The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-12
THx NAVIGATION LAWS OF GREAT BxuA,s.-

The NAVIGATION LAWS OF GREAT BxrTAIN-
We give in this days paper, a very interesting
debate in the British House of Commons, in rela-
tion to the modification or repeal Of the naviga-
ton laws of the United Kingdom. 1t will be OBJ
served that alluson is made particularly to the
commercial marine of the United States; and the
principal question at issue Is, the possibility Of
British shipping competing with American vessels
in the carrying trade between the two countries
According to some of the speeches made, the
British vessels successfully compete with vessels
of any other nation; and the argument brought for
ward by those who appear to be so well satisfied
upon that point, favor of repeal Of the nayiga
ton laws, is, that it would benefit all the other
most important interests of the country, more than
it would the navigation interest. This mode Of
reasoning is no doubt, adopted to disguise the fact
that something is required to sustain the dropping
condition of the mercantile marine, and the
only feasible way Of doing this is to draw other
nations into the most perfect system of free trade
in navigation. If British shipping can compete
successfully with the Americans, why give the
Americans greater facilities than they now
enjoy? Fortunately, we see through this move
ment, and the hook is not properly baited to catch
such big fish as Brother Jonathan. The British
government are endeavoring to draw US into the
trap so artully set; and the course pursued by Mr.
Bancroft has no doubt given the Ministry so much
announcement that the measure has been pushed
forward with the greatest rapidly.
1t will be perceived, by the proceedings in Par
lament that the bill passed second reading on the
18th of March, by small majority. Previous to
the third readngor, at all events, previous to the
final passage of the bill through the upper House
the policy of government relative to this mea-
sure will be known in England; and we have no
doubt it will at once arrest all further proceedings
in the matter The only proposition which has
recently been officially submitted to the govern
ment of the United States by the government
of Great Britain, relative to the navigation laws
of the two countries, was for free trade in
ships, to be secured by convention, by which
American vessels would be naturalized in British
ports and British vessels in American ports. No
proposition for reciprocity of the freedom of the
coasting trade between the two countries, has, of
late years, been made, and our government have
stated in pretty plain terms what its policy is in
relation to this important interest.
If the government of Great Britain wishes t o re-
peal their navigation laws, and it can afford to
make the experiment, let them do it, and we
will closely watch its operation; but our com
mercal marine is in condition too prosperous to
NEEDLE with and we ask no greater facilities in
foreign ports than we now enjoy. Remarks rela-
tive to this matter will be found in the Money
article in this days paper; and we wish those
interested would notice particularly the state
ment of exports from Savannah for the month of
March last A large part of our carrying trade
between our own and foreign ports is yet in
the hands of foreigners; and until we can mo-
nopolise, at all events, greater per cent of
this, we can i'll afford to throw open our coasting
trade and invite competition from foreign vessels
The debate which we publish to-day will repay Pc
rsal; but will fail TO convince any one that what
would be beneficial to Great Britain would be
any advantage to u.s.