The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-28

Great Britain and the United States are seen 10 ).
far In advance of every other country, while we or
known TO DO rapidly overaklng our grea, rival.
Soon we shall pass her in the race for maritime
supremacy With this prospect in view, this coun-
try will hardly stop 10 haggle about the imposition
new restrictions iron the ships of those smaller
powers with whom we have made reciprocity trea.
ties, although these treaties are, without doubi,
very unequal in their operation, and greatly stimu.
late the growth Of the commercial marine OF ihts
countries. For when the monopoly of ocean 'ran-
portution, which Great Britain now enjoys, shai
have been broken down, and the barriers around III
Asiatic, the British West Indn and North American,
the Baltic and tile South American trade, shall bav,
been removed, the American shipping interest mus
receive q new impulse, which will cause tonnsg,
even more rapidly TO augment than ever 10 spite o.
nllivalry And We afford TO forget our losses
by the commercial policy we have adopted II by 3
steady PERSISTENCE therein we induce its adoption
by Great Britain and thus serpre great gain
But Great Britain is anal u to get foothold in
our eoAsrrso TRADE and .e have no doubt the
lion ofthat government In the premises in regard
her navigation laws, considerably stimulated by
this desire. Mr.. Laboucheie expressly says, In the
dobafe on the subject, 81 am desircus of making
such relaxatons Of navigation laws as win en-
10 us advantages from America, irhieh com
reqRires." II VIC rightly understand the pro-
position originally made by the British government,
In regard exchange Of facilities in the coasiing
trade II simply offered US very bad bargain. Mr..
Bancroft evidently caught the sound OF reciprocity
and was for accepting forthwith the offer of John Bull
apparently lhinkingth coastng voyage Is coast
ing voyage, whether II be from Newcastle to London
from New York to San Francisco, and that In Of
ferng TO reciprocatc coasting facilities England was
very liberal and should be met by corresponding lib
eralIty. (.
Now, 1t may be thought useless to discuss the
question OF the surrender OF our coasng trade But
the march Of events is rapid. Southern frce-traders
would not hesitate to vote 10 throw this trade open
tomorrow. II is already styled damnable mono
poly But thus far in every nation, IL has been
strictly exclusive. And 1t is a very important ques-
ton, whether we shall surrender it in whole or in
part. Now, while we hold
10 the soundness Of the protective policy up TO
c, rtain point we have no horror Of free trade We
do not believe II to be absolutely good absolutely
bad in itself Hence we have no prejudices on this
score. But leaving abstract principles out Of the
question, there are several good reasons why the
coasting trade should remain untouched In the
FIRST place, IL happens that In oil our commercial
treaties have stereotype clause, which puts the
ships of every nation, with which we have negotia-
ted those treaties, upon afooing "with the most ia
yored nationn So that IL we open coasting trade
to England, we open IL TO oil those coun,nes,--to
the Danes, Swedes, Prussians, &c. &c. FIVE move
at all, we permit general participation therein
Thus, If we should derive advantages from England
which might be looked upon compensation for
those we surrendered, still we should be without
them as regards other nations. ~ m
But SO vast is our extent of coast, that not only
can no other nation furnish any parallel thereto but
England herselfhas nothing TO offer in the way Of
coasiing traffic so valuable or so extensive as ours
A matter Of reciprocal arrangement, therefore, no
bargain can DO made in which this country would
not DO greatly the loser British shipa are constantly
arriving from Europe with cargoes, al our northern
Atlantic ports whence they co South for return car.
goes home. Their great want j. The privilege Of fill
Ing up with products going ooastwise. Again. the
Immense few OF the producuons'of the Mississippi
valley through the mouth Of the river bearing that
pane which 60 10 the Northern sisIss a. times I'D.