Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-24

AMERICAN RESURRECTION L.1U.

attention upon Norfolk, formerly one of the
great Emporia oftrade with the British West
Indies and of the citizens of that town, we
addressed ourselves to gentleman, whoi is par
ticulary conversant with this subjective
now lay before our readers his obliging cor,-
n,unic alton:
Norfolk, 1891.
Nor letter, requiring Information respect
irG the trade between the United States and
the British colonies, has been seriously cousi-
dered the subject is one, upon which have
bestowed much attention, and have sought for
information wherever thought il could be
obtained. A short review or history OF the
colonial system, with notice of the different
systems of restriction which we have adopted,
With view to obtain participation in the
colonial trade to the British islands, may not
be without use.
All the European nations have asserted Il
right, 10 restrict or interdict, commerce with
their colonies, by foreign nations, at their
pleasure according TO their interests, or the
necessities of the colonies, the mother coun-
tries, have relaxed what may be called Il sys-
tenn. With the French colonies we had in our
own vessels partial intercourse &c were
allowed to import into those colonies, lumber,
live stock, and some sailed provisions, and to
export tafiia, (rum) and moasses.--The res
trictions IN the Danish and Dutch colonies,
were Only IN name, for by custom house man.
agenlent,. they were eifectuay evadcd with
the Spanish colonies. our trade was forced
| should have stated, that am ROW speaking
of that period of time which elapsed between
the peace of 1888 and the war produced by,
or growing out of, the French revolution
During this period, all intercourse between the
United States and the British colonies was
FOL De-. I, =
Ut IS now, very difficult To ascertain the extent
of that trade, during this period, but from my
own observation, 1t must have been very ex-
tensve. At that time, there were two des-
cripiIons OF vessels, which traded between this
country, and the British colonies; one the re-
sular traders, which came and went mt ali
seasons the other vessels which came there at
particular Seasons, TO avoid the hurricane
months, and to make a voyage, which If they
mad not, would have passed away in waiting
Tor crop; these latter were vessels which ira
ded between Britain and the colonies. and
were very large. There are many who re-
member with mc, to have seen at one time
land that very often) fifty British vessels in
this port loading for the colonies their aver
age tonnage did not fall short, but rather ex-
ceeded 500 tons, giving $1,000 tOns.--Look-
ing over the ciearances from this to Bermuda
and Halifax, since the Slst Dee. l32O, to Ist
January last, one year the tonnage is short Of
5000 tons.
should be inclined to think, that the pro-
duce exported from this place TO the British
colonies, at the period alluded TO, required a
tonnage OF $4,000 to export it-Bcfore the
adoption of the federal government, docu-
lnents touching the imports and exports. were
not preserved as they have been since, hence
1t is next to inpossbilty to come at the ualue
exported.
= ihe French revolutionary war coming on
Great Britain opened her colonies iort free
importation into them, of all American pro-
duce, our vessels being placed upon the same
footing rs her own. This war was terminated
blythe treaty of Amiens, but Great Britain pro
baby considering the peace rs nothing more
Than truce. renewed not her restrictions, as
TO our vessels of any size for, our vessels not
exceeding seventy tons, We're permitted, to
trade with her colonies, under the treaty of
1894, commonly called jays treaty. Until
the renewal of war between France and En-
gland in the year 1908, the commerce between
TINS country and the British colonies, was free
10 the vessels of both countries as hath heen
already remarked, and So continued until the
war between the United States and Great
Britain. that Is, there was norcstriction on the
part of Great Britain.-,The war between the
United States and Great Britain having ter
minated, and war in Europe having ceased
without any prospects OF renew al, the British
government renewed all the colonial regIa-
tons, rs they stood, anteccdent to the war of
the French Revolution. At all times within
my recollection, great anxiety has prevailed,
particularly among the trading part of the
community, for participation in the British
colonial trade, and cOercive means were long
talked of, before they were tried.-The first
attempt was, ] think, made under the state
government about the year 1887 or 1893, by
imposing additional duties, but Maryland not
seconding the views of Virginia, the measure
was soon abandoned, and things so remained
as before. AS soon as the federal government
was formed, sangune expectations were en-
tertained that Our object might be attained by
general system of coercion ; negotiations
Were set on foot first, but very soon the then
chief magistrate, in, / think, his second or third
communication TO congress, stated that Great
Britain was not inclined TO meet the overtIlrcs
nc had authoriZcd.-The war which shortly
followed, caused Great Britain to open her
colonies to our vessels, and probably prevent
ed any measure being takeu upon the subject
ny congress. Very soon after that war com
lnenced, Great Britain committed very exten-
slve spohatlOns upon our commerce., which
caused The embargo Of 1894. In the debates
upon this subject, great reliance was placed in
The effects which the embargo would have on
the British colonies, but zoe found it an incon-
cement restriction, and the law expiring at the
end of 60 days, was not renewed. Pressed as
Great Britain then was, all that Mr.. Jay could
obtain was an intercourse with her colonies, in
vessels not exceeding seventy tons, and that
10 last two years after peace, which was in
iact giving only two years Intercourse in YES
sels not exceeding 10 tons for the war then
existing, there was no restriction TO vessels Of