The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-24

cauafion, the accidental juxaposition Of hcts ant
events for the necessary and absolute connection
of cause and effect. Thus, the naval greatness o.
England dates from the days of the commonwealth
| and protectorate of Cromwell. The navigation
laws had their origin in the same epoch. Hence
many, On these very slender foundations, conclude
that - navigation laws are the cause and agent,
Of British maritime enterprise and naval conse
quence Forgetting that other nations have OBJ
tanned the supremacy of the seas without any re-
strictons on foreign vessels bounty to home ships
statesmen especially English statesmen = have
fixed their eyes on the history of the British islands
and drawn general deductions from single and very
peculiar example, Our early Legislators were much
under the influence of British facts and British
opinions; and in endeavorng to lay the foundations
of a new and vast naval power, they had recourse
to British presidents and British expedients.
Adam Smith, about the time the American colo
MES declared their independence of the British
empire put forth strong and irrefutabe argument
in favor of the doctrine of free-trade and since
then, men have been slowly travelling towards the
point at which the iustrious economist aimed in
his Wealth of Nations" The repeal of the navi-
CATION laws is but branch of the great subject OF
free-trade and since the abolition of the corn laws
a leading member of Parliament, Mr.. Labouchere,
has been attempting to carry the reform into the
shipping statutes. The London journals tell us that
MIR. Labouchere's movement promises to be sue
cessful and MIR. Labouchere himself, in answer
ing some questions put to him by an opposing men,
Der, has informed, us that the American Minister,
Mr. Bancroft, declared his opinion that the Govern
ment of the United States would, at any time, enter
into reciprocity treaty with Great Britain in regard
to free navigation and unrestricted maritime inter-
course. Some American journals have represented
this statement of Mr.. Bancroft, as highly improper,
and IN fact unconstitutional asserting that under
the gulse Of treaty. such agreements as he speaks Of
would be virtual repeal of our navigation laws and
that he might well talk of modifying the tariff by
treaty stpulations But this is hardly fair treaty
is a contract between two nations and the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, has full power to enter into such contract
A law OF Congress is contract between the citi-
zens OF the United States, individually and col
lected in various separate soveregntes; and such
law, when it has reference to our foreign relations
bears equally on all foreign Governments! Now, a
treaty, being special contract between us and one
or more nations, cannot be made unless by modify
ing some Congressional law which regulates our
i
of the essence of treaty to be special and is as to
nauons OF the nature of an act for the private relief
OF single individual. The treaty. on certain cond
tons, grants peculiar privileges to all the citizens of
some foreign power. Far then, from such treaty as
the one favored by Mr. Bancroft being an illegal and
unconstitutional modification, by the President and
Senate, of our general navigation laws, it would
be nothing more than the usual power granted by
the constitution, and habitually exercised by the
executive department.
As far then as the promises of Mr.. Bancroft are
concerned, he was fully justified in making the
representations he did, if he thought them true
and conceived that they would assist in effectisp
an object SO dear to American interests-and to
none more than American shipping interests-as
the repeal of the British Navigation Laws. There
is ample reason for supposng that the Senate would
consider favorably any reciprocity treaty that might
be offered on the subject by Great Britain There.
FORE it seems to us, Mr. Bancroft did not transcend
his functions in the statements he made to Mr.. |
Labouchere.
Another question, however, arises as to the pro-
prlety of the United States waiting for British &C.
hon before they do any thing themselves in regard
TO this important matter. Itmay be worthy of con-
alteration, whether we will allow the British Gov
'rnment to be more liberal than our own whether
We will permit England take the first step towards
rec and unrestricted navigation. We were before
Ill others in lberalizing our tariff: shall we be
eft behind in modifying our navigation laws,
These last but part of the general system men
ave invented for lettering the operations of trade
ind directing industry into channels it would not
axe naturally. The most plausible reason that
an be given for the maintenance of our naviga-
ion laws, is that they build up and sustain mer-
antlle marine which we may draw upon for sailors
n time of war. But as we limited in the begin
ing, We think this argument more specious than
old. Merchants must have naval carriers. and
wherever most maritime commerce exists there will
e the largest demand for ships and sailors Natu-
al laws would prevent any scarcity of American
allors if the navigation laws were entirely abol-
he'd. American seamen are now the best in the
'ord; but this hardly be attributed to statutory
nactments. Take away all the acts of Congress
lat were ever passed, and our word for it, Amer-
IN sailors would not diminish or deteriorate.
heir number is determined by the wants and de-
ands Of commerce: legislation cannot regulate it, |
heir efficiency and superiority are derived from
gher sources than Congressional statutes; they
e due to the constitution of the country, and to
at free and natural development of the faculties,
cured as right to every American citizen.
We doubt much whether repeal of our naviga-
IN laws would materially affect the price of
Fights from American ports. But if Great Britain
I'd the United States were to set the example of
ee navigation, other governments would adopt
e principle. Thus we might eventually become
'rrers for larger proportion of the merchants of
70 earth.
The RAcEs-Bingaman Course.-The long de. I
red contest, which has been the theme and wish
the racing world for nearly two years. at length '
kes place to-day. The bare announcement that
sr.fer and Charmer are to meet in race of four r
lie heats, will in ITSELF be sufficient to attract an
mense concourse of people to witness it, and
hen coupled with the fact that two of the best v
lr-milen of the South, upon which large sums .
We been staked, are to be the contending nags, il
thing more need be said. Il
OLYMPIC CIRCUs.-There will be performance v