Washington sentinel., 1854-04-13

Recent events have shown, think conclu-
sively the truth of the above remarks, without
the necessity of my becoming personal
Now, when our commerce more than ever
directly demands and attracts the immediate
attention of the world, may it not be reason
able enough to say, that it is equally (if not
more SOY interesting to the United States
to take the necessary step in this matter to
carry these views into practical operation?
The government Of the United States has
never yet paid sufficient attention, or taken any
decided steps or measures in favor of our COM
mercial interests abroad, save that she has es-
tabshed consulates, without giving to their
consuls that power necessary to effect the OBJ
jects for which they were intended, and which
all civilized nations have done before her, but
has left our merchants to pursue their business
the best way they could by individual attention,
only affording casual protectien when the op-
portunity offered, by o stray visit of9a ship OF
war, and that so rarely that it was of no use.
Two-thirds of the ports of the West Indies
and the Spanish main, including the Brazil
coast, where we have large and rich COM
merce, and the same of the Pacific side of South
America, ASIA eastern Pacific, as well as the
north and south seaboard of Europe, includ-
ing the Mediterranean, are not visited suff-
ciently often by our vessels of war to afford ad-
equate protection to our consuls, merchants,
and trade. Some may say that our navy is
small, and cannot do this Let the United
States increase her navy, then, to meet with
the wants of her people. Don't the people pay
for it? How, then, are our merchants protected
in these cited places How are our consus
attended to? Comment on this is, in the mind
of any intelligent person, needless; the tale
tells for itself
Had the United States at this time twice the
number of consuls abroad and under pay, land
the amount of the duties Of customs alone on
few cargoes of merchandise during the year
would amply be enough to pay our consuls
abroad handsomely we would all see, in
very short time, the general benefit which
would accrue to the government by so doing |
One thingis is worthy of note here. Foreign con-
sals have more immunities and privileges than
ours. How is this? BY treaty? No 1t is
their pay that keeps them, and the ships of
war that they have always at their command, |
and the extra powers which they have given
to them from their governments, and which
our consuls have not.
1t has been argued that merchants have
nothing to do with the politics of foreign ma
tions-that is, where they are soourning.
From circumstances beyond their control, stu
ated as they are, doing business with one and
the other, they sometimes cannot help but mix
somewhat in the local affairs of the places in
which they reside, to protect themselves. And
beg leave to say that the above argument is
only made use Of by persons who are ignorant;
and hence jealousy ensues, and the merchant
is then abused, his business and himself being
unprotected. What can he do? If his character
was not considered honorable from the nature
of his vocation, he would lose caste and the
high estimation which society in general holds
him in would then become dead letter.
1t certainly is not considered advisable for
merchants in foreign countries to enter into
he political or religious disputes of the country
in which they reside. 1t is much better that
they be quiet spectators, by which means they
that transpires around them, and thereby learn
more and lose less. 1t is to the merchants
interests however, always to know, and that
well, the customs and habits, language and
usages Of the country in which they
live; and this is the rule and practice of the
foreign merchants intended for mercantile bu-
siness. They are trained up in this way so as
to combine practice with theory, when they
embark in trade for themselves.
In all countries, subject to internal COM
motions, where the laws are defective, money
will always be of more value and harder to
obtain than in countries where you find
steady and quiet government This is the case
wherever the use of money is known. Hence
it is necessary for the merchant to make him
self acquainted with the nature and causes of
the changes in money matters, exchanges, &c.,
so as to guide him right in business. How
then, can he do all this--protect and increase
his business-withont freely mixing with his
foreign neighbors?
The American merchant, too has great deal
to contend with abroad. His consul IS for
eigner, perhaps The merchants around him,
though doing American business, land a prof.
table one at that,) are foreigners for they do
at least two.thirds Of the American business
abroad. With no protection or friendship, he
has none but himself to depend upon and by
his own excrtions he has to rise or fall in his
business.
1t may be be asked why the foreign mer-
chants transact our business abroad. Why
because they have money and protection, and
we, comparatively speaking, have none; and
we know this from actual experience. Again,
when government does not cause its flag to
be respected, and protect it, it deteriorates in
that respect due to it, but on the contrary,
where that respect is enforced, the merchant of
that nation carefully avoids doing anything
that might in any way degrade the national
character Of the country to which he belongs.
When men of commercial information are
appointed consuls, it is always found that they
afford greater interest," good, and benefit, and
security of nationality to the government they
serve, than any other set Of men-that is,
If they are paid TOR their services, and do not
enter into business themselves. Understand
ing, as it is supposed they should do, the po- |
litical and commercial economy of these for
eign governments, such men as these, and
only such, are fit TO be our consuls.
If the community at large, or at least those
interested, would look into this in its proper |
light, and give it attention, the result would be
that our consuls would all be tried and edu. [
Gated men, and that our merchants would send
their youth to learn the mysteries Of trade
abroad, and an end would come to this eternal
taxation upon us, viz, paying two or three I
prices for foreign goods, because we buy from
the foreigner himself, and not from our coun-
trymen. which we ought to do if possible