Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-02

future. The Hawaiian government com
Piled without demur. Then step in the
French, who argue thus: Wines and BRAN
dies are the natural produce of the French
soil, as beer and cider are Of the British;
we have a right tobe treated on the footing
of the most favored nation: ergo, our wines
and brandies arc ovcrtaxed. Moreover.
the duty-S5 gallon-amounts to a pro-
hibition, which is plain infraction of the
treaty.
lnmy humble opinion, the French have
the worst Of it on the argument. 1t was
mistake on their part to allow the word
"wines" to stand in the treaty, without the
addition Of beer and cider; the produce of
the British soil; but, having committed the
oversight, they are bound to respect their
own agreement, which is as plain as words
can make it. Neither can il lie said that
duty of So amounts to an absolute prohibi-
tion.' The proof to the contrary is the
quantity that is consumed. Moreover.
there is precedent for such an amount
being not considered prohibition; for when
England levied 27s. q gallon upon French
brandy, she did SO under the idca-pcr.
maps emistakcn one-thatit would increase
the revenue derived from that article ofim-
port, which expectation, with a prohibito-
ry duty, would be absurd. This NAV be
all very fine" says Crapeau, in answer,
"but John Bull sends his produce, and we
will send ours-coute qui coute."
Another demand of the French is, that
the French and American missionaries
should be placed upon par with regard to
the moneys devoted by government to the
support of the respective crceds. | have
not been able to learn the details Of this
question with sufficient accuracy to war
rant me offering a private opinion; but it
certainly looks hard upon the face ofit,that
an independent nation should not beallow-
ed the distribution offs owntax gathering.
But the main demand of the French IS
this: that they should be representedin the
cabinet. "The Americans are represented"
say they; the British arerepresented, land we
will be SO too" 1t is from the want of re-
presentation that these difficulties have ac-
crued; they have already endured too long,
and we are tired of them" And in this
| must confess l think they are perfectly
right. Fair play is jewel, and it certain
ly has not been allowed them yet. They
demand to be placed on footing of perfect
equality with other nations; they ask no
more, and willaccept not one jot or one Ii
tie less. White men rule the country; for
the King is puppct, who literally .sdares
rot say his SOULS his own" tclingio the full
the irksomeness ofthe yoke,yet not daring
to shake 1t Oft. White men rule, each "a.
vorlng the cause of his own particular ma
ton, and we must have our own share of
power.
There is yet another demand, ofless con-
sequence, believe, than the rest-tbot all
correspondence between the French and
Hawaiian governments should be carried
on IN the French language. "Correspon-
dence between the Hawaiian and the Brii.
tsh or American governments" say thew.
SIS carried on, not in the native language,
but IN the English, which is a compliment
to them at our expense" Now, the fact
is, that English, strickly speaking, is as
much the language of the country as Ha-
wanan-having been declared by law the
Official language, in consequence of the in
capacity of the Hawaiian to express Off.
cial ideas. 1t is, Indeed, the only language.
qaoad hoe.
No one can tell yet how this will end;
but my own strong impression is, that the
French will not proceed, au1 uoies de tatt,
to actual aggression. They have done so
once already, and to try it second tme,in
the same quarrel, with a puny State like
this, would be ridiculous; and Frenchrnau
is constltutionally too sensitive to ridicule
even to risk it. Possibly the port nigh,
be blockaded in case of the Hawaiian GOV
ernment not giving way; but even that
do not think likely. But the cabinet are
making the most of it, trying hard to ac-
cumulatc appearances ofinjury and oppres-
sion, counting the reputation of martyrdom
by every device they can imagine. may
be unjust to them. 1t is only private O.
Pinlon, after all; but | cannot hell thinking
thatthey retrying toexasperatethe French
into landing. At all events, their manage
ment of the affairs justifes our believing
that they consider an open and palpable
grievance the best thing that could happen
to them. Either this is their game-which,
fso' has been cleverly managed enough
or else they lie open to the charge ofthe
greatest diplomaticincapacity. They have
unnecessarily provoked an ultimatum, pre-
GLIDING all chance from thatmoment of an
amcable arrangement, cutting themselves
OIL from every chance of being allowed to
march out with flying colors, and will have
to submit after, or to adopt a course that
will finally involve them in greater Difficult
ties than ever.
+. >. Since writing the above, I have
heard many assertions that the French will
blockade this port, and | have so far chan
ged my opinion In Consequence as to be-
iieve 1t quite likely they viii do so.
Mr.. WEBsTER.-The Washington I'm
ION commenting on Mr.. Websters speech
at Buffalo, pays the following tribute to the
honesty and manly character of that dis
tinguishcd statesman:
after a careful perusal Off TMr. Web
s'SNSiI VIC are Tree 10 say that we
have risen from our seat with more favor
able Impressions of the character of Mr..
Webster than we have ever had before
For candor, fairness of statement, and the
enthusiasm o. honest and patriotic convic-
ton, we have seen no document emana-
ting from the leaders ofany party more en-
ntled to commentator He seeks to do no
injustice to those who have opposed and
who now oppose his policy and the cher
ished principles of his party. There is no
accusation, no reproach, no trick-nothing
set down in malice or extenuated in the
spirit of ilhberality for thepurpose of gain
ing power by professions which are not at.
forwards to be observed. He does not
say that he has no friends to reward or en-
mes to punish His pla,c,rr, =; L. e