The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-16

the otion, and from this day forward she per-
mlts TIE same, and procl9ms it." By this law |
Burnes Ayres permitted the opening of the Rio de |
" Plata, (which never had been lawfully prohibited
since the viceroyal domination 81 Spain hut abe
allowed the opening Of the river only for mercantile
and not for military navigation. But even long be-
fore this Legislature met mt Buenos Ayres the Ar
gebtine Confederation had declared the Plata and
all its great nfuent streams open both TO ships Of
war and trading vessels.
In order II make this freedom Of navigation .
fixed reality and not merely doubtful theory, Me
Argentine Confederation embodied it "a q tnnda'
mental principle in its consultation: Baenos
the Argentine Confederation made it always 70 en-.
ter ~ settled principle in every tryaty entered
into by It with other nations; but Buenos Ayres,
year after its acknowledgment of the principle by
the law Of October, solemnly protested agsinst the
treaties IN which the freedom OF navigation was a.
serted. This protest of Buenos Ayres " on record
in the Cabinets Ct France, OF England, and Of the
United States. The Argentine law OF differental
duties has not merely for its object the practical
assertion OF the freedom of navigation which 1t has
proclaimed by law but akO it has another object in
view, namely, that Of establishing and maintaining
the political unity of the whole Argentine republic
and Of I'LL the several States This plan is the same
means which were employed by the United States
in order to compel two refractory States OF the
Union to enter into the common confederation
which, account Of the superiority OF their harbors
relatively to the other States, were unwilling to Join
the CoDfederacy of States, from desire or retaining
for themselves the superior commercial advantages
offered them exclusively by their several ports. To
overthrow 10 weaken this principle Of CON-
mon participation and general union would have for
its effect 10 bring upon the Argentine republic,
for and arms would be the only left for
It 70 defend the integrity Of the confederation which
necessary for the common interest 70 be preserved
In conformity with these views the President of
the Contederated Argentine States declared To the
ministers Of France and England that he would in
wade the territory OF BuenOe Ayres on the very same
day that that province shall place itself in hostile
position to the other States and to the free aavga
ton Of the rivers by procaiming herself m ndepen-
dent State.
The past history of the Argentine republic enables
us very easily to prognosticate what would be the
infaible result II this question should come to be
referred To the decision Of In all the domestic
contests and struggles with BuenOs Ayres the other
States have never failed in conquering and making
the latter submit. In 1920 their forces marched
even into the great square OF the city OF BuenOs
Ayres. In the capitulstion of Pillar they forced her
IA sign and seal q solemn act Of the abdicati0n Of
her ancient rank and title of metropolis of the re-
public. In 1880 Rosas sought TO establish his power
in the province of Santa Fee, but was defeated by
the forces of that State at the bridge of MARQUEE.
In 1910 General Lavale marched with an army
down from the province Of Correntes as far as
Moron, in the province of BuenOs Ayres,
and would have triumphed over Buenos Ayres il he
had chosen to fire single shot. In 1852, at Monte
Caseros the united provinces defeated the socalled
invincible Rosas, at a time when Buenos Ayres was
all and everything, and the other States and Pro.
vinces were nothing. In 1858, at the time of the
siege of Buenos Ayres the other States did not even
50 much as march any troops against 5uenos Ayres;
General Urquiza did not lead any OF the confede
rated forces against that city. The inhab-
tants of the country round Buenos 'Ayres had
risen up and laid siege to the city. The be-
segers called upon General Urquizs to assist
them, and he went alone, without any army,
by command of the national Congress, to establish
peace in the province He might have taken the
city ten times over and again. but he did not do it,
in order To spare the eusion of blood which he just
ly regarded as q very sorry means of establishing
peace in q country. The siege was terminated by
the surrender OF OF the squadron which was suffer
ing for want OF water. Ever since that time the
President of the republic is daily being called upon
and solicited by the parties OF Buenos Ayres to assist
them in putting down the government He does not,
however, accede to their wishes, from desire for
peace, which is the life and soul of country whose
soil for so many years past has been made red with
the blood Of its citizens. The vanguard, however,
Of General Urquzas army is still at Buenos Ayres,
az II was in 1853.
Influenced by the knowledge of all these facts
and circumstances the foreign Powers have en-
tered into treaties with the general GO
eminent OF the united provinces, and have
seeing ne that the Interests 'ne the 'u aaed
provinces identical with those Of the European
Powers, They have understood that the indirect
derived all its value and importance from the in
terror Argentine provinces, and that the powers
hitherto exercised by BueDos Ayres over trade and
commerce belong by right 10 the general republic
OF all the united provinces, Of which Buenos Ayres
is only minor part or section.
II al the riches imported into and exported from
Buenos Ayres belonged 70 the simple province OF
Buenos Ayres, why should she be so jealous Of the
law which opens all the ports Of the other States 10
free intercourse with foreign nationsl Montevideo
which possesses a better port than Buenos Ayres
has acted more frankly and openly. She has con.
feseed that she is ruined by this law, and has had
recourse 70 the mediation of Brazil in the effort to
obtain grant that her port may be made the inter
mediate port as formerly, between the Argentine
States, In their trade with foreign nations.
IL must not be forgotten that the Argentine pro-
vinces carry their foreign trade in two different
ways frst, directly by the ports OF Santa Fe, Entire
Rios, Correntes, and Tin normal times) Buenos
Ayres; and secondly indirectly, by Montevideo,
Bus nos Ayres, Chile andI}olivia
The trade Of the Argentine provinces with Europe
IL carried on at all these various places without
reckoning the business of the intermediate mer-
chants who desire 10 keep all the trade for them
selves. People generally in America speak Of the
behring's Of New York the crockery ware Of Liver
pool, the wines Of Cadiz, the cloths Of Hamburg,
&c. because those are the ports from whence these
products are shipped But they are the product Of
large and extensive interior country. and not Of
the ports themselves. So, in the same manner, In
Europe and the United States, people hear OF the
hides the wool the salt beef of Buenos Ayres; they
never bear in the papers Of ships sailing for
or from Cordovs Entire Rios, Mendoza, salta,
Tucumsn, &c, in which provinces the goods are
produced which are shipped at Buenos Ayres and
MOntevldeo. Yet these two ports would have ii to
lie believed that all these numerous products be-
long 10 them. Buenos Ayres carries ON by means
OF its coasting vessels an immense trade with
the inland provinces, and IL Is this trade which
" the life and foundation Of all the trade and com
me1ce OF which she can boast This trade can be
carried on just well directly with the ports on the
great Mediterranean rivers which are as accessible
to foreign ships Buenos Ayres or Montevideo.
Foreign governments begin now 10 understand this
matter and are desirious Of opening IN their com
merce the vast markets Of Mediterranean America,
instead Of keeping II restricted 10 the narrow limit
10 which II confined by the jealous colonial poll
cy Of spain in olden times
But supposing that Busnoe Ayres n entitled 10 be
called the Athen ~ Ia Plata M a resat OF
twenty years subsection TO the dark and dismal do