Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-27

They require thst the uaitet States, TO entitie
themselves 10 the permission OF importation and
expectation which is granted by the British law OF
navigation, should place the commerce and navi-
CATION Of the United Kingdom, and Of lis posses
lions abroad, upon the footing OF the most favored
nation. The first observation occurring Is, that, at
the very moment when the British Government
wa. putting forth the principle, that the Iegu-
laton of the trade Of the parent country and of its
colonies depends upon two rules essentially differ
ent, the one admitting, and the other excluding all
consultation with foreign States; this act conf'unds
them together, and requires not merely that we
should place the British colonies upon the footing
of the most favoured colonies. but that, to enile
to enjoy the privileges OF an intercourse with
those colonies, we must comply with the require
ment Of placing the navigation and commerce,
both Of the parent country, and all its possessions
abroad, on the footing OF the most favoured ma
ton.
The first difficulty which is encountered, in as
ceranng the precise nature and exten, OF the con-
ditions prescribed by the act Of Parliament, is, that
il furnishes no dehnnion Of the terms, Z" the mos.
favored nation," which 1t employs. According to
one Interpretation Of those terms, they import the
gratuitous concession Of commercial privileges
According TO another, they imply the nation
which enjoys the creates, amount Of commercial
privilege, whether granted tUith or tcithout equiv
alents.
That the first was not the sense in which The
British Government intended to use those terms,
we conjectured; because, if it were, nothing re-
manned to be done by the American Government
to brug itself within the conditions OF the act OF
Parliament, and we apprehended that the British
Government required some positive act. Great
Britain in that of the terms, is, in respect to
the commerce and navigation both of the parent
country and it's possessions abroad ON the footing
of the most favoured nation. Whatever com
mercial privileges are granted by the U. States to
any foreiga nation. by act Of Congress, or by
ties, are founded upon equivalents. Holding on,
the principle Of fair reciprocity TO all nations,
neither ask, nor profess to bestow commercial
boons. Thus, in respect to alien discriminating
Duties we have not abolished them in behalf of any
nation which has no, protested to abolish them
to US. If they are now levied upon British
sells, coming 10 the United States, from British Co
Ionies, countervaiIing duties now also levied
upon American vessels entering British Colonies,
and have been constantly a. MIR. Canning declares,
from 1923. If the amount OF American tonnage
admitted to entry in British colonial ports, and of
British tonnage entering Amesic ports from Br-
fish colonies, were exactly equal the collection of
duties on one side would neutralize the collection
on the other. But, there Is much more Ameri
C an than British tonnage employed in the colonial
trade, we pay greater amount OF those duties
than Great Britain. And, consequently, if there
we're of complaint on either side, on account
of their existence, it would be with us. I, could
not, therefore, have been in the first, but must have
been in the second meaning OF the terms, tina; they
are employed in the act OF Parliament.
Great Britain is understood, then 10 have de-
manded that the United Kingdom and its possess
sons abroad, should be allowed to enjoy in the
ports of the United States the greatest extent of
privileges which have granted,
no matter upon what ample equivalent, to any
foreign nation whatever In order to ascertain the
latitude of concession thus required it is necessary
to glance, and it shall be done rapidly possi-
BILE, at the state of our commercial relations with
other foreign Powers.
BY the general law of navigation (see 9th vol.
Of the laws of the United Staies, page 1907 u il
enacted, that, after the 30th day of September,
1918, no goods, wares merchandise, shall be
into the United States from any foreign
port or place, except in vessels OF the U. States,
or in such foreign vessels as truly and wholly be-
long to the citizens subjects of that country of
which the goods the growth, production or man.
lfaeture, or from which such goods, wares or mer-
chandize, only be. or usually are. first shipped
for transportation Provided, ncucrtheiess, that |
This regulation shall not ertend to the uesseis of
my foreign ,,atio, which has not adopted, |
,nd ,0hich shall not adopt similar regula-
tom"
Great Britain had, long prior TO the passage of
that act, adopted and continues 10 enforce the |
restriction on which it is founded; whilst almost all
other nations have abs'ained from incorporating il |
in their navigation codes. a vessel, therefore, of |
the United States, on entering British port, being
limited by British law, to the introduction of goods
The produce of the United States, British vessel, |
On entering their ports, is limited the introduce
lion of goods being of British produce; whilst the !
vessels of all other nations, which have not a.
lopted the restrictive regulation, allowed
tesing port of the United States, 10 introduce
any foreign produce whatever, by paying the alien
and discriminating duties, from which vessels OF
The Uniled States are exempted.
BY particular arrangements with various powers,
some by treaty, and others by separate but recip
-ocal acts Of the Governments Of the United States
and those Powers, the alien duties OF the United
States abolished as to them, and their vessels
and those of the United States, allowed the
reciprocal liberty Of importation and exporia-
ton, at the rate of duty, upon both ship and
cargo.
Thus, by the act Of Congress of January, 1924,
&c go much of The several acts imposing duties on
the tonnage Of vessels in the ports of the u States,
As imposes a discriminating duty between fore On
vessels and vessels of the United States is hereby
suspended, so far respects vessels truly and
wholly belonging TO subjects or citizens of the
Kingdom Of the Netherlands, Of Prussia. OF the I'm
perial Hsnseaic Cities OF Hamburg, Lubec and
Bremen, of the Dukedom Of Oldenburg, of the
Kingdom Of Norway, of the Kingdom of Sardinia,
and Of the Empire of Russia" And il enscts a
like suspension of the discriminating duties the
cargo OF any of TIE vessels Of those several
tries.
But it further enacts that the suspension of those
duties shall continue in behalf of each Of the
abo entioned nations, condition that, and SO
long as the vessels OF the Uniiel States, and
truly and wholly belonging to the citizens thereof
4 t. L.. & a.. 4