Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-10

| offer The preceding remarks, MOTT any means,
| with a'view to invite to further discussion, but
simply in order TO obvia,e all misconstrnc,ion OF
the meaning of the words already employed by
me-
1 have the honor, Sir, to renew to you, the as
surance OF my distinguished consideration.
III. u. ADDINGTON.
| The Hon. HENRY CLAY,
| Secretary of State.
| Vest India Trade-Some misunderstanding
| appears to exist relative to the reception which
| Apcrcan vessels to be meet with IN the Brit
| ish American and West India Colonies, under the
new acts OF Parliament which go into effect the
! 9th proyimo. "A writer, signing himself g Brit
ish merchant In the Gazette, states. that, after
the 9Th January, American vessels must be recciv-
ell in the specified free ports, without the payment
| OF any tonnage duty, though he admits, that the
duration of such reception depends upon the
course to be taken by this government, to its
discriminating tonnage duty British ships from
| the colonies. On the other hand, it has been Off
ciay notified, by the Collector at Halifax, N. s.
to tie Chamber Of Commerce there, that ,inasmuch
as British shipping from the colonies are no, re-
ceved in the ports of the Union on the footing of
| the most favored nations, American ships would
not be received at all in Halifax, after the 5th
JANUARY, unless order in council should previ-
| ously direct otherwise.
|
destined TO be- the bone of contention between this
country and Great Britain. AS it now stands, A
merican vessels can trade in certain limited arti-
cles to certain designated ports, provided their
voyages be direct from this country and their re-
turn direct TO 1t and paying tonnage duty equiv
! alent TO 81 per ton. In like manner British YES
| sells can come hither direct from any colony with
the produce of that colony, and go direct back
with American produce, paying in our ports s l
l hac hee and
tempted on the part of this government to induce
| that OF Great Britain to consent to arrangement
by which the colonies should be included within
the general treaty provisions which regulate the
commercial intercourse betw cen and the mother
country, but in vain.-The British Government
claims to consider the colonies subject to its own
municipal regulations, about which foreign govern
ments have right to interfere or TO be consulted
She uses them she judges best for her own inter-
ests. This at once places the intercourse which
may take place between foreign countries and
| those colonies peculiar and somewhat precari-
| Gus footing.
| The trade between Independent nations is regu-
lated by treaties mutually consented TO and binding
/ that with these colonies, depends upon acts OF
Parliament, which party alone makes and re-
vokes at pleasure. Hence will be seen at a glance
the dlihcuities TO which such trade must be sub
Ject-the consequence has been that the American
commerce with the British West Indies has been
carried on amidst acts of Parliament on one side
and couniervailing acts of Congress on the other
always with uncertainty TO its duration and per-
plexity as TO its details.
In this preiicament, the British Government,
have TAKEN a new course--they have suddenly de-
to throw down all the old barriers that cIo-
seq The trade OF colonies TO any but the mother
countries and 10 invite the whole world into COM
petition with US in the supply of their West India
Islands; Into competition with US, we repeat, for
in that hope, and that alone, of raising up success
iul rivals TO ms, has this great walton been made
on the old colonial system.
1t was held forth TO the world by Mr.. Huskissor
IN the speeches with which he introduced the new
DIS into Parliament, that the object of them wa.
10 open Tree intercourse with the colonies to all
nations, whereby articles of the growth or produce
OF such foreign nations might be carried in vessel.
belonging to them to the British American colonies
and the products of such colonies be received If
return and carried to, and sold in any country the
domInions OF Great Britain excepted This is yer,
lar and specIous, but what is the fact in respect
aIis Tree intercourse Is il not by act of Parlia.
ment subject TO catalogue OF articles from foreign
countries, which excluded from the colonies
and to second catalogue of articles which ar.
'I"de liable TO payment of other and greater duties
than Will be collected from like articles coming from
the mother country or other American colonies
NeItber the lumber Of Georgia, nor the Carolinas
superior in quality, and TO the colonies MOI
The bacon OF North Carolina and Virginia, nor the
Flour OF the Chesapeake, Delaware, and New York
nor the sailed beef and pork of the Northern states
are admitted into the colonies, unless upon the
payment OF higher discriminating duties above what
are levied upon the like articles coming from the
mother country, or the sister and distant colonies
such commerce then surely not be called
Tree intercourse This subject is, as it has long
BEEN open to the just objections Of the u States
and VIII so continue TO be, until by suitable contra
venng regulations, Great Britain becomes more
sensioIy Impressed with the just claims of the Uni
ted States.
All we ask is equality perfect and en,ire--bu,
we are not willing TO be used merely for the con.
venience or profit of the mother country or colo
mes, without reference to Just rights as an in
dependent nation W Y .fmeyican
ALVARADO