New-York tribune., 1867-05-31
yyTERNATTONAL BARTER.

INTERNATIONAL BARTER.
I'm the sublime, not to say economicai, art OF
swappng it was long ago universally cOnceaeu
that America fogs the universe. An elaborate
trucking match between two full-bloOded yam
I,ees is perhaps, the most equal OF all possible
contests. and the finest exhibition OF natural
abrewdness of which the human race is capa-
HE. Next to this may be ranked similar
rencontcr between an American ana ocOtch-
man. for here too, the balance often tremDles'
and tbe laurels of a swindlng victory are long
hold in allowance. There may be other nations
Notorious for their keen and cunning genius;
Inf of those Uncle Samuel need not stand III
tho smallest fear. When bargain is on foot,
tbov arc as children in his hands. Though he
NAV ostensibly dckcr for tho sake OF ainuse-
ment, the other party usually mas OUT Ill tno
end that it is MT Jonathan who is TO pay the
EXPENSES If anything were needed, alter mr'
Summers elegant grafton, to convince the peo-
pIe that Sitka is not one Of MIR. SewardS haru
BARGAINS il would be the rumor, some tlme
since current and now revived, that, parity OF
wholly, we are to pay for our new reai estatc
in secondhand ir0n-clads. The Mlantononlah
is mentioned as one of the gallant vessels thus
to he handed over, and other triumphs OF naval
architecture arc to follow. We tako 1t for
Granted that tbe craft are to be delivered In
American barbors without warranty. The Gar
must run the risk Of getting them saieiy 10
Cronstadt or other Russian port. The race OF
the wise men of Gotham who took perllous
VOYAGES in bowls, is extinct III these parts, ana
an iron clad leaking in mid ocean would eXhiDt
an alacrity in sinking quite uniavoraDle 10 tne
preservation of the crew and cargo NOT ls
this the most dismal of our antcipations. we
will suppose the MantonOmah safely arrived IN
Russia. His Imperial Majesty resolves at once
! TO make what is called a trial trip in the bonny
boat. Surrounded by his courtiers, his gentle
men in waiting, his Prime and his petty MINIS
ters ho stcams out while p11ss.c SOUNDS; ana
CAV tnsigns fiuttcr, and the champagne corks
pop, and al is going as merry as whole peal
of marriage bells Suddenly there is an explo-
sion. or the bottom of the ship drops out
and the fate of Pharaoh and his followers
ove,toIces the Car and all his tail The point
il whether the succeeding monarch will not
then come upon Llr. Seward, as Secretary, tor
damages; and whether, if we decline to pay,
as we certainly should war would not be de-
| clarcd against us by the indignant Gar. In
such case, Sitka might prove rather a cosby
whistle reckoning even the full value OF ltS
whales. furs, Gods, half breeds, full-blooded In
dians. thermal currents, poetical and romantic
associations, pine trees, metals, fresh ana salt
fab. fogs and ice-flOes (ridc Mr.. Summers
speech pGSSim -,
Still. rs we always do, we will hope for the
best; and, while we are about it, and His
Majesty of the Russias is in good-natured
l.. lof i,ava a LITTLE more
territory somewhere, and take his pay in what
ever else we may wish to be rid OF. our Gov
ernmcnt. like Mr.. Crook, or Mr. Qullp, has on
hand large and varied assortment OF lumber
with which the MiantOnomah might be 0allasteu
when she goes ovcr-chOice old honey-comDeu
ouns. warranted, if never fired, never to explode;
pyran,ids of rusty shot, Off service but 10 oeco-
rate the dock-yards tuns upon tuns OF congress
siouoI Globes. which His Majesty would find to
be very pretty reading; several ten-acre pictures
painted to order, and likely, If We keep them'
! TO provc every one of them, an illustrated re-
bus TO future generations files of Mr.. Secre-
tary's Diplomatic Correspondence ile-whlsky
seized for on-payment Of taxes; and whatever
rusty pork and shoddy clothing the Bureau
mas have on hand. We are commercial
pcople. and why should Mt our Government be
commercial9 We are a sharp people, and why
should Mt our Government be sharpf While it
only trades with Emperors and Kings, and Cab
incts aud Plenipotentiaries, it will have no
difficulty in keeping up its dignity
and it may increase its business until Penn
sylvania-ave. shall become quite another Chat
ham-st.. and all the cellars of all the depart
ments shall be filed with old junk and the
! like commodities. We see Mr.. Seward COM
placently putting the three golden balls over
the door OF his Office, and then, with his most
fascinating smile lying i'll wait upon the
threshold for those diplomatic representatives
who may pass by. We hear his business ap-
peas: Want frigate, Cap. Change it for
"Haytm "Want a fine lot of old guns,
esquire? I'll take Cuba for them, and throw
Gin 100000 muskcts Write TO your master,
"and tell him | said So" Then the poor en-
bassadors will go in; and what will happen to
them before they get ont again, the Lord only
knows. We have no heart TO pursue the sub
jcct. "
! REASON as, PASSION