Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-07

evidence on the SuDject before the COinlnttcV
on Foreign Trade, confirmed his conviction of
its eXpctiiency. The last proposition which
he should offer would be one calculated to
make this country the general depot for the
whole Commerce of the world. Ga the gen
era principle of the eXpedicncy of doing this
he feltthat he should have the unanimous con
crrcnce of the House although there might
be differences of opinion on the provisions of
the proposed measure. Ofthis, however, he was
persuaded, that we could not expect any solid
advantages except from provisions, in which
the advantages of other countries should also
be consulted. 1t appeared to him to be very
| extraordinary that it should be reserved to our
days to make this consideration enter into the
commercial policy of this country. And yet
for reasons which he was at loss TO explain,.
it was not until the year 1908, that an Act CT
Parliament was passed, having the subject ut
| all in contemplation. 1t was worse than alb
surd, because we could not keep foreign goods
out of foreign markets To deprive ourselves
of the advantage resulting from allowing them
to pass through our hands. AS there was
some jealousy on the question of the transit
duties, he meant to propose that his bill should
apply TO all articles " except such as are at
present by law excepted" thereby leaving the
question open TO he discussed in the next Ses-
sion. He intended to propose new reglla-
ton with respect to the warehousing system
He thought it necessary to-divde all importa
ton into two classes The first class was To
consist of thosc,artices which pay the highest
duty. These goods We're to be warehoused
IN the Docks, or in such warehouses as should
be nominated by three Lords of the Treasury.
Those goods were to be exempted from re-
weighing, and from the necessity of making
good the deficiencies arising from storage, as
in other cases. With respect to the second
class of merchandise, namely, those warehouse
ed in stores of a less secure description, hs
thought it necessary that they should be LA
bic to reweghing in cases Of suspicion, and
also To the making good of all DEFICIENCIES in
weight or quality. He neXt came to the pre-
sent dock system. He for one felt all the
benefits arising TO the Dock system. both TO
the revenue and the mercantile interests. But
it appeared to-him, that all those advantages
could be preserved, at the same time that a
fair competition iii the warehousing SYSTEM
was encouraged. Hear hear.) He wished
If TO be understood that it was not his inten-
ton to pass the bill this Session :but TO throw
it out for consideration, and before the next
session arrived, there would be sufficient time
to give a due consideration to this important
subject. He thought, however, that mncn
general benefit would be derived from a re-
peal of the prohibitory laws. The Hon. mem
Der proceeded to state that he had in his pos
it was stated that owners of foreign vessels
had given strict Instructions to their captains
not to enter British ports, unless IN cases of
| imminent peril. This arose from the excess
sve harbour dues, and other fees exactcd III
our ports (Hear, hear.) Now this prohib:-
ton frequently caused the loss of many yes
sells, and, therefore, both on the score of hui
manity, as well as ofinterest, he thought it
necessary to repeal, as far as possible, those
|
taken this part of the question into their con
sideration, and he trusted that remedy would
be proposed early in the next session. The
hon. Member concluded by moving the follow
| ing resolutions:
That the Chairman be directed to move
the House for leave to bring in bill to repeal
divers ancient Statutes, and parts of Statutes,
so far as they relate 10 the importation INTO,
and the expectation from England of goods
and merchandise from and to foreign c0un
| tries.
"a Bill to explain and amend the several
acts for the encouraging and increasing of
shipping and navigation, and to regulate the
importation of goods and merchandise into
Great Britain, so far as relates to the countries
from whence, and the ships in which, such
importation shall be made; and,
GA Bill to make more ehectual ,provsiou
for the permitting goods. imported in Great
Britain to be warchCused or secured without
payment Of duty" ..
Mr.. Barring concurrcd fully in the plan pro-
posed by the Right Hon. Member (Mr. Wal
lacc.) He thought that free importation
with full understanding that no part of the
articles should he CONSUMED here or in our
colones) would be productive of the greatest
benefit. He hoped that Ministers would not
be deferred by ignorance or Glamour from fol-
lowing the course which they had laid down,
and whic'I was so likely TO be productive oil
benefit to the country. lit was true that the
proposed measures would ruin hhf dozen
counties in ireland, no Doubt Che House
would regret il much. Asa British merchant.
nc for one would say, that lc should reject
fen times the advantage now looked to, If
purchased at the expense of the trade of Ire
land. But fit cOuldbe shewn that this altera-
ton could be made without any injury to
= ireland, and at the same time with great
advantage TO Great BriiHin, as well as to that
country, he hoped that no Glamour should b.
allowed To impede the measure. The hon
Orabic member, after some complimentary
observations upon the labous of the com
, mittee, remarked, thatmany foreign merchant
were now deferred from trading with Great
Britain in consequence of the complication
and severity Of our Navigation Laws Hear
Strangers, ignorant as they must necessarily
bc of our laws, were afraid Of trading with as
least they should he enlrapped. He concuG-
ed by expressing hope that the Right Honour
cabl Gentleman would prcsevere in his mo
ton, and he was sure that under proper re-
gulotions, neither the shipping nor the fish
. interests would suffer by it.
The resolutions were agreed to, and leave
was given to bring in the bills.