The Sun.
London, England, 1818-11-02 00:00:00

dual cases.

Some rapers, indeed, have observed, that as
England makes her own tisciel regulations, Ame-
rica has an equal right to do the same—a troth
that cannot he denied—the tight we allow, but
may still question the expediency. Every nation
may do that for herself, which is not a direct in-
y to another ; and io so doing she may keep
clear of actual hostility : but there are acts which
may be indirectly hostile and injurious, though
not reduceable to that precise point ; and it these
acts take place without any apparent correspon-
dent advantage to the nation entorcing them, or it
•they go beyond the strict bounds of reciprocity, in
counteractiog previous restrictions, it is not unfair
to•suppose that something, more titan a fair sense
of national protection, and cat national justice, is
anamigst the impulses to action.
Japan shuts her ports op a general pt i nciple to
all foreign commerce ; with a small exception,
China does the stone. We question not their
right ; but who does not despise their fogy ? Let
it be remembered, however, that these Countries
act solely upon their own internal principles, not
upon those of exterior relations. The United
States may do the same. They may shut their
ports against all nations, destroy their own foreign
ermine' ce, and confine their navigation to a coast-
ing trade. But if they exclude one nation in par-
ticular, without some lair and ostensible reason,
such an act is more than an indirect act of hosti-
lity, and demands explanation: lf, however, that
explanation is founded on unfair and unreasonable
grounds, the proceeding becomes both an injury
and an insult, unless we choose to do, as is often
done in private life, give them a fool's pardon !
Bur, to leave generals, and come to particulars,
let its see how the matter actually stands. Britain
founds Colonies in North America, the East and
West Indies, &c. maintains, anti protects them
at an .inonettie .expense. They are her own
farms. The settlers colonize upon that known
principle. The Colonies are the property of the
nation, in the aggregate; but the people are fellow-
subjects, not vassals, and private property is in-
violable. To enjoy the profits of her Own pro-
perty, Britain passes a Navigation Act, which
confines the trade of these Colonies to her own
shipping, and excludes all foreign nations, though
she does not refuse to purehaze foreign produce
fur colonial supply ; Foreigners so far reaping a
111:0fit from British Colonies, though Britato re-
tains the varying trade, thereby augmenting her
N'avy,extendiug her commerce, securing her own
independence and stability, at the same time co-
t iching and protecting the world !
During a long lapse of years, her Colonies
flourish, inconsequence of her capital, her credit,
her enterprize, and her power. It is true these
Colonies arc interdicted from foreign trade, but
they have every facility of trade with the Mother
Country, and amongst themselves ; in which,
mark we, the North American Colonies largely
participated, having as free a, trade with the West
Indies as the Mother Country possessed. It I go
too far—" if the trade was not quite as free as that
of the Mother Country—the- United States Mast
not make the exception, for that would be a
powerful argument against themselves is the very
case in point.
But, in the state of things described, the Bt
i-
tish North American colonies choose to throw off
their allegiance. They cease to be Blitish sub-
jects. Of course they become Foreigners, and
come precisely within the exceptions of lititish
Law, possessing no rights or claims beyond those
arising out of Indrpentlence, or writteo
Treaty. We find it convenient, however, to
procto.e certain supplies from the ports of the
Unlied States fur our \Vest India Colonies, when
we might, with greater propriety, have encourag-
ed our own Canadian and Nova Scotian trade, not
only giving large profits to the States, but even
permitting a considerable portion of the carrying
trade to be enjoyed by their shipping. 'lsis true
we did this from. an opinion that it was for our
own general convenience ; but it was still an in-
friogement of a general principle, acted upon by
all Nations possessing Colonies ; and, therefore,
in some measure, an indulgence, at least a 0011-•
siderable source of• profit to the United Stages.
But now to their present demands. I must
-conies's that their laws and their explanations have
been so wordy and so lengthy, it w as for some thne
difficult to find their claims clearly expressed,
though they could not fail to be understood ; but
their recent explanation, in your raper a few days
hack, speaks plainly. It is simply this, that the
United States shall enjoy as free a trade with the
thitish ll'est Indies,- to be specijically granted. by
Art of Parliament, us is possessed by the Mother
Country !!!
Do yoo stare or start, Mr. Editor, whilst read-
ing this ? I do, I assure you, whilst writing it—
for if this claim is founded in right or reason,
they Lave an equal right to extend it to the
East Indies, to Gibraltar, to Malta,—nay, to
demand that the British Navigation Act shall be
repealed as far as regards the United States of
America ! ! !
Bot what is their alternative ? "Give us a free
trade with your Colonies, or we shall stop all trade
with them whaisoever."—lndeed ! and is this
doing no more than they have an actual tight to do,
witbout being accused of hostility ? Is not this
a little beyond the acknowledged law of recipro-
city between Nations ? If America, indeed, pos-
!coed Colonies, she inigla establish reciprocal cuun-

I
t
ter-testrictions; bat this goes far hypo(' that
principle '! It is the impotent threat of a suf.
schoolboy—the true chandler's shop ia" of
g
silly fellow, who refuses to sell his f0"-nii
candles and small coal,' in hopes of carrYiq
it
petty point at a parisli vestry—in, short, Sir./ bile
Yankee jurispriulence, an;11 leave it to 0.01-
',
ok The Morning Chronicl6•4\
•
. 16P101155'
—on!!