The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-13

Il
00-Rsceipts from either q the shove win be good
00voLsES B. receive adverdseusnp for
The Union New York, Philadelphia and Boston, receipt
payment for the
The Correspondence with ar Hsary B.lwsr.
On Saturday we exposed the unfounded assertion Of
the National Intsllgsaesr. which alleged that the ad-
mnlstraton had obtained by negotiation the valuable
sursnce from the English Minister that American vessels
would not be deprived Of the benefits Of the change Of
system adopted BY the recent modification Of the British
navigation laws We proved that there was no negota-
ton whatever upon that point We proved that Sir Hen
ry Buwers assurance was made voluntarily without
being induced by the diplomatic articles OF Mr. Clay
ton; and we proved BY the lntegsneu itself that the
assurance utterly worthless, inasmuch no order
in council could be issued to deprive American vessels OF
the benefits Of the change Of system adopted by the
recent modification Of the British navigation laws The
actof the British Parliament and the act Of the Ame
can Congress conferred those benefits, and her Males.
|ty in council cannot take them away without nullify
ing and abrcgaiing the plain meaning Of English
statute, duly enacted and executed.
But Il IL not our purpose to repeat what we said on
Saturday Our design il simply to show that neither the
American Secretary nor the English Minister have any
reason to claim credit for the late correspondence be-.
tween them In truth. they seem to be fairly matched
The British Minister commences the correspondence by
saying. Her Msjestys government saw with great
satisfaction the Decree published by the President of the
United States concedng to British vessels in American
ports the same privileges and advantages which are
granted American vessels in British ports BY the re-
cent modification Of the British navigation laws" Now,
with all due Difference to the English envoy, we must
be permitted to say that he is entirely mistaken The
President Of the United States is not Empowered 10 pub
sh DEGREES concedng anything foreign nations or TO
foreign vessels and certain s that the President has
published any decree relative 10 the change in the
British navigation laws concedng anything to British
ships We protest. therefore. against this effort Of the
English Minister to hoodwnk the weak cabinet who rule
the country, by attribung to presidential decree the
beneficial operation Of act of Congress passed quarter
Of century ago Mr.. Meredith published circular,
after long hesitation, announcing that the construction
which had been given 10 the act Of Congress by those
who had preceded him in the treasury sanctioned. as
that construction was. BY judicial dscsionwould not
be ovsrued and the plain meaning Of the law set At
naught That was all that any branch Of the executive
did ia the premises
But there is another matter in the first letter Of the
British Minister which should not be passed over with
out notice He desired to open negotiation with our
government for the purpose Of obtaining for British
sells the privilege Of American register, and OF en-
gagng In that portion Of coastng trade which is
ried ON between the Atlantic coast and Oregon and Cali
forna For the purpose Of gaining that object he gives
the assurance that no order in council would be issued
deprving American vessels OF the benefits Of the change
in the British navigation laws; in other words, he lib
orally offered what we already possessed, induce
ment for us to yield valuable privilege. Under ord-
nary circumstances this might be looked upon as an a
front the nation but when incompetent ele
waited to high Office, we cannot think that the nation
should expect otherwise than that foreign agents will
endeavor TO rihe with their weakness and take advan
isge Of their ignorance.
Although exceptions may be taken to the course Of Sir
Henry Bulwer yet the conduct Of Mr.. Clayton should
not be passed over without comment Mr.. Clayton
chooses to forget that the English Minister right
fully negotiate only with the Executive; and for petty
party purpose he has made himself medium OF commu-
nlcation between Sir Henry Bulwer and the Congress Of
the United States. thereby enabling foreign master to
Law his views before the national Legislature This act
reprehensble as il is becomes additionally offensive
when we consider the motive which prompted il,
and the dsreputable dsngenuousness which marks the
proceeding Sir Henry Bulwer took occasion, in note
having no reference to that relative to the navigation
laws to object to any increased duties on English iron
Then the wise and s,atesmanke Secretary OF State,
nstgated, perhaps. by his colleague Of the Treasury,
thinks that admirable opportunity ID offered to make
protection acceptable to the American people, He thought
that he could only lay the letter Of the English Minister
Directing to higher duties iron before the country. the
parsans Of The monoposts, in Congress and out Of Con-
gress would have an admirable opportunity OF exciting
the preudces Of the people. by denouncng the present
revenue laws as British tariff Stimulated by this
grand idea, he makes himself the medium Of communi.
cation between Sir Henry Bulwer and the national e.
gslaiure and thereby publishes to the world the views
OF the English government But mark the singular
in which this disreputable trick is played of
Mr. Clayton does not say to Sir Henry Bulwer that he
viii lay his note touching the duties iron before Con
gess That course would have exposed the trick Bot
he promises to lay the note relative to the navigation
laws before the national legislature; and, in carrying
that promise. he communicates the note touching the
duties on iron, which had reference whatever TO the
correspondence on the navigation laws. The ostrich
covers ts head in the sand and in its simplicity thinks
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