Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-05

of treaty with France, To escape from tn,
dilemma, the Americans had recourse ia 6s
cal laws, by which they expected TO establish
just rcprisals.
Inc french government on IFS part, urged
ON, II must be owned, by the vehement com
plants OF some Chambers of Commerce. in
The first moment ofirritatinn caused hy this
unexpected measure of Congress French
Sovernn mt, ay,thought proper to meet with
countervaiing laws the laws of United States.
And what is the result ? That which all rea-
sonable persons who understood the true ma
ture of the quarrel predicted at the time. The
direct transportation into France Of the pro-
duce OF the United States, and particularly
that Ofcotton, an article so Indispensable to
the prosperity of our manufactures, is carried
on solely by meutrdts, and principally by the
English, who, laughing at us in their sleeve.
are doubtless making the most servent wishes
that this state of affairs may not soo,a cease.
In this particular the Message Of the Presi-
dent must afford them ample room for re-
JoIcing. But to speak seriously, ii is grievsus
to see misunderstanding so adverse to the
true interests OF both countries 50 much pro-
longed There are, according TO some per-
sons, two obstacles which prevent our accept
ing the prop ositions of the United States, flor
aperfectly reciprocal trade,) viz. the interests
oil our'own navigation, and motives of public
policy. As to the first of these obstacles, it is
say many persons, for us to com
pete on the ocean with the Americans. l on
~ cite this objection in order to declare that
II does not merit aseriOus refutation What, are
not our sailors as good as those of Hamburger,
OF Lubbock, of Oldenburg Let us repeal our old
performances and regulations, which no longer
harmonIze with the simple means which, in
order to render them less costly, are now used
Ia all the arts; let our ship owners equip and
man their vessels In their own way, and then
we shall see whether, with all the advantages
OF economy In navigation which we have over
the Americans, our sailors will not soon rival
theirs. For ii is a fact, that with all the OBJ
stacles ofour existing regulations, MANY of
our skllful shipmasters had already accom-
pllshed this object. AS to political considera-
IONS, the persons who pretend that if we ac-
cept the propositions of America we shall Law
ourselves open to similar demand on the
part OF England, very little understand, as it
would appear, the nature of the proposed ar
rangement For if il be one of the fundament-
al principles of this arrangement that each con-
tracing party shall preserve respectively the
right To admit or to prohibit the articles it
may think proper, upon the sole condition
That all articles admitted in the direct inter
course between the two countries shall be e.
quaily and reciprocaly admitted in vessels of
both nations, where is the man at this time
OF day SD little versed in commercial matters
as to say, that euen icith England it would not
be practicable for France TO make mutually
advantageous treaty, upon basis analogous
TO that proposed by the United States 1t
is here fit opportunity to make remark
Wnich seems still to escape many people, not
fna. F..,f- ~.
seem to suggest it, Nations i'm respect To
commerce, have been conducted, by the efforts.
which each Is making to obtain its share. to a
position both new and different from that in
which they were formerly. Restrictions and
prohibitions, good at certain times, have now
no other support than in the revenue which
almost every where is derived from their
maintenance but at the point at which agri-
cultural and manufacturing industry have ar
rived among most nations, there is no one
who does not perceive that, in such circam-
stances, the best interests of,dilferent nations
would be consulted by favouring the most sim
pie and economical means of exchange among
them France, IN the state in which the e.
vents OF the last thirty years have left her, is
perhaps the nation which has the most TO gam
ny the establishment of such system. How
IS 1t then, that, with the opportunity which she
has of giving the example, she still follows in
the track of the people least skilled IN com
merce How then does it happen(to return
TO the object ofthese remarksl that our differ
ences with the United States have not long
since been settled? Let us speak frankly
This misunderstanding is solely on question
OF commerce, Though question ofcommerce
Oh the highest interest. In country where
the government would desire to make good
treaty, on any subject whatever, the first stem
would be TO coDfide the negotiation to some
one who well understood the subject. Who.
then, should have been chosen for the Degoci-
ationln question? Certainly, man under
standing commerce, and capable of Judging
OF the nature of his mission. Has this course
been followed ?%
To conclude-since the existence of this
misunderstanding, we have had time enoagh
TO see the effect which our measures of CON
straInt have produced upon the Americans-
that OF confirming them iInmoveably in the
resolution they have tax n. How, indeed.
can it'be supposed that they will reuounce it !?
On the one hand, we have seen that it must
be matter of Indifference Ia them To remain
as they are, or to restore the intercourse to
ITS former footing ;s.tor the difference in the
duties amounted fnr their ships to a total pro.
hlbItlon Ofirade with France and on the other.
as they have already made treaties with the
principal powers of Europe ON the basis they
propose to us, how could their government,
even If they should desire IL, consent TO treat
with us upon more favorable terms If then,
10 accepting the propositions OF the United
States, our sailors, with the ability which, us
soon as the government will permit, they will
not taIl To esince, would be again admitted To-
Parlake OF the advantages of one Of the prin-
cipai branches of commerce which France
can prosecute, (amouning in imports and ex.
ports to 10 or 100 millions annuallyl what