Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-16

on United States vessels, than were .3aid ny
British vessels and merchandise, imported into
the said colonial ports, from elsewhere than the
United States
Since which time, several acts OF Parllamen,
have been passed having especial or incidental
reference to the trade with the English Amefic
can colonies: and under which and the laws oi
the United States before recited, a commercial
intercourse was onened. and has been prosecut-
ed between the United STATES and certain Drl'-
ish colonial ports; but to an extent 10. equai
The generations that had been formed respect
mo !, nor. as il is commended, on terms OF equa-
lity. the want of which, having given rise TO
a;sc,se;ons if not 10 dissatisfaction, between
tie parties engaged in it, 1t may be useial oflei-
| ly to advert to: :.
On>be nart of the American government, 1t
! is ALLEGED that a Just reciprocity does not ex-
Ter nasmuch as the duties on American YES
cells, and their cargoes, arriving at British CO.
| lonial norts. are required to be discharged by
an immediate prompt payment, and frequently
| AZ a great sacrifice 10 acquire the means Of do
inp il. while a credit is given for the duties
navable on British vessels and their cargoes,
arriving in the United States from the colonies,
of six and nine months: that bonds, with sure
ties. are REQUIRED for the landing of the return
/ cargo in specified port in the United States,
which are occasionally obtained with great diff
fculty, by the owners or masters OF the smaller
American vessels engaged in the trade; that an
export duty Of ? per cent, is imposed on the
return cargo, which cannot be countervalled In
the Uniled States: that vessels, arriving at a
bad market, have, at times, not been allowed to
seek better, unless by double payment OF
duties: while British vessels from the West In
dies, seeking favorable sale for their cargoes,
NAV run along the whole coast OF the United
States, from New-Orleans TO Eastport: that o.
nerous and heavy duties, and colonial ices, are
exacted, amounting, as is stated, in some lnstan-
ces, on small lumber loaded vessels, to the val
ue of the cargo--the latter OF which is corroo-
Grated, in degree, by Mr.. Huskisson; in his
speech IN Parliament, in March, OF the last
wear, in which he mentions the liability to abuse
and vexation of The practices in this particular;
and states that, in many instances the fees alone
which are exacted upon ship and cargo, "a
mount to much more than all the public duties;
and that important discriminating duty is I'M
posed. in the West India market, on the Hour,
the breads stuffs, and the lumber, OF the United
States, over that which is paid on the same ar
licles. when received from Canada, Nova SEQ
tia. and New Brunswick, and which, amount
ing in many instances to full freight gives de-
cisive advantage to inportations from the latter.
And although it is to be admitted, that some
of these regulations are of character so NUM-
cipal as not to be legitimate objects OF COM
plant. in reference to an international inter-
course. vet they, nevertheless, do in fact, con-
travene that Just reciprocity on which ii was to
be presumed it would be the desire OF both par
ties to place the trade between them,
While the British government, on its part,
contends. as is understood, that it is justified In
requiring an abrogation of the discriminating
duties, in consequence of its having partially
opened its colonial ports, for the importation OF
limited number Of articles from the United
States: and that it has right to make any mu-
nicipal or local regulations it pleases; and, "a
mong others, that of admitting, free oil duty,
the produce of its colonies, however remotely
situated, while it imposes an lmpost on articles
of the same description from other countries;
but allowing some plausibility to this reason
ing, It is to be recoected, that the question, at
issue, between the two countries, is not so much
one of abstract right, as Of equality and reel
procity in entering into a commercial arrange
ment intended TO promote the mutual advan-
tage OF both parties.
The foregoing presents brief synopsis OF
the measures which have been adopted since
the year 1915, by the United States and Great
Britain, relative to the trade with the British
colonies, and Of the present state Of it.
The recommendation of the memorialists
now is, that the discriminating duties still i'm
posed on British vessels and merchandise from
those colonies should be Immediately abolished
and that British vessels, coming from whence
soever they may, and with whatsoever loaded,
should be admitted into the ports OF the United
States, on the same terms as the vessels and
cargoes of the most favored nations.
The effect Of which, the committee believe,
would be, summarily, to yield to Great Britain
all she could ask, without any equivalent &C
commodation being granted on her part; for, to
admit British vessels indiscriminately into the
ports of the United States, with their cargoes,
from whencesoever arising, or OF whatsoever
composed, on the same terms as our own YES
sells. or those of the most favored nations, which
would be the same thing, while she allows the
admission of American vessels into her ports
only partially, for certain prescribed articles,
those limited TO the growth, produce or manu-
facture of the U. S., and to manifest disad-
vantage when compared with the like and the
principal articles, which she wants when from
elsewhere imported into the colonial ports,