The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-20
Political.
From the Richmond Uhig.
Abbott Ln,srence.

10 Bttdt anu tudl the
whole of his Administration has been one continued
series of blunders There can be no doubt that
such an adept in the art of bungling knows blum
der when he sees it. The editor has graduated in
that school, if his ancient comrade, the thrice
lieved; for that gentleman declared that his blum
ders, in the last campaign, elected General Taylor
and that the Wings would fall short of the require
ments of gratitude if they failed erect statue OF
gold TO his memory.
There have been few greater bunders, in the
eyes of this distinguished master of the art, than
the appointment of Abbott Lawrence 10 the Court
of st. James she is not fit for the Office cries
the veteran; "he has reputation abroad" she
has never had any experience" Possibly he may
have added, she has never been justice OF the
peace" for that is ONE of his requisites for the
Presidency, and why not for a foreign mission!
Strangely enough, the people on the other side OF
the water, who probably have not had so much
perience the trade of bunghngas the veteran blum
derer of the Union, view this appointment in quite
differenght They give full creditto the reputation
for political sagacity which Mr. Lawrence has hith-
erto maintained, and obstinately bent not
regarding his appointment a blunder. The fol-
lowing article from the London Herald, which, in
justice TO Mr. L., we insert entire, will serve
ample commentary upon the wisdom OF the APP
pointment and the censures of the foreign organ.
The reader will observe that the Hon. VIM. &. Rives
is here called '.Mr Rivers:''
eve published on Saturday last the letter of Mr..
Abbott Lawrence, the newly appointed minister OF
the United States at the court Of Great Britain.
That document, addressed to Mr.. Rivers, Of Vir-
ginia nearly four years ago, and protesting against
the introduction of England's late commercial pol
icy into the United States, predicts, with only too
great accuracy, the issue OF the bold experiment
upon which England had ventured, when the writer
warned his countrymen against the impolcy OF
wildly initiating an example sanctioned neither by
experience nor by the dictates of common prudence
and of seraa Thp NiaN him free
trade of the proteconist representative of the pro-
tectionist chief of the American republic, may be
serviceabe TO our contemporaries who affect TO re-
gard all arguments in favor of protection as so
many selfish cries of an aristocracy seeking 10
tort the hard earnings of poverty for its own dis
graceful indulgence, and who would have US be-
Heve that wherever free institutions engrafted
in the soil-wherever perfect political liberty is
loyed the mind of revots from the idea of
protecting native industry by special enactments,
and of encouraging the exertions of home laborcrs,
by providing beforehand against overwhelming
and ruinous competition from without. Three
years and half Of fair trial finds the American
minister no convert to the rash experiment which
to have broken down the hostile tariffs of the
world, and TO have united in bonds OF commercial
fellowship and mutual goodwill the rival nations
of every quarter of the globe. In setting foot upon
our shores Mr.. Lawrence reads the commentary
of his his text, and finds the justification of his
enlightened fears Wherever he looks, evidences
OF failure meet his eye, signs of danger confront
him. He had heard, in common with the rest of
astonished mankind, of the millions which were
about TO flow into the national exchequer in
stalment of the incalcuable blessings that awaited
the operation of laws which rapacity alone had
hitherto withheld he had read of the promises of
cheapness, universal contentment, abiding peace
He inquiries for the millions In vain; instead of
cheapness, he discovers beggary; where content
Inent and peace should be, he beholds despair and
utter desolation. Such is the aspect Immediately
presented to the contemplation of the sagacious
minister as he takes his place, sojourner amongst
us
" But this is not all he sees News had been car
ried 20 America OF rare announcement made by
the Prime Minister of England, from his seat in
Parliament, upon the occasion of the repeal of laws
under which England had long flourisbed, but from
the loss of which il declared she should flourish
a thousand times more, For years-from his boy
hood TO the beginning of declining age-that min
lister had upheld policy which on sudden he re-
solved TO denounce; yet, IN the act Of denouncing
it, he declined take credit for the glory that
companied the deed, but attributed il solely and
tirely 10 individual remarkable for the daring
and unblushing character of his agitation; and In
the sight of his panegyrist, more remarkable still
for his orstory, which was the more eloquent be-
cause II was unadorned. The eyes of America and
of every other country had been directed, by the
constitutional and ridiculous panegyrc, to Mr..
Richard Golden. Whatever might be the opinion
of MIR. Lawrence, born and bred IN Massachu-
SETS il the conviction of Sir Robert Peel First
Minister Of the Queen of England, that Mr.. Golden,
member for StOckpor was the saviour Of his
try, and the most enlightened individual in her
alestys dominions And the Premier did not
stand alone ia his opinion. The frec-trade organs
found il convenient for the moment TO Join in the
adulation, and 20 exhibit the profound reyer
ence for the eloquence Of the platform and the VIC
tory II had been said 10 achieve. MIR. Golden, at
the conclusion of his crusade went abroad, and
upon the strength Of the character given 70 him
by England's minister, he travelled from country
country, from capital TO capital, receiving hom
age a he went, and promising unheard- of advan-
tai The adODtiOn of trade a. he
was banqueted and entertained by communities
resolved, above all things u. follow his most
gratuitous advice. Who has forgotten the lauda-
tory leading articles that appeared in the columns
Of the ministerial paper, following Mr.. Golden in
his progress, and holding him up az model for the
imitation Of our industrious and aspiring yOuth-an
example for Europe at large?
''No doubt Mr.. Abbott Lawrence believed in Mr.
Richard Golden TO the full extent TO which he
credited the honorable gentleman's new CONNER
cial theories. Possibly in his eHcellency's unpub
lished letters 70 Mr.. Rivers should find the same
bopes entertained Of the free-trade apostle Of his
precious scheme for the destruction Of his countrys
industry and strength. If we arc correct in the
supposition the American minister will not bc
tonished now 10 find Mr.. Golden, not only hurled
from his emincncc by the very hands that raised
him, but the worthy gentleman himself insanely
rushing from experiment TO experiment, IN order to
the country from the consequences Of that very
Legislation which TO have made its fortune, and
for effccting which nobody but Mr.. Richard Cob
den j. entitled 10 the smallest praise Whatever
may have been the expectations Of Mr.. Abbott Law
renee, he IL not gratihed by receiving visit from
Mr. Golden a Chancellor Of the National ENche-
quer he does not find that eloquent individual
counting out his millions won from the successful
operation Of free trade, cOngratulating farmers
upon the relief be prodigally promised them,
ceivng the grateful thanks Of operatives for high
wages and low prices, and the blessings Of the en-
tire community for comforts never before enjoyed.
for tranquil happiness never before realized. On
the contrary, be discOvers the great free-trade
apostle silent the grave with respect 70 the do
ings ofthe past, and utterly reckless OF his cOun
trys welfare in all HE efforts legislation for the
future. Free trade in it, working has not only
made u no richer, but rendered our condition 80
desperate, that Mr.. Golden see no help for the
STATE remedy for its DISASTROUS condition, no
prospect Of IL continuance solvent and respect
able member Of the community Of nations, except
by such wholesale reduction Of it, expenditure a.
shall leave IL at the mercy If the whole Vorld-sn
object Of COMMUNICATION 70 the samoan easy prey
70 the strong and the ambitious All the mighty pro
misses and windy representations Of plenty have
ended in this. disband your army and navy, or go
10 the dogs. Since the nations refuse to become