Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-06-17
CANADIAN RESTRICTIONS.

Cf-NhLtaN lONS.
Our readers will see by The following extract of
letter 10 merchant in this village, received v ex-
press from merchant IN Montreal, that the CON
sructon OF The British trade law which il was feared
would he gwen tn ~. has length been determined
on by the house officers at that CITY and that
American vessels of every description in effect
excluded from all participation in the trade of The ST.
Lawrence.
Extract from Montreal, Nav O.
- regret To say that Mr. Hall, ouI principal GUS
ION, house officer here, has this morning seized two
American hoats, laden with ashes and provisions on
the ground that those articles only admissible in
Brush bottoms. We have employed counsel 10 adj
wise what measures we Ought pursue protect the
interest OF those concerned against this extranTna
ry and unjust procedure they are now ~ cunsulti-
non on This subject. In tie meanwhile, let advise
YOU 10 suspend all uither shpmcnts except British
bottoms. lOgdePsburgh 6asete.
According TO the old navigation acts of Eng
land, no foreign flag could enter her colonies
This system has recently, in regard 10 the
West India islands, Nova Scotia, New Bruins
wick, and the two Canadas, tChen approached
from The sea, been modified, so as admit on
certain terms, To designated ports, American
vessels laden with enumerated articles. This
permission does not, however, affect Montreal,
which is not one of the ports designated nor
as we believe, does the act of parliament, re-
guiating the trade to the colonies, apply 10 The
inland communication between the United
States and the Canaaas. Unless, therefore,
there he some act of the colonial legislature.
by which the intercourse from the United
States, in American bottoms, has been al
lowed, we are at loss to know under what
conditions or circumstances this intercourse
has heretofore been carried on But even II
the provision of the act of parliament had
been meant to apply to the interior trade of
Canada, and If Montreal had been designated
as one Of the ports to which Americans might
resort, the cargoes of the American boats
seized, ashes and provisions, are not among
the enumerated articles, aud therefore were
liable to seizure. The circumstances has not
been sufficiently noticed, that with all the
claim for liberaty made on behalf of the
British government, in opening the trade in
| American vessels to The colonies they exclude
not only from the Canadas, but from all thpil
other colonies, these two most important
articles nf our produce, ashes aud provisions.
There is, however, in relation to The free
navigation Of The ST. Lawrence, broader
view To be taken than that connected will
the temporary and conventional arrangement,
between the two countries II is cOnsouan
with reason and nature, that great rivers sboulc
be open highways, free to Ill nations inhahiiin!
their borders, who shuuld enjoy equally tn
right of navigation, to be common tu ali. sib
=
ton Of order, and the protection Of the re
venue, as might be judged Indispensable
There is no good reason, nor as lar as we Gu
Judge, any sound motive Of policy, Why Grca
Britain should object to our navigating tn,
50. Lawrence to IT. mouth nor 10 oIr having
what we should then necessarily require,
place of deposit on IFS banks.
This may seem a somewhat startling pro
position but il is onr, which we think SIN
has manifest interest in accedIng 10, and NJ
good motive 10 oppose II is one, mOreovel
which in principle, and ~ applicable to Euro
pean rivers, Great Britain has in common wit
the other great powersof Europe assented {
AZ the congress uf Vienna. In that congrcs.
held for the protested object ofregnlating an
securing the peace Of Europe, and, as ucdrr
tai thereto, Ofseiilingthc international law,
2 was formally stipulated, that with regard I,
the Elhe, The Rhine, The Danube, che Visfuli
and ~ Strrr erce' 'ir"~e fhe naVigufico