The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-28
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1858


WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1853.
The distorted Lecture of Er-Secretary Grahar''
In the interesting lecture of the Hon. w. A. Ora
ham, delivered before the New York Historical Soci-
ETY., on the evening Of Thursday last and very fully
reported in the HERALD Of the following morning.,
there is an alusion made to David Tanning, who
was chief OF the tory commanders in North Carolina
during the revolutionary war; and who it is stated
"has left character in the traditions Of the country
associated with every crime savorng of rapacity re-
venge or cruelty" and which "caused him, with
two others only, to be specially excepted from the
provisions of the act of pardon and oblivion passed
by the Legislature at the conclusion Of the peace"
He is further described by Mr.. Graham as having
outved the war; and taken refuge in the loyalis set.
tlement of Nova Scotia.
1t was not in that province that Mr. Tanning found
home, but in Prince Edward island which has re-
Gently attracted notice. owing to the agitation of the
fishery question, and which had been formed into a
separate government in 1769-six years after il
coded to Great Britain by France subsequent to the
capture Of Quebec; the entire area Of which was
granted away in one day. in England to persons hav
lots Of 80 900 acres each under the extraordinary
condition that they should be settled with foreign
Protestants, from parts of Europe not in the Kings
dominions, or who had resided two years in his do
Subsequent to Col Tanning quitting this country,
he obtained the rank of general officer in the Br
tish service, and was appointed Governor Of Prince
Edward Island then known as that Of st. john
where he determined to reside until the period of his
DEATH bequeathing large property to two daugh.
ters both of whom are living at Charlottetown, the
capital and who il not possessing the sterner nature
OF their father inherit his conservative disposition.
They are, however, accomplished and estimable Ia
dies, and evince in their department those superior
and refined manners characteristic Of the higher
s~x1 :o1xA AL
w.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1858.
archaeological Of the Proposition Entertained
blythe Committee ON Commerce to didn't Anei-
can Timber INTO England Free Of Duty-Obsta-
eles to be Ocercome-Posaion Of the Question Be
fare the Chamber Of Commerce-Defeat Of the
Branch Mint Bill.
The Committee on Commerce will be prepared this
week to report bill on the subject Of reciprocity and
the fisheries. Mr.. Seymour, the chairman, intends to
give notice of submitting the report which will pro-
badly be made on Monday or Tuesday 1t is propos
ed to introduce clause providing for the admission
of American timber into Great Britain free OF duty as
one of the terms upon which reciprocity shall be
granted But there are difficulties attending this
measure that would defeat the object Of the trainers
Of the bill These are two-fold respects the trea-
ties between England and the foreign powers Of the
continent, which, ! believe, provide that their
trade with that country shall be placed the same
footing that Of the most favored nations and Sc
condy, with reference to colonial interests The first
of these difficulties might probably be disposed Of in
accordance with the principles Of free trade. Not so
with the second
Owing to the proximity of England to the CONT
nent, Baltic timber, which is Of superior quality,
can be shipped at lower rate Of freight, and less
time is occupied in the voyage than from this side Of
the Atlantic. And in addition to this, the low price
of labor in Europe makes the cost of the article at the
shipping port much less than it is in America.
To enable the colonies to compete with Europe, as
regards timber-and the same remark would apply
to the United duties are levied
England. At one time these were so enormously
high that vessels could load at ports in the North Of
them there, reload and carry them to England, where
they entered British timber, the expenses being
more than covered by the reduction of duty And in
this way profit was realized over and above that
derived from the sale of the timber.
From time to time these duties have been gradually
reduced, SO that at present they about meet the diff
ference of freight still leaving an advantage on the
side of the European account of the cheapness Of
labor Against these successive reductions, the colo
MES have uniformly commended; and if Baltic timber
could be introduced into England free OF duty, the
effect would be destructive OF their numbering and
shipbuilding interests, which, at present, are in
fiourishing condition. Consequently, if the bin
should contain such provision, and 1t obtains the
sanction of Congress- we shall hear no more Of rec
procity on the part OF Canada and New Brunswick,
both which provinces extensively engaged in the
manufacturing of timber and in ship building. The
Nova Scotians, however, would care little about 1t,
as that province has agricultural and fishing popu
lation.
At present, timber cut in the State of Maine and
sent down the ST. John, to be shipped to England,
pays the same duty there as that manufactured in
the province the Ashburton treaty providing that it
shall be treated as British timber The people of
that State, however, overshot the mark when they
insisted upon such proviso, as it will be seen that
when shipped from British port it must partake OF
its national character when it arrives in England
and consequently, there necessity for such a
guaranty. In the present state Of the public mind in
England, proposition to admit foreign timber free
Of duty, would doubtless meet with the favorable
consideration of the government; but repeat, it
would be strenuousy opposed by the colonies, and
would have probably, the effect of postponing the
decision of the fishery question for another year I'M
less discretionary power were vested in the Presi-
dent
The Committee on Commerce, however, viii not
to decision until the tenor Of the treaties be-
tween Great Britain and foreign powers shall have
been ascertained. The coal interest has been found
too strong in the committee, and the continuance
of the duty will remain undisturbed fish will be per-
mitted to be imported from the colonies free of duty,
on condition that American fishermen will have a
right to take and cure fish On the North American
coast; and the numbering interests OF Maine will only
be propitated by clause providing for the free ad
mission Of American tmberin Great Britain. This is
the present latitude and longitude Of the Committee
on Commerce.
The defeat of the Branch Mint bill yesterday, was
rather unexpected to the friends, as well oppon-
ents Of the measure, after the decided votes against
its rejection, and the motion to lay it on the table
There was great deal of manGuvring to produG
this result and Messrs Briggs Seymour, Hart am
Brooks were indeiatigable in their cxertons to pro
cure the attendance OF the friends of Branch Mint at
New York, who unfortunately absent, and
which enabled its opponents to bring the issue to an
unfortunate termination. 1t is probable. however,
that provision establishing al assay office will be
engrated in the Civil and Diplomatic bill, by the
Senate. w.
To HRS. Polk.
on HER LEAVING wAsHINGroN