Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-02

THE GUASo QuEsrIoS.-We are indebted to the Hon.
George X. Riddle, Tor a copy Of an elaborate report sub
mitted in the House Of Representatives from a special
commit ce, from which be was chairman, 10 whom had
been referred the memorial of two thousand citizens OF the
state oil Delaware, praying the government OF the United
States 10 effect some arrangement with Peru by which.
for a just and proper equivalent, the Peruvian government
will either cede 10 the L. States one of her guano islands
or by removing the existing restrictions upon American
vessels engaged IN the suano trade, place the trade in
that article upon a more just and liberal commercial basis.
TIE co nniTt,e have conatei with greIt Industry all ii q
negoii 'tions that have taken place bet xeen the republ G. Of
the United States aud Peru on the general subject OF
commerce and international pUlitv, and have swelied out
their report 10 the proportions Of a respectable volume
ny the reprinting OF treaties aud correspondence ,h.
might very properly have been allowed to quietly repose
IN the Archieves OF the State Department. What con-
nection much OF the msiter presented has 10 do with the
suano question We are unable TO discover, and we
cannot but regre; that OF 50 important a subject, the com,
miitee should have confused aud distracted the attention
directed TO 1t by eniombing their really important sug
grsuons beneath such a proix aud formal mass of treaties
aud diplomatic correspondence a. will deter the majority
OF readers iroua even au attempt at penetrating The dull
profundity.
The result OF what il takes fits octave pages Of N. i.
port TO reprint is stated to bs-that Efforts have been
made by three successive administrations 10 induce Perm
10 enter into more liberal commercial treaties with the
government of the United States, but that such efforts.
strong as they were, nave been unsuccessful. With a
Knowledge OF these facts. and the reasons which have
conduced them, the committee iesi authorized to recon-.
mend that the Psesiient Of the United States az IN invite
the Peruvian government TO treaty, with the specific OBJ
Ject of obtaining the right to our merchants to purcha.e
guano, like other products Of Peru, upon bsr own soil.
and upon the terms of the mos. f,vored nation. Also, TO
report a bill imposing inpost duties, on 4 sliding scale,
upon the Chincha island guano.
The first proposition, the Committee believe, would be
nnav iilng unless followed By the retAliatory legislation
proposed. The English bond holders, who absorb d large
portion OF the receipts received from the sulno sales, are
represented to be the parties irauenlially concerned in
maintaining the erhor5itant and restrictive price at which
il is sold, and there is thought to be bui little doubt that
the peruvian Government, let to itself aud uninalenced
by foreign interests, would long since have negotiated with
the United States a favorable treaty. But whilst under
this English influence the Committee think there is no hope
for negotiation except by the coerciTe mode of adopting
q plan ofimports a. proposed. ~IfcOnSress will pass alaw ad
hitting guano duty free while it Is sold 10 the United States
at a price which will literally reward the producer, and
which the farmer eau proftsbly afford to give aud impose
a p'ohibitory duty when 1t reaches a price which no cir.
cumsiance can justify, as ia nov very generally the case,
Peru, il il argued, will very soon come to terms, and enter
into a liberal treaty with our government.-Balt. Amer.