Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-26


United States and these colonies, ought 10 he
considered and regulated as u monopoly, that
foreign nations are bound to respect, and
with which they may not interfere.
The act, commonly called the navigation
act OF England, while it reserves the colonial
navigation exclusively To the vessels Of Eng
land and her colonies, opens the trade between
England and foreign nations to the vessels of
both, subject to equal and the same regula-
tons.
The colonial, like the coasing trade, has
been treated as monopoly, SD long as the
same was confined TO the navigation between
territories of the same nation but, whenever
II may suit the convenience of a nation TO
open trade between her colonies and for
elgn nation, the claim to treat this trade as a
monopoly is without Just authority, being
contrary to the rights Of such foreign nation,
which, within its own dominions, must pos
sess authority to make such regulations as
may be deemed expedent.
Its an understandable extension of national
monopohes, by erparte laws, to attempt To- in
clude the navigation of a foreign nation with
in the rules by which the navigation between
portions OF the same nation is governed IL
this may be done between the colonies and
foreign nation, it may also be done in respect tn
the navigation between any other portion, or
the whole of the territories of such nation and
foreign nations.
England allows the importation of lumber
and bread-stuiis from the United States into
the colony of jamaica, but forhids the same,
unless the importation be made in English
vessels; she also allows the importation of
cotton aud tobacco from the United States in
to England, hut with equal right she may for
bid the same, unless the importations be made
In English vessels This has mt hecn done
IN the latter case, and there would be hut one
sentiment in the United States, should it he
attemptcd-yet, in the former case this is, and
mas been the law ever since the date of our
independence, and it may, with equal right be
applied TO Liverpool as To Jamaica.
Alter long endurance and fruitless Efforts
to adjust this question by treaty, Congress,
with great unanimity, have passed laws to
countervail the restrictions imposed by En-
gland upon the intercourse between the Uni
ted States and her colonies in the West In
dies.
England having forbidden the impora
ton of supplies from the United States into
her West India colonies in American vessels.
the United States in their turn have forbidden
the expectation of these supplies in British
vessels: the two restrictions have put an end
To the direct intercourse, and the trade is car
| RED on indirectly; the supplies for these CO.
lonies being Cared in American vessels from
the United States to the Swedish and Danish
Islands, and the produce ofthe English West
Indies being brought in English vessels to the
| same Islands, and there exchanged for the
provisions aud lumber of the United States.
American supplies are also sent in American
vessels To the free port of Bermuda, and there
sold for cash and flour in like manner is sent
| from the United States to the Island of Cuba.
as well as TO the port of Liverpool, aud from
these places, carried in English vessels to ,Ja-
niaica and other English colonies in the w est
Indies. In this condition of our navigation
and trade, our tonnage continues annually To
increase, and the value of our exports exceeds
that of our imports.
In countries OF great extent, and whose pre-
duc,Ions are various, though the people are
| generally employed in similar o occupations. new
regulations may, for time, affect some por-
| IONS Of the country more than others but
every portion soon accommodates Itself to the
new regulation, and the advantages and dis
advantages are, in short tins, certain 10 be
equaized by the entire freedom with which
every branch of industry is prosecuted
1t was on account of this diversity of pro-
duets, and of The different, manner of doing
business in the several states, that icaIuusies
formerly eXI7ted between them, which defeat
ed every attempt to establish any common
regulation of trade under the confederation
create the requisite competition in the exports
o. the country, added to the difficulties of this
period.
But ds the national tonnage is now fully suf-
iicIcnt FOR the national exports, and as Con
Sress have offered TO all nations a system of
entire equality and freedom in the CONNER
cial intercourse between them aud the United
States, the time has come 10 which il has been
thought to be due to the welfare and charac-
ter OF the u. States to countervail the regula-
tons which so long, and SO much to our dis
advantage, have been imposed by England on
the trade and navigation between the United
States and her West India colonies.
This national measure, so long called for TO
protect the ships and seamen of the United
States, was calculated TO awaken the rem
nant of local jealousy that may still exist a.
mong us, against the influence of which we
may with confidence appeal to the character
and necessity of the law.
BY the exclusion of English vessels, hmeri-
can vessels are employed in their place, and
whatever is lost to the former is gained by the
latter. BY revoking the counteryaiiing laws,
we take away the profits now enjoyed by
American vessels, and give them hack again
TO the vessels of England, and, in doing so.
grant bounty To foreign ships at the expense
of our own.
Navigation aad maritime industry, for pc
cuiiar reason, call for national projection for
the art of navigation is an expedieut of war,
as well as of commerce ;and, in this respect.
differs from every other branch of industry.
Though it was once doubted, doubt no longer
exists, that navy is the best defence of the l. +.
5. and this maxim is not more true than that
naval power never has existed, and can ne
yer exist, without commercial marine hence,
fhp nnlTCU a purnnrufr;per II
ships and seamen ofthe United States.
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