Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-27

! in the commercial intercourse between
them and the United States, the time
has come in which it has been thought to
be due to the welfare and character oil
the United States, to countervail the re.
gr latons which SO long, and so much &c
our disadvantage, have been imposed by
! England on the trade and navigation be-
tween the United States and her Wesl
India colonies.
This national measure, so long called
for to protect the ships and seamen OF
1.-THE United States, was calculatedto awak-
en- the remnant of local jealousy that
may still exist among US, against the
influence of which we may with conf
den ce appeal to the character and neces-
sity of the law.
! BY the exclusion of English vessels,
American vessels are employed in theii
place, and whatever is lost to the former
is gained by the latter. BY revokine
the countervailipg laws, we take away
the profits now enjoyed by American
vessels. and give them back again TO the
vessels OF England, and, in doing so,
grant bounty to foreign Ships at the ex-
! pense of our own.
Navigation and maritime industry, foi
a peculiar reason, call for national pro-
lection: for the art of navigation is an ex-
pedient Of war, as we'll as Of commerce ;
and, in this respect, differs from every
other branch ofindus,ry. Though twas
once doubted, doubt no longer exists,
that navy is the best defence of the
United States-and this maxim rs no,
more true than that naval power never
has existed, and can never exist, without
a commercial marine; hence, the policy
of encouraging and protecting the ships
and seamen ofthe United States.
In the commercial differences which
arise between nations, the various branch
es of industry are differently affected, and
calculations, founded on the Supposed in
terest of either party, being ohen ialia-
cious, may prove 10 be uncertain guides
in the policy of nations, while, by refer
ring every question of disagreement to
the honor Of the nation, III the purity and
preservation of which, every one rs alike
concerned, standard is provided that
can never mislead.
In the least as we'll as the most diff
cult disputes, national honor IS the safest
ellor--and it should not be forgot
ten that public injuries long endured IN
vite further aggression, and, IN the end,
degrade and destroy the pride and safety
of nations.
In respect to the commercial diife-
renee which has so long existed between
the United States and England, the
claim of the latter exclusively to regu-
late the intercourse and navigation be-
tween the United Sia,es and her West
India Colonies, has Affected the reputa-
ton and rights ofthe United States, and
the public honor mstihes thecountervail'
| ing measures adopted on this snJect; to
recec!c from the same would be equiva-
lent to their final reiinqulshmen, ana
would rot fail to encourage The belize
that wrong so long endured would no
longer be opposed, and that further ag-
! grcsslon Nigh, DC made without resist
| ance.
1t must be always remembered, that
the counteryailiDg measures which have
been adopted by Congress, are entirely
defensive; and, as we desire to concur IL
| the establishment of free trade with
every nation, we are ready to abandon
the restrictions on the English nayiga-
ton, as soon as England maniIests dis
position 10 give up the restrictions which
she was the first to impose on our navi-
ga,ion--and does public policy require,
or viii! the national honor permit, that we
should do so sooner? With these views,
the committee submit the following reso-
luton:
! Resolued, That the Committee on Foreign
Relations be discharged from the further con-
si,leraton of the petition Of r. Appleby and
| others Of Colleton District, Sonth Carolina. and
OF the resolutions of the Chamber Commerce
Of Baltimore, PRAYING for the repeal Of The
laws imposing restrictions on English vessels
employed in the trade between the United
States and the English Colonies in the West
Indies.
..-.z-:-
EVSEAG.N.