The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-09


straton have been hard pressed TO find something in the
conduct OF the Executive on which base their partisan
adulation No one can have forgotten the manner in
which the National Intsgencer despatched Mr. Clay
ton with encomiums because Garcia was delivered up on
the demand Of our consul at Havana, and how it defed
the annals of diplomacy 10 furnish parallel to the
promptness with which our national honor was vndca
ted from the insult which had been inflicted THAT in
suit be it remembered, is to this day unatoned for) Nor
will be readily forgotten how in its hour Of pretended
triumph it demanded that Spain should permit to open
diplomatic relations with CUBA demand which excited
rdicue from end Of the country to the othera de-
mand which was made for the purpose Of dverng pub
lie attention from the criminal omission obtain repara-
ton and satisfaction for the violence which had been done
upon our soil by the Spanish consul at New Orleans,
with the knowledge and connvance Of the Captain Gem
eral OF Cuba Nor can the public fail to remember the
rapture with which the wing journals applauded the
Bayard like chvalry and fierce courage of Mr. Clayton,
when carrying out the wishes OF Louis Napoleon, he
peremptorily dismissed NJ Poussin-tha press be-
ing sedulousy engaged the while in proving that there
danger to be apprehended from the superfuous
daring Of the premier.
We have been reminded Of these desperate efforts to
especially for the Secretary Of State. by the eagerness
with which the National Integencer, the Washington
organ Of Mr.. Clayton seizes upon the correspondence
with Sir Henry Bulwer lately communicated to Congress-
in order to make it the text for groundess compliments
by pretending to discover in that correspondence a
successful negotiation. The truth is, there
goation at all either successful or unsuccessful. As
far as appears from the record the English minister. Of
his own free will, addressed note the first day Of
January last. to Mr.. Clayton, informing him, among
other things that vessels OF the United States would not
be excluded by any order in council from the full benefit
Of that change which Great Britain has adopted by the
recent modification OF her navigation laws. Then the
note Of the English minister proceeds 10 propose that
British vessels may be admitted TO the advantages Of
an American register and be permitted to engage in the
trade between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of the
United States On the 14th OF January, Mr.. Clayton
acknowledged the receipt of Sir Henry Buwes note and
stated that the propositions of Sir Henry Bulwer would
be referred to Congress This is the circumstance which
the National Inteiigener magnifes into diplomatic
feat, highly creditable to the administration
To explain this matter fully, would state that
the modification OF the British navigation laws, which
went into operation the first of January provides that
the permission thereby given for foreign ships to engage in
the British carrying trade may be annued by order in
council as respects the vessels Of those nations which
will not extend reciprocal privileges to British vessels.
We have an act Of Congress- passed years ago. which
reciprocity to England the instant that her navga-
ton law went into effect and of course order in coun-
Gil would deny to us the benefits OF the change in the
British system made by the new navigation law II
is plain them that Sir Henry Bulwer did more, far
A. sk
ecutiye the effect OF British statute. The effect Of
that statute was understood by the whole country
months ago There were two opinions about ii;
and the announcement OF the English minister, even
had it been the result OF negotiation, is not worth
the paper was written on and il is OF any value, il
was voluntarily made, and the administration deserves
no credit for it, Toprove that the National Inteiigsner
views the matter in the light that do, quote
the following paragraph from that journal Of Thursday:
For the better nderstanding Of this matter, ought to be
ated that by the British navigation act, which into
operation the LIST Of January, $780, provided that her
Majesty In council may any time, on deciding that the
rciprociiv In the carrying trade between Britain and
the United States any other country, is not mutual,
that British ships have not in ports equal privileges
with those which American vessels enjoy In British ports
issue her proclamation, by order in council denying TO
vessels the benefit Of the indirect carrying trade.
II we understand the English language, this is full
admission that an order in council suspendng the opera
ton Of the new British navigation act, with reference to
particular nation, TO be issued only when such nation
refuses to give British ships reciprocal benefits Now,
our ACT Of Congress. passed years ago. offers mutually
and reciprocity to all nations; and Of order in
council would be issued with regard 10 American vessels
I. is plain, therefore, that the Of the British
minister was nothing but an assurance that " her
Majesty in council" would not violate an act Of Paria.
men which she had sanctioned Yet the National In
tegencsr, in its eagerness to make it appear that Mr.
Clayton after all his disreputabe bunders had obtained
BY negotiation advantageous from Sir Henry
Buwcr, violates truth and fasi6es its own words by the
following assertion
The whole benefit secured other nations by the British
navigation act is thus placed, by the OF that act
the discretion Of her Majesty In council BY the
which our has obtained from that Of Great
Britain, the matter may be considered rest The
negotiation this point therefore, has terminated greatly
to the credit Of tho administration well the good OF
the country.
We assert, and we point to the first extract we have
given from the National Inteigneer for proof Of the
assertions that the whole benefit secured to other nations
by the British navigation act placed BY the terms Of
that act at the discretion OF her Majesty. When mutual
benefits denied, then, and then only order in coun
ell can be issued. All the benefits which to de-
rive from the modification Of the British navigation laws
be attributed to the legislation Of Congress and Of
the British Parliament-legsation which was adopted