Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-19
FROM a BALTIMORE RREsPoNDENT.
BRITISH COLONIAL, TRADE.

This is point which has been the subject
OF more experiment than perhaps any other
in which the United States are Interested
The system Of restriction on our part, Is in
that particular state, that we must necessarily
80 on with 1t, or reverse it, and that immedi-
ately.
1t will need no very powerful arguments TO
shew that modification of the latter plan is
our best policy. The act of SEQ which pro-
hibited importation from the free ports of
Bermuda, Halifax, and st. Johns, of any ar
ticles but those produced there, has had the
direct contrary effect, which was looked for
beneiting us, by extending our share of the
carrying trade to the British colonies, mas
much as the extensive supplies we sent, prior
to the taking effect ofthat act, to Bermuda, at
freight at the rate, for instance, of IL dollars
per NJ. for slaves, go now almost wholly to
New Brunswick, at the rate of dollars per
vi. for the same, with the like difference in
other goods. lu the mean while, the sugar,
molassts, coffee, pimento, &c. &c. which paid
us so large revenue, now 20 to the Europe
an markets-for it is Il well known fact, that
nothing can be sent hither from the British
Islands, through those belonging to other pow
ers, but rum at the same time the facility of
| selling the cargOes we send to the free ports,
by barter for the above articles, and which, if
unrestricted here, would increase the vent
and the profit at least twO-fold, is lost-to say
nothing of thereturn freight to our vessels. So
far from relaxing in the navigation laws, the
British gOverDmenthav lately opened the port
OF st Andrews, on our very border--whe
other sources of supply to their colonies are
daily discovered: deals from the Baltic and
slaves from Hamburger, are seen shipping
/ thlther ~ large quantities, TO say nothing oil
the resources in the Islands themselves and
the more impednents we place in the way OF
/ their dealing with us, the more they will look
elsewhere for what they want. DOesitnot fol.
low, that, 10 the end we may teach them Ia
do without us? II did appear three years ago
that the plan adopted On both sides, Of d.
vlding the carriage by the medium OF free
ports, vas calculated to satisfy both parties
and so it certainly was, with regard to Bermu-
da. What crooked policy it was therefore to
adopt plan which lessencd our share Oftha
advantage? As matters now stand, let simply
the prohibition upon imports from Bermuda
be taken of, and it follows, to a moral certain
", that tine great bulk ofthe expectations from
this country TO the British West Indies will
20 that way, instead Of to the adjacent port
Of New Brunswick, and at an advantage L
our shipping interest, amounting to it'll
( less than the whole value of the subec
sought for, foF It may very safely be asserte,
? that the trade with the Bermudas is as ,grea
: an advantage to us that with Barbados, &c
II II IS equally voyage, and though some
what less IN duration, tho rates Of freight wou
I be found nearly the saDIe, and the dincrene
> OF climate To- which our seamen would be ex
2 ipessd is beyond comparison in fayor o. q,