Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-16

passed. TWO ac,s The hrst OF which Is entl'ieu IAN
act for further regulating the trade of his Msjes'ys
possessions in America and the West Indies, and
for the warehousng Of goods therein and the
second, " An act to regulate the British posses
sions abroad" According to these acts, the dis
elimination between Great Britain and her Ameri-
can colonies as being subject, in regard 10 foreign
nations, TO different comm cal codes, is in some
degree aboishei; and fhey Incorporated, TO
considerable extent, together and their trade thrown
open TO foreign nations. The legislation OF Greai
Britain for her colonies, has been very complicat-
ed, and we may no, have just conception oil the
provisions OF those two acts. Hut, if they are
correctly understood here, they allow, 1si, That
whatever may be lawfully imported into those CO.
ZONES, IN British vessels, may be also imported IN
| foreign vessels into specified number of ports,
called Tree ports, At the rate of duty for the
vessel and cargo; 2dy, rhst the foreign vessel il
restricted to direct intercourse between the coun-
Try to which II belongs and the British colony,
aohsring, IN this respect, TO the old principle OF
her navigation laws. In some of their provisions,
particularly IN the imposition of duties articles
oi American produce. which " as before free, In
uian meal and Indian corn, for example, these
acts operate more prejudically TO US than the pre-
vious state of the British law Bu, no;wthstand
Ing, On full consideration of the whole subject,
the president, anxious 10 give strong proof to
GIcIi Britain OF the desire OF tie Government OF
Inc United States TO arrange this long contested
matter OF the colonial intercourse in manner mu-
tualiy satisfactory, authorises you to agree
LIST, That there shall be reciprocal and entire
| abolition OF all alien or discriminating duties upon
the vessel or cargo, by whatever authority impos-
ed, so as to place the vessels of the United States
and hose OF Great Britain, whether colonial or
British, concerned in the trade, upon footing of
perfect equality and reciprocity.
! ID Tha, the United States consent to waive
The demand which they have heretofore made, of
I ho afn,- ,f HI
lonies al the same, and no higher, rate of duty
as similar productions are chargeable with, when
imported from one into another British colony,
WIN The exception OF our produce descending the
81 Lawrence and the Sorrel. h will not be ne
cessary, however, TO insert the general waiver in
the convention, but only to provide for the excep-
ton, II that should be agreed to, as herenbelore
mentioned; and
3D. That the Government of the Uni,ed States
will not insist upon participation in the direct
trade between the United Kingdom of Great Bril-
tain and Ireland and the British American colo
MES. But they do expect and require, that their
vessels shall be allowed to trade between those
colonies and every foreign country with which
the British vessels allowed to trade. In
agreeing 10 leave Great Britain in the exclusive
possession OF the direct trade with her colonies
the President is sensible that our navigation may
be exposed to some disadvantage in its competi-
ton with the British. The latter may make double
voyages charged with mixed cargoes from the pa
rent country, or from the United States and the
Colony. But the disadvantage would be so great
as to render il mpracticabie that we could main
tain any thing like fair competition, If British
vessels, at the pleasure of their owners were,
and ours were not permitted to share in the trade
between the British colonies, foreign countries,
and the United States. Perhaps Grea Britain mi v
ask II we trade between British colonies and for
eign countries that British vessels should be allow
ed to export the produce of the United States 10
those countries, or TO import foreign produce from
them into these States There would be- some
pausibilIty In such demand, if it were confined
to colonial vessels; and if there could be devised
any adequate security against fraudulent denomi-
nations oil British European vessels, bestowe ed "a
qualify them TO enjoy the Privilege of trading be-
tween the United States and foreign countries,
through Briiirh colonies. II is evident that with
our such Imitation, ehcacously enforced, which
IS oelieved 10 be altogether impracticabe,) Their,
would be no equivalent, for privilege TO all Bri-
tish vessels European and colonial, OF sharing in
our trade with all foreign countries 10 the limited
privilege TO American vessels, of sharing the trade
between those countries and the British colonies
Your discussions on this subject may take such a
direction as to present favorable occasion for test
ing the extent to which the British Government is
disposed TO carry the modern liberal commercial
doctrines, which it Processes, and has procIainled
to the world. With that view and for settling a,
once all difficulties the question: whether the
vessels IT the Unitad Sta. shall be permitted 10
| engage in the trade between tt British American
colonies and foreign countries, you arr hereby su-
ihorizsd to propose, as general regulation appli-
cable to the British dominions in Europe a, we'll
as in this hemisphere, or wherever situated, that
whatever can be lawfully imported into one coun-
try, In it's own vessels, may be also imported into
it, in the vessels Of the other country, the vesse,
and the cargo paying IN both instances the same
and no higher or other duties. This will leave the
capital and industry Of the two nations concerned
in navigation, 10 a free competition, upon eouaI
terms; and that is understood 10 be the poJiev
which the British Government has recently an
nounced On this broad and extensive principIe
treaty with The Republic OF the Centre of A,neri.
ca was co.. cuded Oh the sixth Of December last.
and was subsequently ratified by the President with
The advice and consent Of the Senate, il is beIev-
ed given unanimously. We have moi yet heard
OF its ratification by the other party, and of course
us PRONUNCIATION at present would be premature but
copy oft now placed in your possession A trea-
tc.with Denmark embracing the same principle. un-
der some notifications, {. mutations was signed at
Washington on the 20; h day Of April of the pres
ent year, TO the ratification Of which the Senate has
also consented aud advised with equal unanimify
Sufficient time has not yet elapsed TO receive the
Danish ratification, but copy OF this treaty il
also conhded to you. If Great Britain will
assent to neihsr principle; if he insist upon
engrossing the whole trade, not only between her
colonies and her European dominioEs bit also be-
tween those colonies and foreign countries, to the
exclusion from both OF The navigation OF The u
States it will then be Necessary TO insert clsn.e
in the convention, expressly reserying 10 each par
" the right, 10y existing, or other laws, TO restrict
The trade between the United States and the British
colonies 10 the direct int curse between them