of the Crown would be necessary in short to
allow each colony to deal with its own coastng trade
1t might think t For similar reasons but stronger
in this case in their applcation-he did not intend to
make any change in that part of the system which re-
proposed to deal in large and general manner with
the remainder Of the system which this country had
no real interest in retaining upon her statutebook
He therefore proposed to strike from the statute book
all those restrictions which characterized the remain
der Of the system. In other words, the intention Of
the government was, with the exceptions aobve alluded
to- regarded the fisheries and the coasting trade to
throw open to competition the whole navigation of
this country Of every sort, and description But he
would ut the time advise the House not to deprive
the Queen in Council of that power which she
possessed of imposing countervailng duties. if she
might treat shpowners with injustice-that it
not intended that this power should be obligatory
upon the Crown Such were the views of government
with regard to the navigation laws properly called
There other connected with the subject
to which it would be necessary to call the ate non of
the Housemeasres Affecting the character OF British
vessels as to their ownership, their build and their
manning. In exposing British shipowners to unre
strcted competition, 1t but reasonable that they
should afford them every facility for obtaining their
vessels in the cheapest manner. He therefore pro-
posed to do away with that restriction, which at
present limited the right Of acquiring British
giser to British built ship by enabling ship built
cad, If purchased by British subject, to acquire
applicable to nership he did not intend to make any
alteration in them, although there anoma-
lies connected with this part Of the subject which he
proposed to Nor was 1t intended to introduce
any change into the system of manning the govern
ment proposing leave still necessary that British
ship engaged in the coasting trade should have her
entirely composed of British seamen, and that
ships engaged in the foreign trade should still have
threefourths Of their crews consisting of British sea-
men. 1t was also proposed to admit Indian sea-
men. such IS Lascars, to the character Of British
seamen With regard to the question of apprentices,
it was proposed to abrogate the necessity which now
devolved upon British ship of taking apprentices.
This obligation which he believed to be Of
most burdensome character, whilst 1t utterly
failed to accomplish It's professed object 1t drove able
bodied scanned ont Of our ships that boys might be in
PRODUCED into Them the former being driven to seek
employment in the American marine and elsewhere.
So far then, from securing its protested object this
regulation which had exactly contrary ten
dency, in driving away from our marine those able
la6 IN InlhQ Wpa N dad m in
crease 1t was proposed therefore to leave the ship
owner free In future to employ men or boys. as he
might think MT Such was the general outline Of the
measure which the government proposed to submit to
the House. He was conscious that the proposition
from which he apprehended no injury to our COM
mercial marine. When MIR. Husksson proposed his COM
mercal changes the representations Of evil from them
were abundant not ono Of which had been realized ;
and it would turn out with similar representations
which might be INDUCED in with reference to the
changes proposed. fthey compared their protect
with their unprotected shipping they would ind no
thing to discourage them from proceeding in the course
now submitted Nor did he apprehend that there was
any danger of the British ship building interest suf
fering from the proposition. He then to OBJ
lection which had great weight with many-that the
abrogaton of tho navigation laws would be destructive
of the military marine and naval greatness of England
He not prepared to 20 the length of those who
might that there was no necessary connection
between a large maratime commerce and great naval
power. But would they. by the changes which he pro-
posed compromise or injurously affect, their maratme
commerce II no thought that such would be the
he would dread the result regarded the naval
power Of the country. But he did not be-
leve that such would be the case with regard to
commercial marine, he could not how it
was possible that our military marine should suf-
fer. And whilst he was confident that there
danger In the changes proposed he every dan
ger in the existence of the present system The
nun ications received from consuls from almost
all parts Of globe showed that great detrme
to our mercantile marine from the low character Of
shipmasters and mates their want Of skill and capaci-
ty. and Of decent standard Of morality. This
evil which it necessary something mitigate
He proposed to submit in addition, two ether
respecting light dues and the other for the regu
laton Of the Merchant Seaman ms Fund The right no.
norable gentleman then concluded by respectfully
CONNIE uding the measure which he ab~ut to pro-
pose to the anxious elaboration Of parliament 1t
cial every interest in the country and to
than to the shipping interests Of the empire. He
then submitted the resolution on which the is
to be founded.
Several questions then put. which replied
to by the right honorable gentleman; after which
Nh GLADSTONE put some questions with regard to tho
fisheries the education Of young persons for seafaring
life. the examination of masters and mates, and such
communications as the government might have had
with other foreign nries in addition to Prussia and
the United States with view to getting them to
operate with us in the relaxation Of the navigation
laws
In answer to these questions,
Mr. LABeucHERE replied that, were the measure car
ricd, it would be in the power of foreign vessels
gagged in the doepsea fishing to bring OIL the produce
of tho fisheries to this country, and that the govern
ment had not deemed it expedient to make any
lures to foreign powers until the intention of Parla
mcnt on the subject known. As to the examina-
ton of masters and mates, voluntary system of ex
animation in vogue, and with the most bene
fetal effects. As this voluntary system working
WELL he disposed to give 1t further trial before
he asked the House to make the examination compul
sorry As to the education Of young persons for
seafaring life. he attached to it the greatest i'm
portance, and would be glad to the House,
fitting opportunity taking steps to promote it.
The eectuay to watch the interests of the
commercial marine, he proposed to constitute new
department in connection with the Board of Trade
to be called the Department Of Commercial Marine.
Mr.. ROBINSON regarded the time MS inaptly chosen
for making such alteration in the navigation laws
The of sufficient Importance to justify its
postponement till next session.
MIR HUME thanked the Cover mt for the introduce
ton Of the measure, the exceptions to which were in
his judgment Of but little moment.
Lord c. BESrISoK could not join Mr.. Hume in thank
ing the Government for the proposition which 1t had
Just submitted. He had heard important
founded poor n case. No desire for such
sweeping change had been shown to exist, IL
pretended that reights high s0mcn scarce 1t