The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-12

the British government when it ratified it,
did not mean to authorize any other than di-
rect VOYAGES, outward, as we'll as homewarsl
between the United States and their Indian
possessions and that it the treaty was liza
BILE to any other construction, it arose from
mere inadvertence in adjusting the phrase
ology but that in truth it was not fair and
natural Interpretation of words, which au-
thoriZed commerce between two defined
limits that a commerce between one of those
limits and some third place was intended to
be allowed, although not word was said a.
bout it in the article. Having given the OBJ
vious answer to thee suggestions, we urged,
as long and as zealpusly as was thought adj
visable, the incoIWeniences to which our
trade with India would be subjected, by pro-
hibiting any of theNmodes in which it was
prosecuted, as well asthe untriendly appear
ance of the new restric zion. for which there
existed no adequate motive. We spoke OF
the scnsbility which would be excited in
our country by such AN ill-tifaed and ungra-
cious interference, the inteiests which i,
would affect, and the passions which, it
would inlist against the entire tleatv: to all
which it was finally answered that the India
company could not be prevailed upon to re-
lax upon this point: that moreover 1t ught
not to be forgotten that this was a trade
from which their own subjects wereordina-
nopoly that this monopoly, as a losing con-
Germ, seemed at pretent to require PECULIAR
protection that our admission into British
India at all, was boon for which we din not
and could not give any equivalent, aal of
course that we could not justly complain. if
that}admission was somewhat qualified with
a view to the mitigation of the evils by which
/ it was undoubtedly attended, and which il
was not possible wholly to prevent; especially
| if we were not placed upon more disad-
vantageous footing in that respect than other
| friendly powers, which was so far from be-
| ing the case, that We were unquestionably
admitted by the article, as they proposed to
| amend it, upon much better terms than any
other nation, inasnuch as our commerce
| exclusive of the advantage of being secured
by treaty. would BE- subject only to British
duties, whereas the Danes and Swedes paid
| alien duties to considerable amount, with
out enjoying any privilege, (whatever might
be said to the contrary to which we were
not equally entitled. We were at last re-
duoed to the necessity of accepting the ar
ticle with the obnoxious amendment, rem
dered less obnoxious, perhaps, by the clause
| relative to the most favored nation, or ma
king a treaty without any article upon the
subject, which would have the same, and
propably worse effects, or of making no trea-
~ dl dill we pTclcrFtu tHt uTSt.
The fourth and fifth articles regulate the
trade between the United States and the
British possessions in Europe. BY these W.
are persuaded that much greater satisfacti-
on will be given to Our government and coun-
| try, than by the preceding one. Che three
first clauses of the fifth article, which place
the vessels and merchandise of each country
in the ports of the other, in respect to duties
and prohibitions, ON the footing OF the most
favored nation, are taken from the treaty OF
| 1874. To these we were not aware that any
well founded objection YES ever made. But
the subsequent clauses We new character
to this intercourse. The right which the
British government reserved by the treaty
of 1894 to impose tonnage duty on Anne
rican vessels equal to the duty which was
payable on British vessels in the United
States, is by the first of these clauses, made
reciprocal. Under that reservation, or ra-
| Their as we presume the preteXt OF IT,
the British government had actually impo-
sed tonnage duty on American vessels OF
6s. sd. per ton, being almost three times
the amount of the duty which was payable
on British vessels in the United States. And
as the United States had expressly stipula-
ted not to raise the duty on British vessels
higher than it then was, it was out Of their
power, without palpabe violation of that
by Great Britain on American vessels. But
by making the reservation reciprocal, the
United States have an unquestienable right
to raise the duty ON British vessels to the
same level, wherever that may be. And by
confining the reciprocity strictly to the prin-
lciple of national equality, that is, an equa-
lily of tonnage duties which shall be paya-
bic on the vessels of each party in the ports
of the other, a right is reserved by each tc
give what preference it thinks fit, within
that limit, to its own vessels and people
At present such preference is given by oui
law to the amount of forty-four cents per ton
which is not only protected by this clause a
gainst any Countervailing measure, othei
than by lessening the duty, but the right i:
secured to increase it in the degree above
stated. BY this we do not wish to imply
that it would be advisable to take all the
advantage of this circumstance which the
article admits of. The presumption is, tina
the British government will, in case the trea
ty is ratified, repeal the additional duty OIL
American vessels. which will leave then
charged in common with their own, ant
those of every other nation, with the sum o
as. sd. per ton. Should our government
think proper to raise the duty OH British
vessels to the same point, it may, perhaps
be advisable not to increase the present dis
Termination. The last clause of this article
Ill. Al. 1.