The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-18

L
room also to the correction of it 7
MIR. MERRITT AND CANADA.
The Sole Organ out for Queen Victoria.
The Washington Union, which is be-
coming incorrigible in its sympathies for
crowned heads, is again out in its foreign
costume. Its first essay was in favor of
the King of Prussia, in the miserable affair
of the war-steamer United States. 1t now
takes up the cudgels for Queen Victoria.
In commenting upon a letter which ap-
peared in the Boston Courier, which stated
in effect that Mr.. MERRITT, of Canada,
had been here to sound the Government
upon treaty for the reciprocal inter-
change of products between Canada and
the United States; and that Mr.. CLAYTON,
though he had received the proposition
and the agent with due respect, had given
no assurances that such treaty would be
perfected, the Union denounces the Cabi-
net as having abandoned Z" the course
which justice and honor dictate"
AS usual, the Union attributes bad
motive for proper act. 1t is its vocation
to do so, and man must not quarrel with his
vocation, however disreputable it may be.
In the first place, Mr.. MERRITT had no
power to make a treaty for the reciprocal
interchange Of the products between Ca
NADIA and the United States, nor any other
sort of treaty. The Government could
therefore give him no assurances of what
it would do, unless Mr. CLAYTON chose
to submit himself to be pumped by Lord
ELGIN's envoy. Again, Mr.. MERRITT
had not even power to commit his Gov
eminent to a negotiation, much less to
specific agreements and an American
minister could do little else than suggest
the topics which an accredited envoy with
full powers should be authorized to en-
brace in a negotiation, before one could be
begun on the responsibility of the Govern
ment, or a recommendation to Congress
for authority to act could be promised.
Everybody knows that it is not within the
competency of Lord ELGIN to send an
agent from Canada to Washington city with
powers to bind the British throne by a
treaty. The Union knows this well enough; ;
but its love of royalty and the things that
pertain to royalty is SO tender of late, that
if it can only get glimpse of a star and
garter on the other side, il is ready TO join
the lists against its own country.
Moreover, bill to provide for the reci-
procal interchange of products between
the United States and Canada was brought
before the last Congress, and, after mature
debate, 1t failed in the Senate-that body
being composed at the time of large ma
iority of Locofocos. Did the Senate aban-
don "that course which honor and justice
dictateW This is what the Union now
contends. This charge falls upon its own
friends, for they had an overwhelming
ascendency in the Senate which defeated
the bill. Congress had entire control over
the subject. There was no question of
right or power to act in the premises with
them. With the Administration it is diff
ferent, for at best II is a hazardous as
sumption OF power for the Government to
exert the treaty-making power to enact
measure which Congress, after full and
solemn debate, rejected.
But what does Congress, the Admins
tration, the people, the peace, and dignity,
and good faith of the nation weigh in the
estimation of the Union, when compared
with the within of crowned head, or dimly
foreshadowed wish of noble Lordl No
thing. The "sole organ" is in the loyal
vein just now. Its efforts in the cause of
liberty, humanity, "honor, and JUSTICE"
are confined to the congenial task of serving
every monarchical government and vilify-
ing its own.
| Saturday was the anniversary Of the capture of
the Baste in 1889, just sixty years ago II was
once the custom in some parts Of the United States
to celebrate the day with salutes, &C. The fright