The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-07

| the Colonies, upon terms as exactly corresponds
ing with those ofthe act OF Parliament, as, IN inc
relative position of the parties, could be made;
And negotiation was commenced by ihu'ua'
consent, with the hope, on our part, that arecip'
rocal spirit of accommodation and common scn-
tmcnt Of the importance Of the trade to the m
habitants of the two countries, between whom 1t
must be carried on would ultimately bring the
parties to a compromise, with which both might
/ be satisfied. With this view, the Government
Of the United States had determined to sacriiice
something of that entire reciprocity, which III all
Commercial arrangements with Foreign PoWcrs
they are entitled to demand, and to acquicsce IN
some inequalities disadvantageous TO ourselves,
rather than to forego the benefit otah ahnai and per-
Inanent adjustment of this interest, to the satisiac~
ton of Great Britain herself The negotiation,
repeatedly suspended by accidental circumstaI'-
ccs, was, however, by mutual agreement ana ex-
press assent considered AS pending, and 10 De
speedily resumed In the mean time, another act
! of Parliament, so doubtful and ambiguous IN its
import as TO have been misunderstood by the
officers in the Colonies, who were to carry 1t
I into execution, opens again certain colonial
ports, upon new conditions and terms, WIN
| threat to close them against any Nation which
may not accept Of those terms, as prescribed Dy
! ,lc British Government This act passed III
July, 1925, not communicated to the Govern
mcnt of the United States, not understood by
the British Officers ofthc Customs III the Coonies
where it was to be enforced, was nevertheless
submitted to the consideration Of Congress, at
their l.rst session. With the knowledge that ne
/ gociaton upon the subject had long been in
progress, and pledges given of its resumption
at un early day, it was deemed cxpedicnt to ~
wait the result of that negotiation, rather than TO
subscribe implicitly to terms, the import OF
which was not clear, and wnch the British al-
thorites themselves, in this hemisphere, were
not prepared 20 explain.
Immediately after the close of the last Session
Of Cungrcss,u OF our most distinguished citizens
I WAS despatched US Envoy Extra. .rdinary and Min
ls;er Plcnlpotentlary to Great Britain, furnished
with instructions which we could not doubt
W oud lead to conclusion OF tins long contro-
vcrted interest, upon terms acceptable to Great
Britain Upon his arrival, and before hc had de-
livcred his letters of credencc, he was met by an
Order of the British Council, excluding, from
and after the first Of December now current, the
vessels Of the United States from all the Colonial
British ports, except those Immediately border
ing upon our Territories. In answer to his cx-
postu|ations upon measure thus unexpected,
he is informed that according TO the ancient
mnxims of policy OF European nations having
colonies, their trade is an exclusive possession
of the mother country. That all Anticipation in
il by other nations is boon Of favor, not form
4 ing subject of negotiation, but to be rcg,ilat-
ed by the Legislative Acts of the Power own
ing the COLONY. That the British Government.
I therefore, declines negotiating concerning it,
and that, as the United States d., not forthwith
accept purely and simply the terms offered by
the Act Of Parliament, of July, 1925, Great Brit
i'm world not now admit the vessels of the Unit
cd states, even upon the terms on which she has
opened them to the navigation OF other nations.
We have been accustomed to consider the
trade which VIC have onioyed with the British
Colonies, rather as IN interchange ofmutual ben
Gifts than as a mere favor received: that under
every circumstance, We have given all ample G.
quivncnt. We have seen every other nation,
7 holding Colonies, negotiate with other nations,
and grant them, freely, admission to the Colo
MES BY Treaty, and, SO far are the other coonis-
ing nations of Europe now from refusing TO ne
pocatc for trade with their Colonies, that we
ourselves have secured TO the Holones Of
more than onc of thLm by Treaty. The refusal,
however of Great Britain to negotiate, leaves 70
the United Staten no other alternative than that
Of regulating, or ntcr,licting, altogether, the
trade ON their part, according as either as'ire
may affect the interest Of our own country; and
with thu, exclusive object, would recommend
the whole subject, 70 your calm and candid dclib
crltions.
ii IS hoped that or iinaNHlllnE eNtftonS 10 &C
compllsh cordial good understanding on this
interest, viii not have any unpropitous effect
upon the other great topic, Of d, cussion between
the Two Governments Our Northeastern and
Northwestern boundaries are still una!iustcd.
The Commissioners under the 9TH article of the
Treaty of tlent, have nearly come to the close
Of their labors; nor can We rcnounce the cXpec.
tation, cnfrcblcd as it is, that they may agree
upon their report TO the satisfaction or acquics-
ccncc Of both parties. The Commission forliqui-
dating the claims for indemnity for slaves carried
awas after the close oftllc war las been sitting,
with doubtful prospects of success Propositions
OF compromise have, however, passed between
the two Governments, the result Of which, VIC
flat'cr ourselves, may Yet prove satisfactory.
Our own disposition and purposes towards Great
Britain arc all friendly and cenclliatory: nor can
We abandon, but with strong reluctance, the be-
lief that they will ultimately meet return, not
OF f;lvors, which We nither ask nor desire, but OF
equal reciprocity and good will.
} with the American Coy crnments of thts hem
isphcre, we continue to maintain an intercourse
altogether friendly, and between their nations
and ours, that commercial interchange, of which
mutual benefit is the soursc, and mutual comfort
and harmony the result, is in continual state of
improvement. The war between Spain and them,
since the total expulsion Of the Spanish military
force from their continental territories, has been
little more than nominal; and their internal tran
f guilty, though occasionally mcnaced by the ugit-
atioms which civil wars never fail to leave behind