Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-14

the only carriers her ships from Great
Britain may come to any of our ports, with
full freights of dry goods-with part of the
proceeds, purchase load of lumber, stock,
provisions, &c. (such l mean as they
choose 10 admit in the Islapdsl sell it at
their islands, at great profit, take in car
20 OF West India produce, and carry it to
any part OF Enrope-giving them full
fret hts, in three di net voyages. And a
portion of our lumber, and pot and pearl
ashes, will, and does, by Champlain and
other waters, find their way to the st.
Lawrence, are bought upby the British
capitalist at his own price, and sent to d
most profitable market in Great Britain
snd the West Indies-giying employment
to-their ships and great profit to their mer-
Grants. The only way in which lumber,
fish, flour, rice, &c. In our vessels, find a
market in the British West Indies, is
through some island belonging to some o.
Their foreign nation, less rigid than Great
Britain in her colonial system and in the
same way we receive in our ships some of
her products all loaded with additional
freight and insurance, for carriage among
the Islands. But of this, miserable as it
was, we are in part deprived, or attempted
to be, by an act OF one of her colonial as
semblies, made expressly against this
country, and no doubt the same will be
done in other Islands. allude to" an
act laying duty on certain goods, wares
and merchandise, imported into this Is
land (Jamaica) from the United States of
America, and other places" passed the
14th November, 1915: by which it is en-
acted, that from the passing of that act, and
during its continuance, there shall be levi
ed and paid to his majesty, &c. on all
goods, wares and merchandise, imported
into that Island IS from any port or ports
of the United States of .4merica, on from
any colony or plantation IN .Anrerica, be-
longing to or ander the dominion of anu
foreign European sovereign, in a state Of
anlity ,0ith his majesty the following du-
ties, viz. among others
8. For every barrel of wheat flour, not
weighing more than 1856, net weight, 15s.
i'd.
8. For 100 pounds of rice, 6s. Sd.
8: For every 1000 shingles, or Boston
chips, not more than IL inches in length.
Is. 8d."-( About three times the first cost,
being what we call common shipping
sningles.)
" For every 1000 shingles more than IL
inches in length, 13s 4d'-being more
than the value in the northern parts of this
country.
For every 1000 feet of white and yell
low pine lumber of all descriptions, 20s'--
which is above half the original cost in this
country. Various other articles, on which
specific duties are imposed, in the same
proportion, and an ad valorem duty of 10
per cent. on all other articles which they
see fit to admit. And information has
been received, that it is their intention, in
relation to the article of plaster from No
va Scotia, to impose an export duty on it
of five dollars the ton, (nearly its value in
the Boston market) when landed east of
New Haven SO that their vessels may be
| the exclusive carriers to those states where
it is used. The operation of this system
in the north and east in such, that our
lumber trade to the West Indies has been
nearly destroyed, and two-tbirds of the
| vessels employed in that trade thrown out
of employ. fpresume that nearly one
third of all the tonnage of Maine, (which
in 1914. not very propitious year, "a
mounted to 125,000,) was formerly en-
ployed in the West India trade.--A large
proportion of our vessels have now become
useless, and British vessels have, in many
| cases, become our carriers.
The question then is, said Mr.. King,
whether we shall aid Great Britain to en-
force her colonial system, exclusively for
the benefit Of her subjects, or retaIiate up-
on her some of the injuries which we suffer
from her navigation laws. 1t will be in
vain, and worse than in vain, that we freed
ourselves from former impositions and pre-
tensions, II we must again be Brought in
subsection TO colonial servitude.
The whole trade of this country is too vaIua.
bic 10 be battered away for portion of that of
any nation. cannot admit the doctrine, that we
have no equivalent TO offer Great Britain for this
trade--ii carries It's equivalent with il, as she
may and ought to find it, in that immense traf.
iiG she enjoys with this country. She appeared
disposed, by the treaty, to put the commerce of
the two countries upon the most liberal ground
OF rec procity. Instead of hat, we do not gain
half the advantages which weyied 10 her. while
she closes so many of her ports against us
Whatever interest Great Britain his to favor the
colonial trade of her subjects, we have none nor
oughtwe 20 aid her in dis semi terrapin policy
II these colonists suppose they can do without
trade, on the ground ofreciprocity, with us, let
US see, IN return, If we cannot do without trade
with them one good effect, at least, will be
produced-we shall encourage the production
Of sugar. mOIasses. rum Re- in o,tr eo,,tb..r