Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-08

lof complaint, 70 tho power to which tue
offenders belong, provided il be extend
ed to all equally. In this case, every cir
cumstance which occurred, indicated a fixed
purpose 10 violate our revenue laws. Had the
party intended to have pursued fair trade,
he would have entered our ports, and paid the
duties ; or had he intended TO have carried on
legitimate circuitous commerce, with the
United States, he would have entered the
port ofson,e other power, landed his goods
at the custom house accoid ding to law, and re-
shipped and sent them in the vessel of such
power, or of some other power which might
lawfully bring them, free from such duties,
to port of the United States. But the con
duct the party in this case, was altogether
different. lie entered the river st. Mary's,
the boundary between the United States, aud
Florida, and took his position on the Spanish
side, on which, in the whole extent of
the river, there was no town, no port, or
custom house, and scarcely any settle
ment. His purpose, therefore, was not to sell
his goods to the inhabitants of Florida, hut TO
citizens of the United States in exchange for
their productions, which could not be done,
without direct and palpabe breach of our
laws. 1t is known that regular systematic
plan, had been formed by certain other pcr-
sons Tor the violation of our revenue system,
which made it the more necessary TO check
the proceeding in its commencement.
That the unsettled bank of ii river SD re-
mote from the Spanish garrisons and popula-
hon, could give no protection to any party,
IN such a practice, is believed to be in strict
accord, with the law of nations. 1t would
not have comportcd with friendly policy in
Spain herself, to have established Il custom
house there, siuce it could have subseryed no
other purpose, than 10 cludc our revenue laws.
bnt the Government ofSpain did not adopt
mat measure. On the contrary, ii is under
stood, that the Captain General of Cuba, 10
whom an application To that effect was made,
by these advept'mers, had not accedcd TO it
The condition of those provinces for many
years, before they were coded Ia the United
States. need not now he dwelt on. Inhabited
by different tribes of Indians, and an nroad
for every kind of adventurer, the jurisdiction
ct SPAN may he said to have brep almost ex-
cl!islveiy, confined to her garrisons. 1t GER
tainy could not extend to places. where she
iiad no authority. The rules therefore, a2-
phcablc to settled countries, governed by laws,
could not he deemed So 10 the deserts OF
Florida, and TO the occurrences there. II MGR
ITS attention, also, that the territory had been
coded To the United States, by a treaty, the
ratification of which had not been refused
ana which has since been performed. Under
such circumstances, therefore, Spain became
less responsible for such acts, co mlitted there,
and the United States, more AT liberty to ex-
| crcIsc authority, TO prevent so great a mis-
chief. The conduct of this Government has,
IN every instance, been conciliatory and friend
lyto France. The construction of our reve-
nue. law, in IFS application TO the cases, which
have formed the ground fsuch serious com
| pialnt on her part, and the order To- the Col
icctor of st. Nlary's, in accord with it, were
gwen two years before these cases occurred
i'm rnf ~
tempted by the subjects of another power.
It's application, therefore, to the cases in ques-
ton, was inevitable. AS soon rs the Treaty.
ny which these provinces were coded TO the
| United States, was ratified, and all danger of
further breach of our revenue law ceased, an
order was given for the release of the vessel.
which had been seized and for the dismisson
OF the libel, which had been instituted against
her.
The principles ofthis system of recip, octy,
founded on the law of the Sd of March, 1915.
have been since carried into effect with the
Kingdom ofthe Netherlands, Sweden, Prus-
sa, and with Hamburg, Bremen, Lubbock, and
OidcnburS, with provision made by subse-
1nent laws in regard 20 the Netherlands, Prus-
sIa, Hamburg, and Bremen, that such produec
nnd nm ulactures as could only be, or most
usually were. first shipped from the ports of
'h0sc countries, the same being imported in
vessels, wholly belonging to their subjects,
should he considered and admitted as their
own 'nanu;actures and productions.
The government of Norway, has by an or
dinancc, opened the ports of that part of the
dominIons of the King of Sweden. to the vcs-
sr's ct the United States, upon the payment
OF no other or higher duties than are paid
ny the Norwegian vessels, from whatever
place arriving, and with whatever articles la
den. They have requested the reciprocal al
iowance for the vessels of Norway in the
rorts OF the United States. As this privilege
IS not within the scope of the act of the Sd of
March, l815, and can only be granted by Con-
Sfts ana as 1t may involve the commercial
relations of the Union with other nations the
subject is submitted to the wisdom of Con
grrss.
have presented thus fully to your view
our commercial relations with other powers,
that, seeing them in detail with each power
and knowing the basis on which they REST.
Congress may in its wisdom decide, whether
any change ought to be made, and, if any,
III what respect Ifthis basis is unjust or I'M
reasonable, surely it ought TO be abandoned
Dut II 1t he Just and reasonable, and any
Grange IN 1t will make concessions subversive
OF .fhe principles of equality, and tending in
ITS consequences to sap the foundations of
our prosperity, then the reasons are equally
strong for adhcrlnS TO the ground already
taken, and supporting it by such further reg
uIations as may appear to be proper should
any additional support be found necessary.
The question concerning the construction
OF the first article of the treaty of Client. has
been by Joint act of the Representatives of
the United States and of Great Britain, at the
court of st. Petersburg, submitted TO the de-
cIslon of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor
OF Russia. The result Of that submission has
ri