The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-06-30

orders az admitted the productions of the II. s.
either freely, or on paying the same duties only
as were payable on like articles imported from
the English colonies and plantations and pIac-
eu all articles the produce of the u S. imported
IN American vessels, on the same footing as the
like articles imported in foreign chips from other
foreign countries, This new footing Of our trade
with England, the Importance whereof Is wei
understood by those who are engaged in supply.
ing her markets with masts, spars, timber. naval
stores, and pot and pearl ashes, may be reg arded
as decisive evidence of complete change Of pol
icy conceEning the American trade and inter
course--whith, however unsatisfactory, as res
Pected the colonial trade, has become more 50.
by the foregoing provision Ct this act Of Parlias
ment.
The policy that manifested itseIffn The trsa.u
Of our independence, and which is seen Il ~,
bill toregalate the trade and intercourse between
England and the U. 5. prepared by the admins
tration that made the treaty of peace. was To -
mite ia firm bond OF friendship by the estab-
Ashmegt Of trade and intercourse on the solid "a
sis Of reciprocal benefit, people politcallv SON.
arate, living under different governments hut
having common origin, a common Ianguaoa !
common law, and kindred blood circumstances
so peculiar rs not to be found between any ofher.
nations Instead of this policy one of different
sort IS Preferred-one that England has right to
must protect ourselves rs wen as we are able
to do The intricate, counteryaiInr. an5 49,
picking code Of commercial intercourse. founded
IN Jealousy, and the rival establishments and nur
suits OF the powers Of Europe, bordering unon.
and constantly interfering with each other has
been adopted and applied to the IT, S. a peopIe
agricultural, more than manufacturine, or com
mercial, placed III another quarter Of the slobe
cuLlvatlns, aad proposing to others an open sys-
tenn q trade and intercourse; and herein, as IL
many other important determinations. diferinc-.
from the nations of Europe, and therefore not TT
subjects to which these restrictive and ;eaIe,ss
regulations are applicable. Z
Our policy is, and ever has been. = difsran..
one. We desire peace with all nations. ana me,
wars OF maritime Europe have taught us. thatz
tree system OF trade and intercourse would he tns
best means of preserving it.
with these principles as our guide. at the ne
EQUATION Of the treaty of peace in 1898. our rayn
listers were authorised to conclude treafo az
commerce with England on this basis +: bpt NO
treaty was concluded. Afterwards. and when a
temporary trade and intercourse were orened b,,
England, looking, as we supposed, to a treaty. or
commerce, Congress instructed Messrs. ADAMS.
FRANKLIN, and JEFFERSON to renew the avert,,rrs
OF treaty OF commerce, which was done through
the English Ambassador 1T Paris, in the vear
1854 out no correspondent disposition beino
shewn by England, this second overture failed
The interest and prejudice of those who were
oenehted by the monopolies and exclusive cue
TEN OF rAgand, were opposed to any treaty with
this country, on the principle Of reciprocal a.
vantage The political writers ofthat .dav- N.
DER the influence ofthese partial views, or nor
snihcientiy approaching the true theory of com
merce' contended that it would be folly to enter
INTO engagements by which England mieht cot
WISH % De bound IN future that such engage
ments would be gratuitous; as, according to tbair
interpretation, Congress possessed no power mn
der the confederation, to enforce any stipnlat;or
into which they might enter that no treaty That
could be made would suit all the State.-
II any were necessary, they should be made with
the state separately; but that none was neees.
sary; and those who talked of liberality and 70.
clprocity IN commercial affairs, were either WITH
out argument Or knowledge; that the object II
England was, not reciprocity and hberality, but
70 raise as many sailors and as much shippine as
possible.*
This unequal footing Of our foreign commerce
ana ana Inc language made use Of by England at this
Juncture, served still more to increase the nhI;c
discomfort; especially as it was plainly avo1yad
that England ought to render the trade with ne
as exclusively advantageous to herself 81 hay
power would enable her to do. Congress hay-
ing no power, under the confederation. to impose
counterVaIllng and other corrective resulations
OF trade the states separately attempted to es.
tahllsh regulations upon this subject, But asa
part only OF the States joined in this measure
and as the laws that were passed for this pur.
pose dliered from each other, the experiment
completely failed.
IA TINS condition of our navigation and trade.
SUBJECT 70 foreign restrictions and exclusion. with
out power at home to countervail and CHECK
the same, congress resolved to make another
EFFORT to conclude commercial treaty with Eng
iaAd. Fof this purpose, Mr.. Adams. since Presi
ldent Of the United States, was appointed. and
Went 70 England. Mr.. Adams resided in Eng
land tor several years, but, found and left the
government unchanged, and equally as before
olslncilned to make with us treaty of commerce.
ms further disappointment, with the depre-
clating condition OF our navigation and trade.
joined to the embarrassment Oft public fnan.
ces, produced what no inferior pressure could
nave done it introduced the general convention
q 1877, that formed the Constitution Of the u
States.
Had England entered into liberal treaty Of
commerce with the United States, this conven.
ton would not have been assembled. Without
SO intending 1t, the adherence of England to her
unequal and exclusive system Of trade and navis
ganen, gave to this country Constitution and
the co0nterValling and equalizing bill now before
the Senate arising from the same cause, mayas-
siss Us 10 establishing and extending those great
branches OF national wealth and power, which
we nave such constant and urgent motives to en-
courage.
United states was coeval with the commence
n ~ he Ifrnx II. -I..A.