Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-06

Uyac IL.
commercial intercourse between the United
SITES and the British Colonies in America, it
has been hitherto found impracticable to bring
the parties to an understanding satisfactory to
both. The relative geographical position, and
the respective products of nature cultivated by
human industry, and constituted the elements
of q commercial intercourse between the Unit
cd States and British America, insular and con-
tinental. important to the inhabitants of both
countries. But it had been interdicted by
Great Britain, upon principle heretofore prac-
ticed upon by the colonizing nations OF Europe,
Of holding the trade of their colonies, each In
exclusive monopoly to herself. After the ter
mination of the late war, this introduction had
been revived, and the British Government de-
clined including this portion OF our intercourse
with her possessions in the negotiation OF the
Convention of 1915. The trade was then car
ried on exclusively in British vessels, till the
act of Congress concerning navigation, OF 10 8,
and the supplemental act of 1920, met the IN
terdict by corresponding measure on the part
of the United States These measures, not oil
retaliation, but Of necessary self-detence, were
soon succeeded by an Act of Parliament, open
inc certain colonial ports to the vessels
of the United States, coming directly from
them. and to the importation from them OF GER
tain articles of our produce, burdened with
heavy duties, and excluding some OF the most
valuable articles Of our exports. The United
States opened their ports to British vessels
from the Colonies, upon terms as exactly cor
responding with those of the Act vi Parlla-
ment, as, in the relative position OF the parties,
could be made. And negotiation was common
ced DIV mutual consent,with the hope,on our part,
that reciprocal spirit OF accommodation ana
common sentiment of the importance OF the
trade to the interests OF the inhabitants OF
the two countries, between whom 1t must De
carried on, would ultimately bring the par
ties to compromise, with which both might
be satisfied. With this view, the Government
of the United States had determined to sacrl-
,,lhce something of that entire reciprocity which
in all commercial arrangements with foreign
Powers they are entitled to demand land to &C
ouiesce in some inequalities disadvantageous
to ourselves, rather than to forego the benefit OF
final and permanent djustment of this inter
est, to the satisfaction of Great Britain herself.
The negotiation, repeatedly suspended by acct
dental circumstances, was, however, by mu-
tual agreement and express assent, con-
sidered as pending, and to be speedily resum-
ed In the mean time, another Act OF ParIa
ment, SO doubtful and ambiguous In its import
as to have been misunderstood by the officers
in the colonies who were to carry 1t into exc
cution, opens again certain colonial ports, up
on new conditions and terms, with threat to
close them against any nation which may not
accept those terms, as prescribed by the Bril-
fish Government This act passed In July,
1925, not communicated to the Government OF
the United States, not understood by the Bril-
fish Officers Of the Customs in the Colonies
where it was to be enforced, was nevertheless
submitted to the consideration of Congress, at
their last session. With the knowledge that
negotiation upon the subject had long been
in progress, and pledges given OF its resump-
ton al an early day, 1T was deemed expedlent
to await the result of that negotiation, rather
than to subscribe implicitly to terms the i'm
port of which was not clear, and which the Brl-
fish authorities themselves, in this hemisphere,
were not prepared to explain.
Immediately after the close of the last SEES
sion of Congress, one of our most distinguish
ed citizens was despatched as Envoy Extraor-
binary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Great
Britain, furnished with instructions which we
could not doubt would lead to conclusion of
this long-controverted interest, upon terms &C
ceptabe 10 Great Britain. Upon his arrival,
and before he had delivered his letters Of Gre
dence; he was met by an Order of the British
Council, excluding from and after the first of
December now current, the vessels of the Unit
ed States from all the Colonial British ports,
excepting those Immediately bordering upon
our Territories. In answer to his expostula-
tons upon measure thus unexpected, he is
informed that, according to the ancient maxims
of policy Of European nations having colonies,
their trade is an exclusive possession of the
mother country That all participation in it
by other nations, is boon or favor; not forming
a subject of negotiation, butte be regulated by
the Legislative Acts of the Power owning the
colony That the British Government, there
fore, declines negotiating concerning it; and
that, as the United States did not forthwith &C
cept purely and simply the terms offered by
the Act of PARLIAMENT, of July, 1925, Great Bri-
tain would now no admit the vessels of
the United States even upon the terms
which she has opened them to the navigation
Of other nations.
Wehave been accustomed to consider the trade
which we have enjoyed with the British Colo
MES, rather as an intechange of mutual benefits,
than as a mere favor received; that, under eve
ry circumstance, we have given an ample equi-
valent. We have seen every other nation, hold
ino Colonies nepociate with other nations and