The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-17
MN. LABoUcHERE's BILL, AGAIN.

Of Monday next, for the information Of the
country, in order that il may be seen, upon
what basis Mr. Bancroft would have signed
Convention 10 barter away our shipping
interests. The provisions Of the bill We're
correctly represented BY Mr.. Webster
notwithstanding the doubts Of some journals
in his remarks upon the resolution sub
mitted by him few days ago in the SEN
ate. They confne the operation Of the priv
ieges proposed to be granted, to the Home
Ports, and leave il optional with the colonies
TO throw open their coasting trade 10 the
same extent SO that, the Convention, which
Mr. Bancroft was SO willing 10 sign, would
have given Great Britain the absolute right
to ourimmense coOsting trade, and we should
have received in return the right Of the tri-
fling coasting trade the Home Ports Of the
United Kingdom, without any guarantee
that the coasrng trade Of the colonies would
be opened to US We do not know how 10
characterize Mr.. Bancroft's course upon
this question, for we cannot conceive it pos
sble, that Mr. Buchanan ever empowered
. r
him to treat upon such an unequal basis II
is probable, that the first suggestions in the
case came from Mr. Bancroft himself, and
that some Hypothetical reply might have
been made, which has been construed by
the ardent temperament Of our representative
near the English Government, into an in
struction to seize the first opportunity to
imrhcate our country in this reciprocity pol
icy, We, Of course, are only dealing in
suggestions, and il is just IS probable, that
Mr. Bancroft Nhas nothing upon which 10
stand, but an assumption Of authority, and
he has abundantly shown that he is not back
ward in the exercise Of this species Of usur
patton.
The bill win show 10 the American PEG
pie, that however wise such measure might
be in Great Britain, its adoption in regard
to British and other foreign SHIPS trading in
the waters Of the United States would not
operate SO advantageousy as the advocates
Of reciprocity would have US believe. The
policy Of the bill, applied 10 British shipping
alone, would be akin to the proposition of
the pale face TO the red man, which was,
that the red man should take the fox and the
pale face the deer, or the pale face the deer,
and the red man the fox. It would be
one-sided affair, and that Mr.. Bancroft, should
have tolerated for moment the idea of re-
ciprocity upon such terms, is matter al
most inexphcable. Great Britain would be
the recipien, Of the deer, in every aspect of
the case
We leave out Of consideration now, the
doubt, whether a convention. OF reciprocity
Of trade can be entered into at all by this
government with foreign government
There are those, who contend that the Exc
cutive and the Senate have no constitutional
power to make such a treaty, as treaty Of
this character would necessarily invade the
exclusive power granted by the Constitution
to the House Of Representatives to originate
bills for raising revenue. Areeiprocity con-
vention with any foreign nation would me-
cessarily affect or modify our federal laws
raising revenue. No argument is needed to
prove this. II IS selfevident When the
subject shall be brought before the next
Congress, as doubtless it will be, for the pre-
sent administration will not follow in the
footsteps Of the last, in arrogating all the
powers Of the federal government to the Ex-
ecutive--it viii be thoroughly sifted and ex-
anined, the question Of power 10 negotiate
such conventions particularly Till then,
the public press will have ample time to dis
cuss Mr.. Lsbouehere's bill, and topronounce
Judgment upon Mr. Bancroft proposition to
negotiate and sign convention in secret
for 50 it would have been il the govern
ment Of Great Britain had been so disposed
to barter away our immense shipping inter
ests for mess Of pottage, and to admit a
foreign government to share in the taxing
power Of the United States House Of Rep.
resentatives. Meantime, as we have al
ready said, the SUBJECTS now in safe hands
the hands OF Mr. Clayton
GtWe think, that Potomac, Of tie Bal
f.moTs Patriot, does injustice, unint.ntion-
a no doubt, both to Mr. Meredith and to
MI Psnross, 10 attributing the appointing Mt
Of the latter to be Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury, to tt: former gentlemsn's akind.
ness and goodness Of hesnn II IS true.
that kindnea; and goodness Of heart ia one
Of Mr.. Meredith ofiest traits Of character
but he Is not the man Ia suffer hi5 indictment