The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-12
MES S AGE.
FsQo,O- Cdisens ofth Senate,

SION has been such as may justly be claimed
and expccted'under government deriving all
Its powers from an enlightened people, and I'M
der laws formed. by their representatives, on
great consideration, for the sole purpose of
promoting the welfare and happiness of their
constituents. In the execution of those laws,
and Of the powers vested bythe constitution
s IN the Executive, unremitted attention has
been paid to the great objects to which they
extend. In, the concerns which are exeiu--
svcly internal, there is good cause to be satisf-
edwith the result. The laws have had their due
operation and effect. la those relating to for
eign powers, "a happy to state, that peace
and amity are preserved with all, by strict
observance on both sides, of the rights of each
inmatters touching our commercial intercourse,
where a difference of opinion hiss existed, il.
any case. as to, the conditions on which it
should be placed, each party has pursued its,
own policy, withoutgiving just cause of offence i
to the other. In this annual communication,
especially when it is addressed to anew Con.
gress, the whole scope of our political concerns
naturally comes into view: that errors, if such !.
have eenscommitted, may be corrected; that.
defects, which have become manifest, may be
Temedied: and, on the other hand, that meas
Ures which were adopted on due deliberation,
and which experience has shown are Just in
themselves, and essential 10 the pubGck wei
fare, should be persevered in and supported.
In performing this necessary and very impor-
tant duty, | shall endeayour to place before
you, on its merits, every subject that is thought
to be entitled to your particular attention, in
as distinct and clear a light as may be able.
BY an act OF the 81 Of March, 1915, so much
of the several acts as imposed higher duties on
the tonnage Of foreign vessels, and on the man
e
when imported into the United States in for
eign vessels, than when imported in vessels of
the United States, were repealed, so far as re-
spected the manufactures and productions, of
the nation to which such vessel belonged, on
the condition, that the repeal should take eff
feet only in favour of any foreign nation, when
the Executive should be satisfied that such
discriminating duties. TO the disadvantage of
the United States, had likewise been repealed
by such nation. BY this act, a propositionwas
made to all nations, to place our commerce
with each on a basis, which, itswas presumed,
would be acceptable to all. Every nation was
allowed to bring its manufactures and produce
tons into our ports, and to take the manufac-
lures and productions of the United States back
to their ports, in theirown vessels, on the samo
conditions that they might be transported in
vessels of the United States; and, in return;
1T was required that like accommodation
should be granted to the vessels of the United
States in the ports of other powers. The arti-
cles to be admitted, or prohibited, ON either
side, formed no part of the proposed arrange
ment. Eachparty would retSin the right to
admit or prohibit such articles from the.other.
as it thought proper, and on its own conditions.
When the natura of the. commerce between
the United States and every other country wa:
taken into view, it was thought that this prop.
osition would be considered fair, and even lib
eral, by every power. The exports of the u
nted States consist generally of articles Of tn,
ffa!necessity and of rude materials, in demand |
1or foreign manufactures, of great bulk. requi-
ing for their transportation many vessels the r-
turn for which, in the manufactures, and pr
ductions of any foreign country, even when DIS
pesed of there TO advantage, maybe broushtin
single vessel. This observation is more espeti-
ally applicable to those countries from which
manufactures alone are imported. but it sp-
plies. in great extent, to the European co.
mnions of every European power. And il a
certain extent to all the colonies of these
powers. BY placing, then, the navigation
precisely ON the same ground, in the trans
poEtation of exports and imports, between dhe
United States and other countries, it was pre-
sumcd that all was offered which could be le-
sized. 1t seemed to be the only proposition
which could be devised, which would rctfin
even the semblance of equality in our favour.
Many considerations Of great weight gave
as a right to expect that this commerce should
be extended to the colonies as well as to the
European dorninions, of other powers. With
the latter, especially with countries exclu-
syely manufacturing, the advantage was man
ifestly on their side. An indemnity for that
loss was expected from trade with tlia.colo-
MES, and, with the greater. reason, as il was
known that the supplies which the colonies de-
rived from us were of the highest Importance
to them, their labour being bestowed with so
much greater profit in the culture of other. ar
ticles; and because, likewise. the articles.of
which those supplies consisted forming SO large
proportion of the exports of the United States.
were never admitted into any Of the ports of
Europe, except in cases of great emergency,
TO avert serious calamity. When no article
is admitted whchsis not required to supply the
wants OF the party admitting it, and admitted
then, not ID favour OF any particular country.
to the disadvantage Of others, but on conditions
equally applicable to all, it seems just that
tie articles thus admitted and invited should
be carried thither in the vessels Of the country
afording such supply, and that the reciprocity
should be found in a corresponding accommo-
dalion on the other side. BY allowing each
party to participate in the, transportation Of
such supplies, on the payment Of equal ton
nage,.a strong proof was afforded Of an aeeom-
modating spirit. To abandon to it the trans
portation Of the whole. would be sacrifice
which ought not to be expected. The demand
IN the present insia nce would he tho more nm