Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-12-13
CONGRESS
or THE
UNI TE y STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
TussDAY, October 25-
DEBaTE on the LOUISIANA TREATY.
.coNTINyED.


~ alone could have induced him to rise at
that latehour. He wished to call the at
tentionof the committee tosa STIMULATION IN
the treaty. of Lonloa. Here Mr.. L. read
am extract from the Sd article of.that treaty
whereby the United States are pledged not
TO impose onim2orts in Britishvesseis from
their territories in America, adjacent to the
u. States, any higher duties than would
be paid upon such imports, il brought into
our Atlantic ports in American bottoms.
sIn this case, he said, gentlemen could not
avail themselves ofthe distinction taken by
his friend from Maryland { Mr.. Nicholson)
between a territory and a state, even it
I they were 50 disposed, since the ports in
question were boyts a state. The ports
Of New York, on the lakes, were as much
pofts Of that state, asthe city OF New York,
ifSeIf-Thev had their custom house Off
GERS, were governed by the same regula-
lions, as other ports,-Iuties were exacted
at them; and Vet, under the article OF the
British treaty which had been just read,
British bottoms could and did enter them
subject TO no higher duties than were paid
av American bottoms In the Atlantic ports.
Mr.. r. said thar he did not mean TO affirm
that this exemption made by the treaty OF
London was constitutional, so long as a
distinction prevailed between American and
British bottoms in other ports. He had
never given vote to carry that treaty into
effect; but he hoped the gentlemen from
Connecticut, both Of whom he believed had
done so; one of whom, at least, he knew
had been a conspicuous advocate Of that
treaty; he hoped that gentleman Mr.
Griswold) would inform thecommittee how
he got over the constitutional objection to
this article of the treaty of London, which
he had endeavored to urge against that I'M
der discussion. How could the gentleman
with the opinion which he now holds, a.
gree to admit British bottoms into certain
ports, on the same terms on which Ameri-
can bottoms were admitted into American
ports, generally? Thereby making thatve-
ry difference, giving that very preference
to these particular ports of certain states,
which hestells.us cannot constitutionally be
given to the port of New Orleans; although
that port Is not within any state, and if his
(Mr. Griswoldd's9 doctrine be correct, not
even within the United States.
The gentleman from Connecticut pro-
fessed wish thatthls important discussion
should be conducted with moderation and
candor. In this sentiment he concurred;
he was therefore altogether unprepared,
after this preamble, to hear the gentleman
from Connecticut represent the treaty in
question as conceding the most valuable
commercial privileges to France and Spain,
and thereby sapping the very foundation Of
our own carving trade. In the spirit OF
candor, the stipulations in question would
be viewed, not as conceding advantages in
trade to those nations, but as securing them
to. ourselves. The article in qestion did
edprofess to grant, for limited time,
to French and Spanish vessels, laden with
the products of their respective countries,
admission into the ports of the ceded terri
tory, on equal terms with our own ships.
But although, nominally an advantage has
been conceded to these nations, substanti-
ally their situation was changed for the
worse, and the benefit in fact conferred On
us. For what were our rights in these
ports, and what were theirs, setting aside
the treaty? The treaty then had rendered
our situation more eligible and theirs less
SO. How then could gentlemen declare
that twas calcu. tied to iniure our carrying
trade? When By it our trade was put on
the footing of absolute security; whilst that
s of France and Spain was admitted under
considerable restrictions, enjoying in but
one particular, and for twelve years only
an equality with ours. Their trade, be-
fore on SO superior footing, had descend
ed from its pre-eminence in privilege, and
given way to ours. And yet gentlemen