The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-21

In the British House OF Commons, on the LIST
| inst, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that if the resolu-
| ton upon the navigation laws should be agreed
to and reported that night, ha would propose to 90
| into Committee of Supply this day, so as to enable
| the honorable and learned member to bring on his
| motion with regard to the recent occurrences at
| Madrid. Should that not be the case, and the de-
bate be again adjourned, he would propose to con-
nue it to-day; in which case, should II be brought
| to close, he would move to go into Committee OF
Supply on Monday
The debate on the navigation laws was then
| resumed by MIR. MoFFATT, who commended that
their repeal would be found to be as beneficial to
the different interests of the country as had been
| the other notifications which had been recently
effected in our commercial system
| Mr.. Robinson opposed the proposition OF the
government, thinking that but the feeblest and
most inconclusive reasons had been advanced Tor
| the repeal of code of such transcendant import
ance. II was not called for by the country, nor
was it justified by any consideration OF justice or
| expediency He could not conceive why 1t was
that the government persisted IN the measure, I'M
| less it was that they had so far committed them
selves with their supporters, that they could not re.
cede. BY its recent Legislation Parliament had
ruined the colonies, and was now called upon to
| indemnify them at the expense OF the shipowners
| The honorable gentleman then defended the
| character and conduct of British masters and
mates, and read the letters of four of our consuls
in support of what he affirmed in their behalf. He
then attacked MIR. Ricardo, whom he compliments
ed, by telling him that he regarded hun "A no au-
|
of the Navigation Laws" work which, with the
exception of the historical facts which II con-
| tanned, was one tissue OF rbaldry and preJu-
| dice"
Mr.. mitchell, in supporting the measure, adduced
| a great number OF facts IN proof OF the charges
which had been laid against the masters OF British
| ships-charges from which he entirely exonerated
the captains of vessels engaged in the East India
and China trade, as indeed the long voyage trade
| generally. II afforded facilities to the i'm
portation of goods, this country would become the
| depot of the whole OF Europe.
| The Marquis of CRANKY could not understand
the euogy which the last speaker had passed upon
the captains of vessels engaged In the long voyage
trade, seeing, that by supporting the governmenthe
would deprive them of that trade, and conine them
to that OF the coast. The measure OF the govern
ment was iraught with danger to our commercial
| marine, and consequently TO that maritime superb
ority which was the chief of our strength.
| 1t was of no use blinking the point, could not
compete with foreign shipping. II It could be
| proved to hun that we could, he would abate his
| opposition to the proposal submitted to the House.
| How could we, when foreign ships were built for
half the cost of British vessels, and whilst they
could be manned and navlgated far more cheaply
| than ours The risks which they ran, and the
| dangers which they incurred by the repeal OF the
navigation laws, We're certain and great, whilst the
benefits TO from II were rltlng and conJec-
tural. There was necessity Tor such "A measure.
On the contrary the feeling OF the country was that
these laws should not be tempered with. lie trust
|
integrity.
Mr.. MuNER GIBSON, in briefly advertlng to the
speech of the noble lord, observed that the argu-
ments which he had used were par with those
which had been advanced on former occasions by
the party with which he acted, II II was unwlsc,
as the noble lord asserted II to be- TO embark upon
any more free trade experiments, II was Tar more
unwise to remain where they were, and having
exposed the colonial and agricultural interests to
unrestricted competition, now to refuse TO move
either backwards or forwards. More than once had
the Prote conlsts said that they would not object to
free trade, If all were alike subjected to IT, Sir
John Tyrell, speaking in their behalf, once said
that he would have no objection TO II II they
% would hold the dish even" That was what
they now proposed to do, by moving forward in
Justice TO those interests with which Parliament had
already dealt II the arguments used by the oppo
site party, to the effect that Engishmen could not
build or navigate ships well or so cheaply as
foreigners, was well founded, they would only urge
him all the more to enable English merchants, man.
uacturers and consumers to seek the aud OF foreign
ships, if it suited their convenience and their pock-
cts. IF Engshmen could build nothing better
than Chinese. Junk was that reason why they
should drive foreign ships from their ports The |
more inferior their ships were, the greater was
the necessity for applying to them the principle OF
competltlon But our ships were not inferior To |
those of the foreigner nor had we anything to APP
prehend from his competition. IL was now uni
versay admitted that the navigation laws could /
not stand as they were; but they were told that, |
in altering them, they must not surrender the fun
damenal principle which lay at their foundation, |
and was the basis OF our naval greatness. But |