The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-22
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS.

| Our washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1919
The British Navigation Laps- Their Eject Here
The Colonial Trade, &c, &c.
An official copy of the act repeating the British
Navigation Laws having been received here, the
President has decided upon having it published at
once, for the information of the community. twill
appear, therefore, in the papers ts-monsw. AS
the whole matter will be so soon before the public,
it is unne cessary to give sketch OF its provisions;
but there are two or three points connected with
il which we desire to refer to. 1t has enormously
teen supposed thatit will be necessary for the Pre-
sident Issue proclamation before the effect of the
repeal Of the British laws can be felt here This Is
founded upon the opposition that the act of Congress
of May, 1928, affects the case. II will, however, be
seen, upon reading that act, that it merely has
reference TO abolIshing discriminating duties Of
tonnage, or impost upon the vessels, produce,
manufactures, merchandise of all countries,
upon satisfactory evidence being produced that the
discriminating duties upon our vessels, produce,
&c, have been taken off in those countries. Dis
terminating duties have not existed for years, in
England, upon vessels or their cargoes; conse-
quently this act does not apply to her. BY her ma
vigation laws we were prohibited from carrying to
her the products, merchandise, manufactures of
any country but our own-whlst her vessels could
take any description of goods from thus country, or
could bring us goods, not only from England, but
any OF her colonies In 1871 Congress passed a
law, somewhat SIMILAR as ollows;-
And be it, &C., rha after the 30th day Of Septem-
bsr next no goods wares or merchandise shall be i'm
ported into the United States from foreign port
place. except in vessels of the United States in such
foreign vessels as truly and wholly belong to the c-
zens or subjects OF that country Of which the goods are
the growth, production, manufacture, from which
such goods wares. only be- or most
nevertheless that this regulation shall not extend
the vessels OF foreign nation which has not adopt
ed, and which shall not adopt, similar regulation"
1t will thus be seen that II 10 by liberal con-
strucon of the proviso of this act that the trade
is thrown open now to England who has seen fit,
after lapse OF thirtythree years, to avail herself
oft ru.
that any foreign country may trade between two
colonies, unless the governments Of those colonies
should see fit jointly 10 pass law prohibiting it,
which law is subject to the concurrence of her
Majesty. 1t also gives the power to the colonies to
throw open their cOastiDg trade, II they see fit but
this is also subject to the Queen approval dsap-
prevail. 1t is, therefore, more than probable if we
negotiate at all for unrestricted commerce with the
| colonies, II will be done through the British
government, as 1t is perfectly absurd to- ask US
to make separate regulations with all the different
| colonies, and then permit England to abrogate
those she may think We will gam by, and hold us
fast merely where it is her interest to do This
| is the amount of the proposition which England,
IN all soDeIness, we suppose, makes u.s. surprising
| Congress to declare that if England desired to
enter into any commercial regulations with this
United States, she must do so with each State Sc
paratey, subject, however, to the approval OF the
federal government, what would '.her majesty's
ministers" think of III They would be very apt
to ciy out we were laughing at their boards. And
yet, absurd as such aprooosion would unques-
tlOnably be- twoud be filrer and more liberal than
the provision of the bill just passed by England.
The colonies possess no voice whatever IN the
central government They might all be in favor
OF free trade; but, if the parent country chose she
could veto it all; whilst if England made CONNER
clal regulations with majority of our States, she
would at command the whole, as they are q
part of the general governing power.
1t is singular fact, in almost every commercial
regulation with John Bull that old gentleman has
managed to get the best Of the bargain, aud cheat
US in come way. 1t therefore matter of the
greatest importance, that in any negotiations
which may grow out of the present attitude of
England, the greatest caution should be observed.
The emlne Mt gentlemen at the head Of the State
and Treasury Departments, will have an ample
field to display their abilities, and we have full
confidence American interests will not suffer in
| their hands. OMEGA.