The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-26

. unavoidable injury which certain Import
ant interests have suffered, through recent
legislation by which paraphrases are to under
stand that an allusion to free trade is meant. We
are not sufficiently interested in the internal commer
eial policy Of Britain to appreciate the waGh Of tho
Times or the Morning He ald on the sAtject. We
read with concern the paragraa relating to the
fisheries. Her Majesty informs Parliament that,
" while the rights of her sa1jects have been firmly
maintained, the friendly spirit Ia which the question
has been treated induces her to hope that the ulti
mato result may be mutually beneaoial extension
and improvement OF our commercial interco urse'
with the United States.
We are glad to hear it. It has ever been the
policy Of this country to extend and improve its
commercial intercourse with all foreign nations
and We shall be well pleased if the fishery squsbble
should conduce to this great end. At the Same
time, the extension must DO in the right direction
If, by the carefully worded paragraph we have
quoted, her Majesty, or rather the government,
meant to refer to the question Of reciprocity with
the British provinces, it behoves carefully to
anime, not only whether the extension promised
will be as the Queen says, mutually beneficial"
but whether the share of benefit resulting from it
will be As nearly equal on both sides as the rules
Of prudent diplomacy require. Our commerce would
undoubtedly receive certain extension if We were
to comply with Mr.. Hincks proposal. and admit
all the forest and farm produce Of Canada free.
Blu. whether such IN extension would be as bene-
fetal to US as to our Canadian neighbors, is quite
another matter. We are not clear that the United
States would be manifest gamers by the importa-
ton Of four millions worth Of Canadian timber and
potash, instead Of millien and q quarter, or of
couple Of millions worth of animals and their pro-
ducts instead of halfa million. Nor does it appear to
us so obvious as to be beyond controversy that the
increase Of our imports of Canadian vegetable food
from two to four or five millions year. would con-
fer an inestimable benefit on the people of this
country. If, indeed, this increase were accompa-
MED by corresponding augmentation in our ex-
ports Of manufactures to Canada-if, for instance,
our trade statistics showed annual export under
this head of six or seven millions, instead Of two
and q half, then the benefit would be obvious aud
mutual. Unfortunately, the Canadian government
shows no disposition to extend the reciprocity they
desire to manufactures. They will be happy to send
us all their products free of duty, but decline re-
ceiving ours on the same terms. We question
whether such arrangement will be viewed by
our government in The light Of beneficial ex-
tension Of our commercial intercourse"
The only connection that can be discovered be-
tween the question Of reciprocity and the fishery
disputes, is predicated on the supposition that
Britain is prepared to surrender us the shore fisher
les of Nova Scotia if we will admit British
North American produce free of duty. To such
bargain MS this it is but reasonable to ex-
pect that the colonsts themselves must be part lies
Now, of the views of the Nova Scstans on the SUBJ
ect, We had tolerably fair sample in the address
TO the Queen which we published few days ago.
They take resolute stand their exclusive right
to dispose of the fisheries, and positively deny to
Great Britain the power Of disposng of them with
on. their consent They take but little interest in
the reciprocity scheme, and would not, in all pro-
liability, derive much benefit from its adoption by
this country. At I'll events, the advantages it
would confer upon them would not be common
surate with the injury which would fow from the
loss Of their exclusive right Of fishing their own
chores That these the opinions Of the people Of
Nova Scotia, Lord Derby cannot but be we'll aware;
in fact, the date Of the address mentioned above
would almost favor the belief that their indignant
remonstrauce was simultaneous with E arl Derby's
proposal to induce us to grant recipro city to
Canada, by offering the Nova Scotia fisheries as a
bribe.
Our readers will therefore Judge Of the import
which ought to be attached to this portion Of
the Queens speech In our opinion, il matters very
little what Earl Derby's plans or hopes may be-
The principles under which he took Office are not
calculated to excite much sympathy for his admin.
istration in Great Britain and we shall be erring
the safe side il we say that his tenure Of 20 1er
is eply precaricus. The settlement of the fishery
dispute and of the reciprocity question is in all
probability reserved for his successor. We must,
in reality, look to the wings for any "extension
and improvement Of our commercial intercourse"
which will be "Inutually beneficial to both
countries.
THANKSGIVING DAY.-Yesterday was celebrated
as day of Thanksgiving throughout this State and
several other States of the Union In this city it
was observed BY tho closing of stores, the prone
naoing Of tho streets and the country roads by .
joyous population, in their Sunday clothes, by the
parade Of large number of target companies, by
excellent dinners, AT which turkey was an indis
pensable requisite and merry wine sparkled in the
cup, and, at the close of the day, by the assembling
Of friends and relatives around the festive board
Besides these physical manifestations Of happiness
and thanksgiving, the day was also observed by di-
vine service In all the churches, and by sermons
appropriate to the occasion, in which the various
causes for which this nation ought to DO thankful,
above all other nations in the world, were emu
mera,ed By reference to another part of this days
paper, it win be that we have reported variety
Of matters incident to the day
To give thanks for the blessings Of Providence is
good and wholesome custom, religiously observed
by ancestors and continued by US, their descen-
dsnts, to our rational enjoyment and sdiGoa hon
custom, therefore, that combines in a high degree
the cum utle dSlc, blending instruction with
Amusement, and making men better Christians, and
better satisfied with themselves and the rest of
mankind. Never, in the history Of tho world, had
any nation such cause for thankfulness a. the Ame
rican people-great, glorious, and frse-not only
prosperous themselves. beyond all example in an
Gent or modern times, but aGording ga happy
home and affairs free'' 70 the oppressed, and thu