Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-23


me Presidents .dfesSGge)
.dfdert Gdiiaiia, ENJOY Extraordinary and
.limisfer Pie"ipotentiaiy eff the u. States,
London.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, I1ih Nov. 1926.
SiR-Agreeably TO the iniims,ion given in ms
letter, under date the l-t ul,iino, proceed 10
communicate TO you the view which has been Ia
Ken here OF the official note OF his Britannia Ma,
Jesiy's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, addressed to you on the Iith September
last.
II the British Cover nment had contented i,sel
with simply announcing, in that noie, its detefni
nalioa no longer to treat with that o. the u States
on The intercourse with the British Colonies. how
ever unexpected by Us such determination would
have ban, we might have felt ourselves bound
silently TO acquIesce in the declared pleasure oil
HIS Britannia M.jesty's Government. Two par
Ties at least, are necessary TO the conduct of any
negotiation, and 1t one absolutely declines treating
the other, OF necessity must abide by his decision
But The British Government not satisfied with
merely communicating the fact OF lis resolution no
longer TO negotiate with the United States for an
arrangement OF the colonial trade, which might
reconcile the interests and wishes OF both parties
brings forward new principles, TO some OF which
we cannot subscribe, and seek 10 cast upon us the
attended
past endeavours to effect that object, which we
cannot admit. The irankness which has ever cha
racterzed all our correspondence with the British
Government, requires that objections 10 those
principles, and dissent from such an i'm puta-
ton, should be respectfully stated In doing this
VIII begin witha brei statement of certain gen.
erai propositions, which are supposed TO be In
contestIble
1t Is The undoubied right Of every nation TO pro-
hioit or allow foreign commerce with all or any
part, OF It's domlnions, wherever situated and
whatever may be their denominations, wherever
situated, parental OF colonial or he modes of 20
vernment in the respective parts. 1t may prescribe
Tor Itself the condition on which the foreign trade
l. tolerated; but these conditions are not obligatory
upon other notions unless, they, in some FORM as
sent 10 them. All such conditions, in respect 10
foreign powers are iii the nature of proposals.
which they are as free 10 accept or decline, as the
other party was to tender them. Ii a nation has
colonies, 1t may PROFESSIONALLY reserve TO Itself,
exclusively, the night of trading with them
But, 1t cannot be admitted, that, in regard to 70
reign powers, there is any thing In the nature and
condition OF colonies, or in the relation which
subsists between them and the couniry TO which
they belong which distinguishes the power Of reyu.
iatins their commerce from that winch is exercised
over the parent country. Tha, paren, country may
have It's motives oil jealousy or policy for a riso
ros exclusion OF all intercourse betyy cen IFS colo
MES and foreigners Bu, msrl.It il chooses 10
relax and open its colonial ports TO foreign trade
whether The relaxation is moved bya temporary or
permanent interest or Necessity, The right is ac
CURED by ioreign States TO examine and judse for
themselves, the conditions on which thew are nro.
posed to lie admitted, and TO reject or accept them
accordingly. This right to foreign nations is con-
ceded, In he Official note hich | am CONSIDERING
when the colonial power is urged by the pressure
oil immediate wants to throw open, for time its
colonial ports but il is denied when il chooses TO
open them permanently. The right, in both in
Stances rests upon the same ground, and that is.
that all commercial exchanges, national or indivi-
dual, the parties TO them are equal, and have tie
, me independent power OF Judging, each for HIM
sell; and there is much more reason, on account of
the greater duration OF the interest that the risht
IN question should be cisel in ue;Inalnent thar,
temporary trade.
Al! commerce is founded upon mutual convent
ence and advantage. And this principle is equal
ly applicable to a commerce with colonial posses
sions, and with the country TO which they belong.
or TO any other country. In trading with any
colonies, we have no more imagined that priyi-
leSe had been gTstuIiousiy connected tn u.s. than
that we had made such concession TO the colo
nial power, in allowing its colonies 10 trade with
the us. 1t canno', therefore, be admitted that
any other compensation is due from the IT, s. TO
Great Bfiiain, for the permission TO trade with her
colonies, than that which springs from the mutual
exchanges, which the object OF that and of
all commerce. Ii the prosecution of any given
trade be found, upon experiment, improbable 10
either party, that party will longer pursue il e,
and wemay safely confide in the dscernment OF
individuals TO repress stimulate venture ac-
cording TO the loss or gain which may be incident
TO IT. The British Government, fully sensible of
law. spI 81.
liberal commercial policy which il professed 10
nave Intended, by the example OF Der hou,sge, To
have Incucaied its observance upon all naiiOns
ne idea, that the admission into colonial ports
oil foreign vessels, is boon granted by the parent
country, that is, beneiaction without equivalent
Is as new as IL Is extraordinary. In that inter
course which has been allowed by the British Co
yernment between its Colonies and the United
states, never fully opened, sometimes entirely
closed, and when reluctantly admitted iettered by
numerous restrictions, we recognise any thing bM
a boon. The leading motive which appears 10
nave sctusied The British Government, in respect
10 The exchange Of American and Colonial pro-
duce, has been 10 sell here, what could be Sold If
soId at all, no where el.e prOfably, and TO buy
oil Us exactly much as she could obtain no where
else, at least so prohtsbly.
On our side, whenever The trade has been open
there have been no restrictions, ~ TO the objects
oi expectation from the United States 10 the
British Colonies. An enumeration here Of the
numerous prohibitions and restrictions on the British
side under articles both oil Colonial aud American
produce, extend this paper 10 most Uni unreasonable
lengih. And with respect to the transportation OF
the subjects of this limited trade, The aim OF the
British Government has been, by all iIsresuia;ions
TO engr' IS a dsnopoIiioGate share.
MS Intention was cleary developed in ile treaty
oil 1874, and has besn adhere TO, wrh steady per-
severance, dnng Tie lllirY-ttyo Intervening Yeas.