Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-07

i;,ct Now the same object is effected by
On armed force. This is the Only real CHI.
ference in the two cases. But, sir, this IS
not all (; Great Britain has attempted py an
art of Parliament, to exercise, an act OF So
;vereignty over tie United States, sosealn.y
given bv the people TO their Congress. a
mongst the powers given to Congress iilpa
these words. g Congress shall have power
to regulate commerce with foreign nations,
&c. Now, sir, permit me to read an ex-
tract from an act Of Parliament, and see
whether it does not impose a tax upon A
merican productions, but also exercise this
act OF national sovereignty delegated by the
people TO Congress.
And whereas it is expedient and neces-
sary in order etfectually to accomplish the
object of such orders, that duties OF Customs
should be granted upon certain goods ex-
ported from G. Britain we, your maesty,S
most outiful and most loyal subjects, the
Commons of the United Kingdom, in Par
lament assembled, do most humbly be
seech your majesty that 1t may be enacted
and be it enacted by the kings most excel
lent majesty, by and with the advice and
consent Of the lords spiritual! and temporal,
and commons, in this present Parliament
assembled, and by the authority OF the same,
that from and after the passing OF this act,
there shall be raised, levied, collected and
paid unto his majesty, lis helre end success
sors, upon all goods, wares and merchan-
disc. enumerated or described IN the tables
(A.(B.) and &C. annexed to this act, ex-
ported from c.. Britain, the several dotlrs
and customs, as the same are respectively
described and set forth in figure. IN said ia
bics."
In those tables marked a. 3. c, are to
be found productions OF the United States.
1t has becn said that Great Britain n2ay lay
an export duty upon any goods within her
ports. That is readily ac'mitted--it being
mere municipal regulation. But Great
Britain has no right to compel our ships to
carry our productions INTO her portr Tor
the purpose ofimposing duSlcs tfereolh and
this is the act regulating our commerce, OF
which complain.
Again, sir, Great-Dritain has attempted
By this act Of parliament to lay an export
duty upon the productions Of the Z. States,
a power not even entrusted 10 the discretion
of Congress. I find in the constitution
these words no tax or duty snail be laid
on articles exported from any ssate." Here
then IS an express provision to Congress a
gainst laying duty on any articles export
ed from aay state ut Great Britain has
ATTEMPTED by an act Of parliament, to lay
an export duty Oh cotton exported from one
of the United States. An authority which
can only be exercised by the people in their
highest sovereign capacity. Il IS true, sir,
that Mr.. Canning offered to commute. this
duty into an intire prohibition. OF the article,
as an expert from Greet Britain. This,
sir. was only adding insult to injury, and
showed that Mr.. Canning possessed very
little knowledge Of the human character, i
he expected to sooth the feelings by insult
ing the understanding.
Iregret that SO much respect was shewn
to this proposition, as to forward it to Our
government. 1t would have been more a.
grcesble to me if the American minister
had thrown the proposition back upon MIR.
Canning.
It is true, Mr.. President, that the export
duty is to be collected IN London, and not
in Charleston. Bur, sir, it is not the Better
in principle on that account; and it is worse
in practice. 4 vessel sailing from Charles
ton is to be forced into London, for the pur-
pose Of paying this trloute-bettcr would
it be to collect 1t in Charleston because the
clrcuity of the voyage would be saved, and
many other vexations ana expenses avoided
which are now incurred by being forced in
to London, to make the payment and if