Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-27
On our Relations ,rith Great Britain.


Mr.. CLAY to Mr.. GALLATIN... concluded
Ii the Brit Government had then in tended to bar
all negotiation, in respect to the colonial trade no
occasion could have been more fit than the trans
mission of that note, TO communicate such inten-
ton. So far from any such purpose being declar-
ell, i, is formally notified to the American Govern.
ment tina, the British Government is preparing TO
proceed in the important negotiations, SC. and that
the negotiations will be forthwith resumed Tof
courre including the colonial trade. 1t appears,
from the same note, that the British Government
was perfectly acquainted with the feeble condition
Of Mr.. King, and therefore made the friendly sug-
Sestion OF assocating some other person with him
10 conduct the negotiation. Mr. Vaughan was
verbally informed that we should prepare, soon
practicable, to renew the negotiation, and that
the state Of Mr.. Kings health would be taken iato
consideration. The President did deliberate on it,
and your Willingness to be associated with Mr.
King, in that public service, ascertained.
Ia the mean time, and before tho necessary ar
engagements could be made for your departure, a
letter from Mr.. King. under date of the 2lst day
u March, 1926, was received, desiring permission
20 return, which was promptly granted, and you
were Immediately appointed. by and with the adj
vice and consent OF the Senate, 10 succeed him.
Without any unnecessary delay you proceeded on
POUR mission, charged with Instructions, framed in
tse most amicabe spirit, to renew the suspended
neso;iaton all points.
/. is now necessary TO turn back 10 the British
Sc. 9! Parliament of July, 1925. That act has
never, 10 this moment been officially conimunica-
1ci 90 the American Government by that Of
<treat Britain, and j, reached only through 9th
q cnanneis.
.ye did not suppose, whatever may be the gem
rfal terms of its enactmenis, that it was intended
50 lie applied 10 the United States, until, at least
nc experiment OF The renewed negotiation should
f,s re been tried, and should have failed. we en-
ef.aned that supposi,ion because both parties, by
III their correspondence and public acts, appeared
80 regard the renewed negotiation as the means of
eetIing the existing difference. We had other
coseat reasons for that supposiiion. 1.-THE British
C3vernment intended irrevocsbIy 10 abide by the
conditions which the act of Parliament prescribed,
y-e believed, not only that il would have been
of1cially communicated, with notification to that
effect, but that the British Minister would have
Been Instructed to give such information might be
nsces~ary TO enable us clearly TO comprehend IFS
PROVISIONS. This information TO a Foreign Gov
eminent could not be deemed altogether unreason-
lie in respect to an act of Parliament, extremely
Implicated, spread out into eghiy-six sections,
tasjdes various tables, and which was accompan
aL y a contemporaneous act relating to the same
subject, also containing numerous provisions and
ta.- seierring 10 other acts of Parliament the titles
Il some Of which not even recited Not only
Dsn o such information ever communicated but you
5giii psrceive. from the accompanying corespon-
de1cC Fitj Mr.. Vaughan in the last month. that,
~ ~ tat time, be not provided with insiruc-
forstc sfford q satisfactory answer 10 the inquiry
r 1tca--i according 10 the British Interpretation
~ ts- go # Parliament, American vessels may
'see r.@een the British colonies and foreign coun
Pic oher than the United Kingdom, in like
i"i-r@- Yiih British VESSELS; and whether all dis
ing duties and charges imposed, either by
ne loca. authorities by the British Parliament,
,e'sesa vessels of the United States and British
vessels lave been abolished.
fGc Importance Of the latter inquiry was increas-
q 81 isiormaton which bad reached us, that, late
s. eng The present year, the Government of
1t9yr Scotia had passed act, by which Ameri-
en- s.sels were subjected to higher duties or char
e.I f.sr British That we sincerely believed that
2 i'on, and not legislation was the means by
wfl.r was expected arrangement was to be
ia I'd by the parties, will further appear from a
i,tei sidfessed by me, on the 25ih day Of Dec,
l-"o, 70 a member Of Congress-, copy of which
- 'Cfswith transmitted In that letter the opinion
b. s<pf essed that The British Government could
t' haye intended TO apply the act Of Parliament
~ oh July, 1873, To the intercourse between the
.lited States and the British Colonies because
q" st. II would be inconsistent with professions
80 by that Government TO Thu, and with nego-
tons belween the two Governments conternpla-
al 8 not yet resumed 2Uy. No notice has
.eep sIyen at Washington, or at London Of such
oppose as that which, for The first time is indi-
cs;ea HALIFAX 3JIy. The British Minister here
fl oyised by bis Government Of any intention
60 -i)ee The Colonial ports against our vessels ::
7ad, 1i1ly. No information has been received here
from y British Colonial port, except Halifax, Of
crch a,soton."
ats letter was published in Tire American Ga