The southern press., 1851-10-29
Speech Of M, cery,
IL the GreGt Democratic Meeting at Tdmmany
Hill Nan York

The result in Ohio and Pennsylvania proves
that the Wing party is disbanded, and the old
party issues are for the present settled II will,
therefore, be profitable for this meeting to hear
u short explanation Of the resolutions of the
committee on our external relations. And first,
Of the commercial system in very general as
poets and without resort to many figures or cal
culations II is an error to suppose that the
United States is second, in point of maritime
strength to England. We have on the contrary,
the best and highest tonnage of any nation
We exceed England altogether in the quality Of
our ships as our steamers and clippers show by
their actual performances; and the America has
put the English out of conceit of yachting. Our
sailors are very far superior to those Of our
former rivals and the management Of vessels
in every respect is by us betttr understood. In
quantity, we have an excess of tonnage over the
British considering the activity Of steamers and
the excess increases ut greater ratio every year,
provided we estimate half million of tons en-
gagged on the Mississippi and its, tributaries, in
the transportation Of produce, and including all
the craft in the British inland trade. 1t might
not be haza dous to hold that within ten years,
with no violent change in human affairs, the ton
mage of the United States will be equal to that
of all the world. But there will be change,
and that not remote, which forbids any such pre-
diction. Our shipping interest demands greater
attention than il has yet received from the gov.
eminent. We should endeavor to secure with
all nations perfect reciprocity of trade, and The
abrogation Of all discriminating duties on cargoes
! and tonnage, Of which there are fragrant in
stances Our commerce with France and Erg-
land is now greater than either of them has with
the other, although neighbors and the richest of
all nations. With France it would not be i'm
IF ha. to.s
system. She is a sister republic, and in spite of
adverse circumstances, our ancient ties to her
splendid people will lead to that close intimacy
and commerce which the value and difference of
Of products demand The modification of fifty
per cent in the United States tariff of lS46, on
inn ortant French articles, authorizes Us to ex-
pect a corresponding alteration. But neither
England nor France will remain in their present
position. The English change will be to our
injury, because for short season it will be
triumph of the tory policy The navigation
laws will be modified, and the landowner COM
pensated at the expense of the people for the re-
duction of rent, which must take place. The
French change, on the contrary, will be highly
beneficial to us. As soon as the Democracy on
the second Sunday of May next shall have in
stalled itself in possession of the republic, there
will follow treaty OF amity, commerce, and,
hope, alliance, by which the destinies OF the two
countries shall be united, and their institutions
impressed upon the world. There will be a
modification of the French tariff on provisions,
and a market thrown open to the great produc-
ing States of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, illinois,
Missouri, Iowa. and Wisconsin, Of many millions
Of dollars, which will diminish the suffering of
the French operative. and fill the houses of the
Western people with every article of luxury
| and comfort. Statesmen in the United States
should know and ponder these things, and lay
the foundation now of system of foreign policy
accordingly.
In the North and Baltic seas is a further field
for great increase Of trade in the Southern
staples of cotton and rice aud tobacco, and in
whale oil but the whole affair is complicated
with all manner Of changes One of these
changes deserves special attention; il is the
vexatious and heavy toll exacted from US and
other nations for passing through an arm of.the
sea called the Sound, which joins two oceans,
paid by all ships and carg' es to the petty King
of Denmark, under title which dates back four
hundred years-l450 The property ofcitizcns
of the United States, passing along by the
Cas- lie of Elsnore, is met by loaded cannon and
lighted matches, and made by that kind of force
to stand and deliver, just rs the traveller was ar
rested and his goods pundered by the old ba-
The whole matter is explained by McCnlloch
under the head Of Elsinore, and il is worthy the
attention Of all sections of the Union, the South
in particular. On cotton, the duty paid for
going over what is the highway Of nations, but
is now fenced up by the Danish King, for the
same purpose that his fellow highwaymen OBJ.
structs the turnpike 10 the night, Is nearly
forty cents the hundred pound-from one dol
lar and n half TO two dollars q bale. That
would amount on our whole cotton crop TO
four or FIVE millions, and en- the trade which IL
prevents with the Gar Of Northern Europe to
very large sum, not worth estimating however,
because the trade itselfis cut of. This thing Is
kept up by England, aud the despots Of the
North protect divers monopolies by il, and she
has her own monopoly of the market for about
twenty millions Of cotton twist. IL man was
TO obstruct Broadway, hi' barrier would be in
stantly knocked down by the first comer and
so should the merchants Of the United States
treat the nuisance at Elsnore, for il not only
steals cotton but tobacco, whale oil, and rice,
and puts these republican products in royal
pockets. The true nature Of the Z1llyeren
should be examined, and the United States stand
ready TO introduce their staples on the most
favorable terms, the moment that the power Of
the kings Is superseded by that Of the people.
These are now clogged with dutirs Of import
and transit, and other charges which might
be mitgated. II coud be shown that we might
soon, under rigorous Democrats administra-
ton, open new and improve all the demands for
our products in the North Of Europe. Switz.
erand is most anxious 10 increase her trade
with the United States; she has carried il on
under great disadvantages. Her cotton has
been h ,uled across France by several kinds OF
conveyance; and her goods are shipped with the
same difficulty and loss. She is now building
her railroad towards the south Of France and
The Mediterranean; and by the United States
steamers, we can have her direct trade in im.
ports and exports. She is ,klful and indus
trious, and Ter command Of capital water
power, and the economy Of the people and
government would soon make her msnufac
turing rival for England In cotton goods ard
various other articles.
Then, there is the Mediteuanean-the seat OF
the movement for liberty in modern times. and
the home Of ancient civilization. II might easily
be ours. The carrying trade will DO done some
Il A Ill A