The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-21

Will De acted upon steadily ana declslyely. Tht
'peace ofthe country requires this; the security
the Constitution requires this; and everycenside
ration of the public good demands this. If tn,
Administration cannot stand upon me principle,
softhc message, itdoes texpec to stand at all ,
IDAEIEL WEBsTER's Letter TO the Union Meetins
al Westchesfer
Commercial Excellence OF Anerica-An An
peal from tho Worlds Fair.
1t cannot be concealed that the participation
Of Americans in this great festival Of nations
has been any thing but satisfactory to them. In
spite of the invitation which was extended
to us in common with others, the feeling of ma
tional rivalry is too strong 10 allow of any cor
diality of feeling between the sons of Albion
and their 60 transatlantic cousinsn
Some of the English press sheer at the
American visitors as ll-bred, at their inventions
as the revival Of ideas abandoned by the Eng
lish, of their workmanship as coarse and clumsy
The doors of English factories, according to
one writer, are guarded with suspicion against
Americans; and combinations have been formed
according to another, for the exclusion Of large
and respectable class of American visitors from
social intercourse.
There Is little reason TO suppose that our fell
low-citizens will return from the visit to their
proud and aristocratic relations with any other
feeling than that they have furnished matter
for the covert mrth of those who cannot appre-
ciate them, and Of unconcealed injustice from
those who do.
1t was not to have been expected that Gov
ernment held like our own to the strictest ac-
counability for its ex ,enditures of money or ex-
ercise of authority should have, like the despot-
isms Of Europe and Asia, fitted out an ostenta-
tious exhibition Of national wealth, or won
derful illustration Of national ingenuity. Such
of our people as had the time, means, or ambi-
zion, have crossed the ocean, entered the hall
Of competition, and, with no prestige of rank or
station--with no claim TO consideration save
the excellence of their inventions, have de-
manded a comparison with others, and in some
merit.
But the show is nearly over, the bazaar of
nations is soon to be closed, and England, the
worlds tavernkeeper, will now empty her till
10 count the immense gains which the curiosity
of mankind has bestowed upon her. She has
certainly out-Barnumed creation in the museum
line. But whilst her aristocratic exclusives
are adoring ''the mountain of light" through
glass-case and a cast-iron cage, or inspecting
live Jonathan through their lorgnettes, whilst
they worship the shawls of Thibet, the gems
of Turkey, or the silks, velvet, porcelain, or
jewelry of France, there are some other
trials Of power and skill going on between the
United States and her respected prope-
which are invisible to the eye-glas-
dible to those Yho imagine II :, r.,s,and h..
-. -, I1iIval in any thing
There is comPar' son being made between
America and Er gland as to their relative pos
session OF re great elements Of national pros
perity and the great materials of national
power.
II is a comparison not made before the jury o.
the Worlds Fair, but in the open view of the
world itself 1t is a comparison from which
there is no appeal except to the arbitrament
renewed effort and continued competition.
About the date that our hosts were congratu
lating themselves upon the established SUPER
orty Of despotic diamonds and arlstocratl
thread lace-just when it seemed to be con
ceded point that cheaper fabrics could be force
out of starved and savage operatives than coul
be afforded by those who must have food
sleep. raiment, and instruction-just then Pal
lament was engaged in comparing the condl
ton Of the shipping interest of Great Brltal
with that of the United States.
1t will appear from the late census that I'll
tonnage of the United States had reached,
l849. the extraordinary amount of 1884 OF
tons, exceeding by some thousand tons II
whole tonnage of Great Britain
Ii will be remembered that Great Britain r
pealed In l849 the navigation laws, which h'
been in operation nearly two centuries. tn
admitted the shipping Of all nations into h
ports upon equal footing with her own. Abo
the same time she made special treaty wi
the United States, under which our vesse
were to be placed on the same footing with h
own. except that each nation reserved its oH
coasting trade TO its own shipping. Thus admi
ted into fair competition, the American vesse
have proited greatly by the Iiberality Of En-
land. They have undercarried her vessels
her own trade, and are seriously interferi
with that supremacy" upon the ocean viii
England claims for herself
Under this state Of things, the port
Liverpool addressed petition TO Parl
ment, setting forth its objections to the
peal of the navigation laws, and ask
certain notifications of the law. The pc
TONERS state that 90 they are the owners Of
large amount of British shipping, and tn,
in common with others, they are suffer-
greatly from the consequences arising frC