Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-11-22

Peclaily 10 inc commercial world, has at
tracted public attention, both in Eng
land and this country, for quite as long
period. In June last, bill passed
Parliament offering to all nations reel
procity in the indirect carrying trade.
This bill, which goes into effect OH the
LIST day of January next, allows to our
ships The privilege, never before confer
red, Of carrying the produce of any part
Of the world to the ports in the United
Kingdom, TO port in any British colo
ny, and from that to port in any other
colony. 1t allows us to carry goods or
produce Of any country on the same
terms with English SHIPS. The condi-
ton of this grant of the British Parlia-
mcnt is reciprocity; and the construc-
ton put upon our act of the LIST March,
1911, by President Taylor's Admins
tration, as shown by the last circular of
the Secretary Of the Treasury, is, that
British ships will enjoy the same privile-
ges in our ports as soon as the British
act shall go into operation.
In fact, il has been the policy of eve
ny Wing administration OF this govern
ment, from the origin Of the government
down to the present period, to offer rec
iprocity in foreign navigation to Great
Britain. Our indirect trade was open
on the lst day of March, 1917, when,
by the recommendation of President
Madison, the act was passed which
closed the indirect carrying trade against
all nations until they opened their ports
to us. But while the administration of
Gen. Taylor, guided by true wisdom in
the management of our commercial pol
icy, has seized the occasion to open our
ports to British vessels engaged in the
foreign indirect trade, it has studously
avoided any connexion with project of
Mr.. Polk, to open our vast coasting
trade to England for the insignificant
benefits our shipping could derive from
a participation in the very limited coast
ing trade Of the United Kingdom
During the last spring the British news
papers. containing the debates in Parlia-
ment on the passage of the navigation
act, proved that Mr.. Labouchere had at
one time entered into an arrangement
with Mr.. Bancroft to open the coasting
trade OF both countries a more disas-
trous arrangement for us could not have
possibly been suggested. That Mr..
Bancroft acted under instructions from
Mr.. Polk we have never doubted, vet il
is difficult to reconcile this suppostion
with fact disclosed in those debates,
that Mr.. Buchanan, few days before
he went out of Office, in letter to the
British Charge d'Aflaires residing here,
had reversed that policy. 1t will be re-
membered by all who read those debates
at the time, that Mr.. Labouchere, the
President Of the Board of Trade, was
very much embarrassed by this change
of position. These mysteries will byc-
and-bye all be explained to us, we sup
pose, when the correspondence between
the two governments shall be laid before
Congress. For the present, we rejoice
in the knowledge of the fact, derived
from the English papers, that the admin
istration of Gen. Taylor has never at
any moment consented TO divide our
vast coasting trade with any foreign
country, while at the same time it has
resolved to meet Great Britain in the
foreign trade, both direct and indirect (;
thus planting itself on the Wing and
true republican platform of ancient DAYS,
when all republican statesmen invited
reciprocity in the foreign trade. Our
ships can now take teas from Canton in
competition with British vessels directly
to the United Kingdom, and goods or
produce of any part of the world either
to England or any of her colonies
Will any commercial man of inteli-
gence say that he is dissatisfied with the
policy of Gen. Taylor on this grea, sub
ject
With Mexico aud the South American
republics, the policy of Gen. Taylor is pal
pably that of peace and friendship. No
projects Of annexation or conquest are ell
tertalned; none such will be encouraged
we feel assuted. No secret intriguing, no
undetermined mgnoeuvering will be resorted
to, TO bring Canada or Cuba into the Union
The faith of treaties and the true honor of
apeople conscious ofthe Importance of their
great mission, to Recommend and spread
by the influence oftheir example, as well as
by their precepts, the pure doctrines of civil
and religious liberty throughout all the
corners OF the earth, will be steadily con-
suited and firmly adhered to-
Our neighbor of the Union appears to be
exceedingly distressed to learn that the pol
icy of the Administration in regard to the
British claim to the river San Juan de Mic
aragua, arising out of the Protectorate of
the Mosquito King. Let him be consoed
to learn that, should there be any negota-
tons whatever, upon that, or any other sub
Ject with foreign power, they will be reg
uated by stern sense juStice-justice to
ourselves, and justice to others. Our CO.
temporary of the Republic appears to us to
have pretty clearly proved, from the publish
ed letters of Mr. Chat6eld, and of the Minis
ter of Nicaragua, that the government of
that State had repeatedly applied IN vain to
Mr.. Folks Administration for aid TO resist
The British invasion of San Juan, and the I'M
claims of the savage chief whose
pretenlions have been abetted by England
Should this turn out to be the fact. as we
shreWdly slspect il NAV what n finnra u,ul