Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-12-15

war, q proposal was fairly mode by the act OF
Congress Of the Sd Of March, 1915, tosli the
maritime nations. 20 lay aside the system OF re.
taliatiDg restrictions aud exclusions, s to place
the shipping ofboth parties to The common
trade on footing Of equality, 10 respeetto the
duties Of tonnage and inpost THIS offer was
partially and successfully accepted by Crest
Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands. theHausestic
Cities, Prussis, Ssrdina, the Duke OF Oiden.
burg. and Russia. 1t was also adopted, under
certain notifications, in our late commercial
convention with France. And. by the act OF
Congress of the 9th Jan 1924. il has received
new confirmation, with all the nations who
had acceded 20 il, and has been offered again
TO all those who are, or may hereafter be, vii
ling 10 abide in reciprocity by il. But all these
regulations, whether established by treaty or
by municsple ensctT1ents, are stu subject 10
ore important restriction. The removal OF
Discriminating duties of tonnage and OF impost,
is limited to srticles Of the growth, produce,
or manufacture, of the country TO which the
upssel belongs, or to such articles are most
usually first shipped from her ports. IL Will
deserve the serious consideration OF Congress,
whether even this re mnas iof restriction pisy
not be safely abandoned, and whether the ge.
neral tender of equal competition, made 10 The
act of 9Th Jan 1924. may not be extended 10
include all articles Of merchandise not pronio-
tee, OF whatever country soeves they maybe
the produce or manufacture. Propositions TO
this effect have already been made TO us ny
more than one European government, and u Is
probable, that, if once established by leglsis.
ton or compact with any distinguished mari.
time state, it would recommend iiseh, by the
experience oh its advantages, TO the neral
accession of all
The Convention Of Commerce and Naviga-
ton between the r States and France. con.
cluded on the oath June 1922, was, IN the
understanding and intcnt OF both parties. ~
appears upon its face, only temporary ar
rangement of the points OF difference between
them, OF the most immediate and pressing ur-
gency. II was limited, IN the first instance, 20
two years from the lst Oct. 1892, but with u
proviso, that it should further Continue IA
force till the conclusion OF general aud deli
nitIve treaty of commerce, unless terminated
by q notice six mouths in advance, OF either on
the parties to the other. Its operation, so TAR
as it extended has been mutually advantage GUS;
and 1t still continues in force by common con-
sent But it left unsdjusted several objects OF
great interest to the citizens and subjects OF
beth countries, and particularly mass Of
claims, to considerable amount, OF Citizens OF
the U. States upon the government OF France.
under circumstances of the most aggravated
and outrageous character. In the long period
during which continual aud earnest appeals
have been made to the equity and msgnanimi-
ty Of France, in behalf Of these claims, their
justice has not been, as it could not be. de-
MED 1t was hoped that the accession of new
sovereign to the throue would have afforded a
favorable opportunity for presenting them to
the consideration of his Government. they
have bean presented and urged, hitherto, with
out effect. The repeated and earnest repre-
sensations of our Minister at the Court of
France, remain, rs yet, even without an an
ever. We're the demands of nations upon tho
justice of each other susceptible of adjadics-
tor by the sentence of an impartial tEibusal,
these to which now refer would long since
have been settled, and adequate indemnity
would have been obtained. There are large
amounts o. similar claims upon the Neither
hnds, Naples, and Denmark For those upon
Spain, prior to 1919, indemnity was, after una
ny years OF patient forbearance, blamed and
those upon Sweden have been lately compro-
missed by private settlement. in which the
claimants themselves have acquiesced The
Governments OF Denmark and of Naples have
been recently reminded OF those YET existing
against them; nor will any vi them be forgot
ten. while hope may be INDUCED Of obtain.
ing justice. by the means within the consti.
tu'onsl power of the Executive, and without
rcsorung to those measures OF selfredress,
which, as well as the time, circumstances, and
occasion, which may require them, are within
the exclusive competency of the LIE gislature
1t is with great satisfaction rhst am enabled
to bear witness to the liberal spirit with which
the republic Of Colombia has made satisfaction
for well established claims Of similar charac-
ter. And among the documents now CON-
municated 10 Congress, viii be distinguished
treaty of commerce aud navigation with that
republic, the rat 'hcstions of which have been
exchanged since the last recess of the legisia.
ture. The negotiation OF similar treaties With
oil the independent South American states, has
been contemplated, and may yet be accom-.
plished The basis Of them all, as propo sed
BY the United States, has been laid in two
principles; the one OF entire and unqualified
reciprocity; the other the mutual obligation of
the parties. 10 place each other permanently
upon the footing of the most favored nation.
These principles are, indeed, indispensable to
the efiectesl emancipation Of the American
hemisphere from the thraldom of colonixing
monopolies and exclusions; an event rapidly
realizing in the progress of human affairs, and
which the resistance still opposed in certain
parts OF Europe to the acknowledgment OF the
south American republics as independent
states will, il is believed. contribute more ef-
fectually to accomplish. The time has been.
and that not remote, when some of those
states might, in rheir anxious desire to obtain
a nominal recognition, have accepted OF
nominal independence. clogged with burthen-
some conditions, and exclusive commercial
privileges granted TO the nation from which
they have separated. to the disadvantage Of all
others. They are now all aware that such con-
cessions to any European nation, would be in
compatible with that independence which they
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