The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-29
From the Butfalo IN. Y, Republic, July "a



national Policy Of the AAAsrieaa Lakes.
What would follow il treaty like that limiting the
armed iorce the American lakes between Canada and
The ussted States should be applied between France and
England
There is probability that this will be done Already
proposal 10 that eject has been made in Parliament BY
all the great political changes in England for the last
twenty years and rs almost Impossible estimate the
results Of such treaties, If embracing the universal policy
of these nations. France is the only country with the
exception of America which approximaies 10 naval NJ
valry with England, and those two nations perpet'
ually wagng war OF preparations, which each Is con,
tinuay increasing through dread OF the other NaVai
and military men appear in each country alternately 70
the passions OF hatred, ambition and fear these men
constitute in themselves most arbitrary system OF gov
eminent, and, under the pretence OF pfoecon against
foreigners check all advancement in liberty, inelli
gence, and true greatness at home Inc government oil
Britain alone has expended annually for forty years
about fifty millions of dollars war and warlike prep
aaions In other words she has spent, upon this sense
less 81 stem of reciprocal muder every year. for nearly
half a century, four times much would complete
the eniarg enent OF the Erie canal The two nations
have neck and neck race OF rivalry, and for many
years expended nearly the same amount. The people
begin to discover that all this is swndling affair an
imposture, and cheat
II a treaty like that limiting the armed force on the
American lakes applied between the various nations
OF Europe, not England and France only, but every Eu
ropean country would be benefited in the proper.
ton; and the other nations OF the world would share in
the general advantages OF the political and perhaps social
millennium which would ensue.
For several years in succession Richard Golden has
made motion IN Parliament with this object Hitherto
his motions have been regarded by Lord Pamerslon
lmpraccable ridiculous and he has been r,ated by
the ministry with that cool assumption OF superiority
which men OF shallow minds and narrow sentiments
that class who sometimes their creed the words
Let each mind one, and all are minded then"-hypo-
critically adopt towards the wiser and more Christian
men whom they at as vsonares" or earnest
thinkers New the ministry is deliberately osten'atous
OF sympathy with The objects OF Mr. Cobien although II
yet affects 10 regard the question as one Of much
and requiring extraordinary sagaclty and discrimination
The case stands briefly thus The United States, by
abstaning from military and naval establishments upon
an aggressive SCALE led the way towards peace and
rational intercourse. France and England have been
perpetualy coneDding which should make the greatest
preparations for war but their relative strength before
and after the reduction OF their naval force would be the
if they would ACT upon this agreement: eve will
reduce our navy one-hal II you will diminish yours IN
like proportion"
prevailed between these natlons we will quote from the
two statesmen who, IN their respective countries have
had and perhaps possess. most authority in questions
of foreign policy In 1916, when motion was made IN
the French Chamber OF Deputies Tor vote OF lO0000OO0
francs to increase the navy, M. Theirs said:
"We pay England the compl nent OF thinking only Of
her when our naval force we never heed the
ships which sally 10Th from Trieste Vence-we
only for those that leave Portsmouth or Plymouth"
In ls4S Lord Palmerston said in the British Parlia
men:
$50 far from its afording any Of offence 10
France that should measure navy bv such
standard, am any one who follows the debates in
the French Chambers, when their naval estimates
under discussion, must know that they follow The
course, adopting the natural and only in such
cases-nauey the naval force which other nations may
have al the same time"
A commission of the French National Assembly said
in April last:
"We must be on our guard against SO powerful an en-
envy, situate at short distance from our shores and
who by the aid of steam, will be henceiorih independent
OF wind tides, and currents, which formerly mpeded the
operation of sailing vessels"
Both these nations have spent nearly the amount
ia a M al md
political grandeur IN the lesson which is taught by the
convention between the United States and Britain. In
Its probable results ii is far greater than any taught
by the same number OF diplomatic words, which as
follows:
Arrangements between the United States and Grea,
Britain, between Richard Rush, esq, acting Secretary
OF the Department OF State, and Charles Bagoi his BIZ
fannie Msjesy's envoy extraordinary, &c. April 1917 ::
The naval force TO be maintained upon the American
lakes by his Majesty and the government of the United
States shall henceorh be confined TO the following
sells each sde that is On Lake Ontario to one vessel
not exceeding 100 tons burdcE and armed with one IS
pound cannon on the upper lakes 10 two vessels,
exceeding like burden each and armed with like force
on the waters OF Lake Champlan TO vessel. not
ceedng like burden, and armed with like force All other
armed vessels these lakes shall be forthwith disman
tied, and other vessels Of shall be there built or
armed, III either party should hereafter be DESTROYS OF
annung this stpulaton and should give notice to that
effect TO the other party shall be binding after
the expiration of six months from the date of such
tce The naval force to be limited shall be restricted
to such services as will in no respect interfere with the
proper duties Of the armed vessels of the other party"
II may be said that in such treaty between France
and England those countries alone would be affected
Upon this poin, Mr. Golden used the following argu.
men,, which is truthful tribute of implied praise both
TO our policy, our seamen, and our power:
"Now. he might be told he was dealing merely with
France but there only two countries of any i'm.
porance as naval powers-namely, France and Russia
tor America had set an example, and out of the
question. When California discovered America
might have placed or three line of battle ships off
that coast but she Withdrew The only she had there,
and turned her artisans and sbpwnghs 10
OF the most magnificent steam vessels that ever
seen and yet her commerce extending our
own. The honorable member for Stafford night per-
hape, refer him TO Russia; but he conlended that no
country that had mercantile marine could be a great
naval country. You might buila Up navy Mehemet
Ali had done, and put his ielahs on board; but II
had not mercantile marine you never could become
great naval power. Hear hear Russia had, no doubt
. great number OF ships at Cfonsadtbe bad them
all But if Russia bad power she kept It at home, and
there might be very good why she did so for he
had heard remarks from American shippers lying Cron-
sadt the effect that her vessels not much be
admired She had about thirty thousand sailors but they
taken from the interior, unaccustomed to
duty, and were OF course, complete laughing stock to
British He did not consider that any country
like America or England carrying on enormous
merce, and with hundred thousand mercantile sailors
could ever be endangered by country having mer-
camille marine. With reference 10 our distant stations,
ut all events, America offered obstacle but rather
invited US to this course by her example. France
the only country that presented herself with any force
foreign stations and he asked, impracicabe
10 carry the rule in regard to France that bad
been agreed TO with the United States or 10 go