The New York herald., 1851-10-30
External Policy OF the United States
New and Larger Markets.

sources, scarcely any traae Win the rest OF the
world; and yet we are constantly engaged in elect
ing, and continuing in office, set of superannuated
politicians who have no scope themselves, and who
are afraid that the country will get too strong. In
politics, as in commerce, they keep in the wake
of England, which is false position altogether for
the great republic. Into her lap they are con-
stantly pouring our wealth, and she has so far
controlled our exchange that she gets the lions
share. With the world at large, 10 fact, we have
scarcely any commerce. This tutelage has become
outrageous, and must be broken up. That polti-
cal party which makes the breach with England,
BY establishing the American system of universal
free trade, will take and hold the future destinies
Of the Union in its hands. The whig party has to
wake up to the pursuit of larger issues than the
old platform; and its statesmen must learn that all
the pother they make about their grand clause in
commercial treaties, for the extraditon of crimi-
mails, is "smau beer" compared with their true
| object. We do not think there ever was finer
illustration of one of Mr.. Websters happiest pas
sages, than in the experience of the United States,
under the universal extradition clause dozen
| foreign ministers, at large salaries, have been
| called by different administra lions, to concoct
system of hostility to escaping criminals, and yet
it is great deal to say that bakers dozen have
fallen before the ikiu Of diplomacy in as many
years. 1t has happened in that business Of re-
capturing offenders, who have fed from one treaty
making State to another, oftener than it generally
happens, Sin the history of human affa rs, that
the rgor Of the war has not come up to the sound
ing phrase of the manifesto"
Larger game is afoot, and the wisdom and dill
gence of the State Department, AMI that of Con-
gress, as well as the Treasury, should be exerted
for the general advantage Of the States. The nom
criminal population of the whole country demand
that our rulers should occupy themselves longer
In the functions of an unsuccessful police. We
must henceforth seek to enlarge our direct trade
with all the world, to enlarge also our indirect
trade but, finally and imperatvely, to so legislate
as to open markets everywhere for our peculiar
staples corn, provisions, cotton, tobacco, rce and
other less important articles. The United States
are bursting with plethora of these items fin
dispensable human comfort, and their production
could be doubled IL there were demand but We
have had no genius in the country who could mould
true American system of interchange with the
world The influence of Downing street governs
Washington; and we are to be favored soon with
successor to Sir Henry Bulwsr and his place, in
timate and confidential adviser Of the admins
tration.
short view of the foreign policy of the United
States will show what has been done on the subject;
and not much more is wanted to show what further
should be done, and what avoided But, as we
started on our legislative career, with respect to
commerce, for the purpose of retaiatIng the ILL
beraty Of England, it will be proper to state what
blow she struck at us FIRST.
Her attack upon US began when we were in the
cradle, and was designed to keep there; it was the
celebrated navigation act of 1850, two hundred
years persevered in, till it was repealed by the act
which took effect twenty months ago. 1t was passed
Oct 9, 1861, by the wish Of Gro well through the
republican parliament, and was adopted after the
accession Of Charles H.; and, although frequently
modified, has always been the oarta n.aritiml of
England. There were navigation laws which can
be traced back to Richard IL and in the reign Of
Henry VII, the importation of ommodities to
England, except in English ships, manned by
EngisL seanen, prohibited The idea of
restrictions foreign commerce only existed.
IL was not until there was some spirit Of liberty
manifested in the North American colonies that
the restrictive system was leveled at them. The
common impression made by English economists of
our day on the public mind, is, that this system
originated in jealousy Of Holland but it was more
the offspring Of hostility to the colonies of the New
World; and it was aimed at them 10 promote the
property Of the mother country at their expense
by cutting UP all intercourse between them and
foreign nations. The nav CATION act provided er.
pressly, that no goods commodities whatever,
the growth, manufacture, or produce Of Asia,
Africa, or America, should be imported into either
England, Ireland, or any Of the plantations except
in ships owned by English subjects, and the mas
ters and majority Of the crews Ensishmen. 1t pro-
vided further, that there should b. exports into
the colonies from Europe except In British ships or
in the ships Of the country producing the articles
These tyrannical enactments seriously crippled
the growth Of the colonies, and kept down their
energies OF mind as well as body. In May, 1913,
MIR. Webster, then ex.Secretary OF State, on his
way 10 Marshfeld, made a speech At Baltimore,
which not more i'll suited to the latitude, than
1t was founded upon a msconception Of the British
Navigation act itself lie is reported to have
said" In my opinion, the true princple-the phi-
lesorhy Of politics on this subject exhibited in the
old navigation law Of England, introduced by some
Of the bold geniuses Of Crom Wells time, and acted
upon ever since. The principle is this-the rule is
his:-Any nation may bring to Us commodities in
their own vessels, and carry our corn to her orn
ports. we having the like privilege but no nation
shall bring the products Of a third nation or carry
between and that nation"
In his own language, on another occasion, cit re-
quires no aid Of exposition, detection" to show
The error Of fact into which Mr. Webster fell OF
hat occasion 1t as obvious az the error Of taste
n putting such a dostrine to the maratime city OF
baltimore. We hope that the nativity Of the re-
trictve policy had nothing to do with Mr.. Web |
ter's sdmiratios oft; or ifit had, that iaasmuch
Is in lsi9, England wholly repealed the navigation
ct, be will feel free to 20 With for enlarging 10
tead ofcircumscribing the area Of American ship.
ing and American trade.
After the tremendous fall OF British pride, aad
he total loss Of the brightest jewel in the diadem
{ the British crown-after Yorktown, and the year
7e3 England altered her act TO suit her altered cir
49,. - L..-a.aoA Aiaaxo.AiaI anA |