The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-05
THACKERAY ON IRVING.

moral worth and critical insight, all his country
men have said, thought and written on the sub
ject; whereas, kindly Thackerays tribute is, in
spirit, and well intended, it undoubtedly was
to those who intimately knew and truly loved
| Washington Irving, there is much to offend the
taste and misead the novice in this much-com-
mended article. 1t gives one unacquainted with
Irving quite false idea of the man; it represents
his way of living in light not at all correct he
idea conveyed is, that the author of the Sketch
BOOK was an easy, simple, amiabe old fellow, who
| scrlmped himself, with one lazy old horse and a
single glass OF wine per diem, for the sake of saw
ing up pennies for his nine nieces Now there was
not particle of namby -pamby benevolence about
Washington Irving. He always lived liked gen
tleman, and had everything respectable, if not
"hands0me" about him; he had three horses at
least and four carriages, and, though he never
made any parade or display, yet he prded him
self on having everything quietly comfortable
about him.
Moreover, there Is an indirect reflection on the
family in the insinuation that Irving practised a
painful degree of selfdenial for their sakes-whch
all familiar with the facts know to be utterly at
variance with the truth 1t is also untrue that his
| residence was always described in exaggerated
terms by his partial countrymen. as if it was a
large domain or an elegant mansion; on the con-
trary 1t ever had the name of ''the COTTAGE" and
the charm about it was in the idea of snugness and
unpretending comfort and simplicity There is a
tone about the article which savors of indelicacv
and is singulary out of keeping with the cbarac-
teristics of that genial yet dignfed and true
Is.
not native refinement enough to appreciate such a
character, and treat of it with the respect and rood
taste demanded. There is patrOnizing tone about
his article-kindy and euogistic it is, the snob
peeps out unaware; ''dear, amiabe, simple old man
that he was;" how that phrase would have grated
on lrving's ear! How repulsive it is to those who
know how much there is to reverence and admire
as well as to sympathse with and love in Washing
ton Irving! We have noticed these things because
that awkward squad" which the dying Burns
begged his friends to keep from firing over his
grave, have apparently not done with making
capital out of the precious memory of Irving.
COMMERCE KEEPS THE PEACE.
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ENGLAND, FRANCE AND THE
UNITED STATES COMPARED.
In the debate on the commercial treaty in the
House of Lords on the 18th March, Lord Taunton
in the course of his remarks, sad Their lordships
were aware that from time to time there had arisen
very difficult and delicate questions between this
country and the United States, which, if not con-
Quoted with temper, discretion and moderation on
both sides, might have involved both countries in
all the caamities of war. The commercial rela-
tions between them, however, were so vast and so
important that he was satisfied they had a great
practical effect in preventing the crimes and mise
rles OF an unnecessary contest. Hear This con-
slderatlOn was an indication how desirable il was
that they should, ii possible improve their com
mercial relations with France. Hear He should
now briefly call the attention of their ordships to
the circumstances under which this treaty was made
Ever since free-trade policy had been adopted and
necessary
to alter their policy with regard to commercial
treaties. They found it was no longer of anv use
to go cap in hand to the different countries of the
world tor the purpose of framing commercial trea-
ties on the principal Of equivalents. The fact was
that other countries imagined they had distinct
and separate interest of their own in making pro-
pOsals of this kind and therefore the more we
urged them to this policy the less they were dis
posed to reciprocate In addition to this the more
fully they carried out the principle Of free trade
the less of equivalents remained for them to offer
Whilst still desiTous of promoting our commercial
intercourse with France, we had in general aban-
doned the idea OF passing tariff treaty with that
country. But that which was most unexpected bv
them occurred-an overture from the French
government itself for the framing of such a trca-
ty. Hear, hear. That altered the whole as
pect of the case. Whilst fully cOncurring in the
opinion expressed by the noble earl below the gang
way earl Grey,) that the day had long passed in
this country for acting on the doctrine of eduiva-
Tents, yet he could not but think that when the
French government expressed willingness to relax
their prohibitory and highly protective system,
the government of this country would have been
highly culpable if they neglected so favorable an
occasion of accomplishing an object they had so
long at heart. [lIear, hear. Having stated the
circumstances in which the treaty originated he
would now call the attention of their lordships to
the main provisions which it contained. They were
simple and not numerous. The concessions on the
part of England-in calling them concessions he
was using the phraseology of a bygone time be-
cause there not a single one of them which was
not for their benefit and which sooner or later
they would have carried out in their own interest
involved a loss of revenue to the amount of
81 ,l90,0O0 The present condition of the French
tariff was highly protective and prOhibitory. Our
cOttons, wOollens, hardware, pottery, and linens
were either absolutely prohibited such high du-
ties levied on them to have the effect of pTohb-
tion. Now it was stipulated on the French side
that the duties on our manufactured articles should
not exceed 80 per cent, and ultimately should be
reduced to % per cent. But considerable latitude
vEn1 oil fpra al.
limit, and the French government promised to act
in the most liberal manner. He confessed that
great deal would depend on that promise being
carried out in the spirit in which it was conceived
and he believed that it would be carried out in a
liberal and Just spirit; but, independently of that,
is was very possible to carry on an extensive and
advantageous trade with country levying high
duties on our manufactured articles. With no
country had they so large and advantageous a
trade as with the United States of America, and
yet the tariff of the United States ranged between
20 and 30 per cent. 1t might, perhaps, be urged
that the circumstances of the United States and of
France were not the same, that whilst the United
States were only to a certain extent a manufactu-
ring country, France was manufacturing country
to very considerable extent. That was only true
up to a certain point, for he believed that of the
exports to France at that moment, three -ffths
were manufactured articles, and two-fths articles
of raw produce. There was, therefore, a very
considerable similarity in the trade between this
country and the United States and between this
country and France.
BILL FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF POLYGAMY.-The
following is the bill for the punishment and sup
preston of polygamy, now under consideration in
the House at Washington:
Bill to punish and prevent the practice of polyga-
my in the Territories of the United States and
other places, and disappearing and annulling
certain acts of the legislative assembly of the |
Territory of Utah. and which sets forth
Whereas, 1t is admitted that pOygamy is per- |
tod hI-t nafi pf nf tha
Territories of this Union, and is sought to be just
fed on the ground that this abomination in a |
Christian country, is religious rite of said Terri |
tory and whereas, no principle of selfgovernment
Or citizen sovereignty can require justify the |
practice of such moral pollution; therefore,
Resolved, etc., That if any person persons being
married and inhabitant of any Territory of the
United States or other place, over which the Uni
ted States possess exclusive jurisdiction, shall in
with any person or persons, or CO. |
habit with any person or persons, or live with |
any person or persons as partners acknow Lodging
conjugal relations, the former husband wife be-
ing alive, he she or they so offending SHALL con-
viciOn thereof, pay a fine not exceeding five hun
dred dollars, and be imprisoned not less than two
years nor more than five years; provided, never
theess, that this section, or anything therein
tanned, shall not extend to any person or persons
whose husband or wife shall absent himself or her
self from the other, for the space of five years,
the of them not knowing the other to be living
within that time, nor to any person or persons who
shall be, at the time of such marriage, divorced by
authority, or to anv person or persons
whose former marriage, by sentence of competent
shall have been declared void.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted that the fol-
owing ordinance of the provisional government of
the State of Deseret, called, namely, can Ordi-
nance Incorporating the Church of Jesus Christ |
Of Latter Day Saints" passed February eighth, in
The year eighteen hundred and forty and adopt
ed, re-enacted and made valid by the Governor
and legislative assembly of the territory of Utah
by an act passed January nineteenth, in the year
eighteen hundred and fifty-fve, entitled, "An act
n relation to the compilation and revision of the
avs and resolutions in force in Utah territory,
heir publication and distribution" and all other
acts and parts of acts heretofore passed by the said
Legislative Assembly of the territory of Utah
which establish, support maintain, shield or cOunte
nance polygamy, be, and the same hereby are dis
shall be so limited and construed not to affect or
interfere with the rights of property legally ac-
luired under the ordinance heretofore mentioned,
nor with the right to ''worship God according to
he dictates of conscience" but only to annul all
acts aud laws which establish, MAINTAIN, protect,
lr countenance the practice of poll lygamy, evasive
called spiritual marriage however disguised by
eoal or ecclesiastical soemnties, sacraments cere-
Monies consecrations or other cOntrivances.
BRANCH's SUBsuTUTE.-Be it enacted, that the
bird and fourth sections of the act entitled can
,ct to establish a Territorial government for
Utah" approved ninth day of September, eighteen
hundred and fifty, be, and the same are, hereby
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That hereaf
er the legislative power, defined and limited in
aid act, shall be vested in the Governor and thir-
een of the most fit and discreet persons of the ter
L IL ~