Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-07-29
HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 6.
RECIPROCITY OF DUTIES.

MT fftsklssOn moved the order oil the DAY
for committee upon the reciprocity of du-
ties bill
Mr.. Huskisson then said, that he would
take this convenient opportunity of stat
ing the nature of the alteration which he
proposed TO make in the commercial reg,ila-
tons of the country. He begged, in the first
place, to state that although his measure in
VOWED very important change in the com
mercial policy hitherto acted upon, and was,
to a certain extent, direct departure from
the principle which they had observed to-
wards foreign powers, yet he was sure II was
one which would meet with general approba-
ton, and be productive ofmutual advantage in
the transactions between this country and TO-
reign states The committee We're aware
that it had hitherto been the practice to ex.
empt British ships from certain proportion
ofduties which were exacted from foreign yes
sells trading to Great Britain. Certain draw
backs which were available To British shipping
were also disallowed 10 foreigners, in confor-
nifty with the same exclusive principle
Under the circumstances in which the co.si-
mercial regulations of this country We're here.
tofere placed, it was not perhaps necessary to
reconsider this principle ST. long as foreign
powers were not in condition TO complain of
is Inequality but it might easily be anticipa-
ted that whenever they did effectively com
plain, the principle would be found untenable
Accordingly, the greatest state next TO Great
Britain IN her maritime arrangements, and her
great rival in the trade OF the seas, the Uni
ted States of America, adopted what was not
very wonderful under all the circumstances, a
retaliatory principle, and placed British ship
ping In America upon the same footing that
American shipping was placed here the con-
sequence, as might he expected, was a great
embarrassment to the trade between the two
countries. 1t necessarily led to the disadvan-
tageOus exhibition of one set of ships import
ing into one country, and another set export
ing from another. This inevitable consequence
opened the eyesof both, and made them even
tudly agree 10 mutual abatement of this
war of prohibition and of exclusively protect
ing duties. Other Powers, seeing the success
of the esort Of America, of course took the
same means of getting rid of the evil, and
England was obliged To agree that the new
arrangement should comprehend Portugal and
her dependencies. The King of the United
Netherlands also pursued the same steps ia
get rid of a similar Inconvenience, and in the
year 1921 adopted resolution, which was not
To operate until the beginning of the present
year the resolution WAS, giving premium
OF lOper cent. upon their own shipping trade,
which consequently amounted To the imposi-
ton of duty 10 an equal amount upon foreign
! shipping. The operation of this regulation
was very preudical TO the British trade, and
it was perfectly understood that it was enact
Ell as retaliatory measure. Prussia had
projected similar arrangement, unless Eng
land abandoned her exclusive shipping duty
1t was quite clear from these occurrences, thai
the time had arrie ed forreconsdering the Bri
fish commercial principle they must adop
one oil two conseqnences-either to persevert
IN eIrpresent system, through the instrumen
tality OF protecting duties and prohibitions
| or else to admit other Powers To perfect
equality and reciprocity ofshipping duties
] The latter, he thought, was the course they
were hound 10 adopt. It's effect he was per.
suaded, would lead 10 an increase of the com.
merclal advantages Of the country while a
the same time it had Il tendency TO promote
and establish better political feeling anC
confidence among the maritime powers, it wouIo
| abaie The sources of commercial jealousy, idly
wasting their force in race of mutual annoy
aDce. 1t was time in the improved state o
the civilization of the world, TO establish more
! liberal principles and show, that commerc,
! was not the end, but the means of diffusins
comfort and enjoyment among the nations
embarked IN its pursuit. (Hear.) Those who
had the largest trade must necessarily derive
| the greatest advantage from better inter
national regulation. lie had no doubt thai
when England abandoned her old principle
the Netherlands, and other powers who were
prepared to retaliate, would mHtually concur
IN the new arrangement. He was prepared
| TO bear h0m the Honorable Member near
HIM mir. RoheItson,) that the proposed alte
ration would be prcjudica to the British ship.
! ping interests. in such an observation he
could not concur, for me thought, on the con
trary, that the shipping interest Of this coun.
try, had nothing TO apprehend from that oil
other nations. The committee would recnl.
| iect, that when the alteration in the navigation
laws was projected, similar unfavourabIe anlici
! pauons were made by parts of the shipping in j.
terest, but these au;icipations proved in the
result. entirely unfOunded. 1t was quite lime
10 get rid of this retaiaiory principle,
which, if carried to the extreme of which
It was susceptible. must injurp every species
OF trade. One sort of shipping would be
carrying the trade of one country, and then
returning without an equivalent advantage, to
make way Tor the couDtervailiug regulations
at another power, or else TO return i'm ballast
! What would the country think Ofthe establish.
! nent OF wagon which was 10 convey goods
10 Birmingham, and afterwards To return
empty The consumer would. he thought.
feel little Obliged for such mode Of regulat.
ing the conveyance of his merchandise
Inc jtt. Hon. Gentleman then repeated his
observations respecting the retaliatory princi
pie adopted in The Netherlands and Prussia
and said that England was in no condition
! TO persist 10 line of commercial policy
which had so inevitable a re action. The re
solutions which he meant TO propose, were
to confer upon the King in Council the power
1 ofrelaXing the old law, where other mower.
departed from the retaatory pr nciple. and ia
continue il where they did not. He knew
that 1t WAS intended by the King Of Prussia 90
abaie his retaliation, when England relaxed
her regulations indeed, he had the best an
1 fhOrifv ~ u tD~- sb.s 81, IL D..