The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-05

The time has been when our eastern friends
were considered good al making bargain, even
for the sale Of wooden nutmegs, but the time has
come when they must yihd the palm to our
worthy friend JOHN BULL. John has wooden
nutmeg with which he is very anxious 10 part,
as it is useless to him while it remains in his
possession, but likely TO be most useful if he can
only obtain large price for it--and that nut
meg is the navigation of the st. Lawrence.
We have already given him what is thrice
more valuable in the free communication with
the ocean by means pf our roads, canals,
and rivers, yet he still keeps his nutmeg,
in hopes of trading it off at fifty times its valued
aid Of bill, now before Congress, which pro-
vides that all he requires to sell shall be admit
ted here free of duty, and that all ,,c wish to
sell shall continue 10 pay duties on entering
Canada. The price once paid, his interest
leads him, necessarily, to divide his wooden
nutmeg among all his friends, as well those
that do not pay him as those who do, as witness
the following passage from the Toronto Exam
liner, in reply ~ the arguments OF the Fr'e
Trade Globe, Of Canada, in favor of reaa-
tory policy:
| "All attempts to throw dust in the eyes Of the
Americans will fail to prevent them from seeing
the true state of the question. They cannot be ig
norant that while offer TO them the free navga-
ton of the st. Lawrence valuable privilege for
which they in return should give an equivalent,
we must, if we have any regard to our own inte-
rests, extend to all other nations without equiya-
lent or stipulation. the same right Of navigating
our waters That what we thus offer to the Anne
ricans is substantial advantage cannot be de-
MED; but it is one for which we cannot fairly
claim equivalent from any one nation. while
extend it Internationally to all others. Besides,
the admission to this right Of foreign natons will Of
itself be greater advantage to us than to them.
American statesmen will not fail to the matter
in this light; and the policy of avowed retaliation
that acting upon ia more likely to excite
| their temper and to them to meet that re-
| talaton with defiance than to cxtort from them
the boon Of reciprocal free trade in certain spe-
Gifted products. For this reason, we object to the
| policy of continuing to prevent the use by for
eign flags of the waters OF the ST. Lawrence. It ia
the old exploded policy of meeting restriction by
restriction; Of adding to the injuries which the ex-
elusive laws of other nations infict our trade
additional injuries precisely similar in operation
and effect to those Of which complain. To re-
move all restrictions from the navigation of the ST.
| AaWIcuCc Wouiu result IllpottaH ucHShto W oot
! trade and revenue; would render public works
productive, and bring US into more immediate con-
| tact with every commercial and maritime nation.
Let US no longer throw away these advantages in
grasping after shadows which have been pur-
suing for years, but which, like the ignis tatuus.
have only led us from that line of commercial poll
icy which it is clearly our interest to take.
Docs the Globe defend retaliation as the settled
policy of the Government? Or is it only tempo
rary expedient' How long is it to be continued,
should reciprocity not be carried into effect? We
can tell the Globe and the government that the
public will insist on the throwing open OF the st.
Lawrence, trhethcr reciprocity be obtained or not.
We are just anxious to reciprocity carried
into effect the Globe can be; but we do not be-
lieve it is to be obtained by idle threats, by con-
temptible bullying, hollow pretcnce of retalia
ton. which falls with greatest force on our own
heads"