The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-12

| path of experience. In his opinion 1t only
son and Others that could safely depart from the
system Of navigation which we had long pursued
and which had been for centuries interviewer with
national policy. There were several demands which
the shpowner might fairly make upon the legislature,
Se 40 .nS to IN. Of
peculiar burden by which he was now hampered II
we exposed him to unrestricted competition with
foreigners should give him a drawback, . remis
sion of the duties upon the timber which he used in
the construction Of his ships He should also, in the
next place. be relieved from the restraint under which
he abored with respect to the manning Of his ships
There was still another compensation to which tho
shipowner was entitled By repeal Of the navigation
laws he would have to undergo competition from the
Baltic, sharp as far as 1t went, and from the United
to ask that should secure for him, II possible an
entrance into those fields Of employment from which
ne was now sacipd a i 70, the en-
poyment Of which he had now monopoly. The policy
pointed out to them by experience was that Of cond
tional relaxation. He had never entertained the
ton that should by treaties Of reciprocity
with foreign powers. There difficulties in tho
way OF so doing which 1t became prudent legislature
to avoid. The American system, far it went,
that to which he would look model. By adopting
that Of conditional relaxation, they would avoid the
difficulties inseparable from the system Of reciprocity
treaties The immediate effect Of conditional reaxa-
tion would give the vessels Of such States as
conferred privileges upon shipping corresponding
advantages in our ports Such course would be in
accordance with precedent and experience whilst it
was that which was demanded by justice and which
would be found more easy Of execution than the
plan proposed by Her Majesty's government There
perable objection Every word said by MIR. Wilson
Friday night, against the system Of reciprocity, told
with augmented force against that Of retaliation le
~oid join readily with those who might endeavor to
get rid Of that feature, regarding it, he did
teral defect in the government plan. II the govern
conditionay he would advise 1t to do directly with
| out the accompaniment Of retaliation Indeed, the
conditional system was that upon which prac-
tcsy acted with regard to many of the maritime ma
lions OF the world The plan which he thus proposed
would do more for the general liberty Of commerce
from he trea
bench There another feature in the government
proposition which he regarded defective He was Of
opinion that the mode in which it proposed to deal
with the coastng trade would be found Intellectual for
the purpose in view Before could expect get the
coasting trade unreservedy open that country
He did not believe that wsuld the costing
conditional legislation. On the other hand by pro-
ceedng on the conditional principle, they had every
this psn wanted another r.commsndation ~ ..;t. -
to the favorable Of the would be
might at .ee ma they
| this great question. .- :
Mr.. RopIs.ON regarded the speech of tn. right hon
gentleman - . powerful argument against the whole
propoea before the House II the were to be
forced upon the country the least that the interests
affected might look for was that our legislation the
subject should be conditional Tho condition Of our
laborng population, the state Of finances and tho
passage Of the measure before the House The only
shipping interest that would benefit by 1t would BE- that
| Of q most active Und formidable rival.
Mr. CLAY would vote against the second reading of
the BILL although he did not regard our navigate
tenn as on such footing that it could not be alt d
with advantage.
MIR HoRxpY opposed the second reading Of the bill
expating his former hirtatons with free trad by
abusing free-tra6ers, and making Q protectiouist
| speech,
| Mr. MrrcHELL, in supporting the bill, exposed Mr.:
IIornby's fsllacies and agreed with much that had
fallen from Mr. Gladstone although the speech Of the
right honorable gentleman was, in its general turn
such he surprised to hear from distinguished
advocate Of free trade The right honorable gentle
man could not have taken eGectual mode to da-
mage the whole scheme lie did not believe that the
general rate feights would decline In consequence
Of the repeal Of the navigation laws but their repeal
would enable to the inordnatcly high freghts
which, in time of sudden emergency, We were called
upon to pay. The result Of the measure before the
House would be the equalsation and not the general
| reduction OF freights.
whole object Of which seemed to be the promotion Of
the interest Of the foreign at the Of the British
MIR. c. BRUCE gave his determined oppostion to tho
BILL tending to the ruin of another British interest
and fraught with peril to the maritime supremacy Of
Mr.. Wilcox supported the government, the ground
that protection had ever proved itself the bane Of tho
interest sought to be cherished AS to the lachrymose
forebodngs Of the opponents of the BILL in reference
the national defences he could them that tho
public nad learnt 10 i@Sm with suspicion upon such
wa. for the pockets Of q particular class
MIR HILLIARD followed in opposition to the measure,
denying that the shipping interest in this country
Mr.. RIcAspo was surprised that Mr. Gladstone after
1
venicnce Of these laws should turn round and say that
should make abrogation Of this mischief and this
lar laws by other nations The right hon gentleman
having given in his adhesion to the repeal Of the
laws and the alteration Of the duties without
any such stpulstions, he (Mr Ricardo) could
derstand upon what Pretext he could defend himself in
requiring these conditions in regard to the navigation
| laws. No new argument In regard to tho shipping
| interest had been adduced although 1t still
serted that American ships cheaper than English
| ships, though 1t was q mathematical demonstration
that all the elements Of ship building cheaper
In this country than in America by onethird British
built ships must necessarily be cheaper than ships
| built in America. The hon gentleman said II was
proved before the committee Of the House Of Lords
that the West India merchant preferred American
| ships to English ships but for his (Mr. Ricsrdo'O
part he could not follow the evidence Of the West In
dian merchants before that committee Almost all Of
| them candidy confessed that they quite unac-
Quainted with the navigation laws-that they had
never read them, and were wholly ignorant Of their
effect upon the local interests Of the West Indies He
denied that he had underrated the Importance Of
the mercantile marine Of this country, some hon.
members had imputed to him but what he said was,
pendent altogether Of acts Of Parliament that it de-
pended rather upon our insular position, upon our
daily REORGANIZATION with those possessions the
inhabitants Of which spoke the same language
selves, had the same wants and habits ourselves,
CHcar hearJ II mercantile marine could be pro.
duced by act Of Parliament how did it happen that
France and Spain who had navigation laws far moro
stringent than ours, had mercantile marine upon
| which to calculate! (ticar, hear) He held that it
would be most dangerous for this country to depend
| royal navy. That was question on which he did not
consider the officers of the royal the persons bcst
| qualified to give an opinion; but he quite willing
to admit that they able to furnish important evi
dcnce with regard to matters Of fact and taking the
facts stated in the evidence Of Sir B. Martin apart
from his opinions he thought that they they afforded
decided proof that trusting to rotten reed In
| depending on the mercantile marine for the manning
Of the navy, unless resortcd to the system Of i'm
| prcssmcnt; and did any gentleman in his senses i'm
sgne that the country would submit to that again
| Qiear, henry
Admiral BowLEs would take the liberty Of telling the
government that awful responsibility rested upon
them if they gave support incautiousy and rsshly to
| measure which might endanger the empire
Nr. DRuNhoNp said the object of this bill-and most
ingeniousy contrived 1t had beenwas to keep capital
in the country but still not to employ laborers
CLEAR, and laugh) The promoters Of II did send
capital away but they kept here for the purpose
employing foreign laborers. They had all heard the
Satanic school Of poetry in literature. II there
such thing a. satanic shoo in politics. the authors
Of this bill certainly belonged to it. Iear, hear and
rlolI.