Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-29

IfIon the Norfolk HERALD
NOTES

, LOtOftftS.
The FIRST point worthy of notice. is the reference
to the British Act Of Parliament of 1922, follow
ed by the statement, 7" that after that act, the u
States opened their ports 10 British vessels from
the Colonies, upon terms a. exactly corresponding
with those OF the Act of Parlisment an in tn.
relative position of the parties could be made
Now the Ace of Congress here referred 10, 60 far
from putting British vessels upon this footing, was,
by the construction put on Il bv the Erecttipe.
made to levy discriminating duty Of per cent.
ON the cafgoes and 81 cents psp ton on British ver
sris from the Coloniss7it further restricted Brish
\ seSseis from Other potts than the Colonies from
loading for them, aud those from the Colonies from
proceeding elsewhere. This led, on the following
year, 10 counteryailing, discriminating and ton.
rage duty being Laid in lhe British Celonies, on
our vessels and their casgoes, which has ever
| rince Continued to be enacted. 80 far therefore
from our having opened our ports upon terms as
eroeDy corresponding ,sifh those of the act of
Parhonssff tho British had to lay on heavy coun-
tervaine duties 20 meet the restrictions of the Ac,
of Congress-
This state Of things lasted till the Acts OF Par
lament Of June and July 1895, the latter of
which is thus described in tie Messaseu So
doubtful and am5ig uous in its import as to have
been Enthusiastically the officers in the Colonies
who were to carry it INFO execution On this as.
sertion we must dwell moment. With the COL
iector OF halifax and Of some Insignificant por, in
the Bahama Islands slonefdld any doubt seem to
exist, and that only TO the time of carving this
act INTO iorce, viz, whether from the 9TH January
1876, the date mentioned in the act. or that they
were to wait for instructions, from Eneland. az N
| whether the United States had complied with the
terms prescribed by that act to entitle their yes
seis 10 the privileges, granted by it. Those Col.
| lectors well knew they had not done so. and act,
ing upto the letter of the act CLOSED. the nor,s IN
our nag; out they were soon opened by orders
from England, until we should have an orpor,uni-
~ or making up mind as to accepting or re-
iasins The terms otfesed And the late order in
Council IS nothing more than formal notification
10 the Colonial officers that the United States had
mol Complied with the terms of the above mem
nonea act, and that the ports were by virtue of II
consequently closed 70 our flag, with the excrn-
non of Halifax, &C. kept open by this order in
Council
The Act of 9Th July, 1925. so far from heinz
ambiguous or doubtful, is one of the clearest and
most explicit documents of the kind tina, nrob.hIv
ever passed in Parliament, and we cannot forbe,,
quoting at length the alb Section, which j, ,ba,
more Immediately referred 10 by the President in
giving It the character OF ambiguous and doubtful.
'elng the one upon which the Collector at Half,
acted IN closing that port, and we feel satisfied our
readers will admit there is neither doub, no, nm
bigu'y about it-bu, on the contrary. ,ha, frnm
the passing OF that act We had no.hing 10 expcc,
but that the British Colonial Ports would be clos.
ca TO W, unless I've placed their Commerce Ard
Navigation upon The footing Of the most tayou,eJ
nations.
| ely. And whereas by the Law of Navip,,ioo
Foreign ships are permitted TO import into any Of
the British possessions abroad from the countries
to which they belong, goods; the produce of Ibo,e
countries, aud 10 expoI, goods from such nos
seSsionsto be carried to any foreign country what
ever: And whereas il il expedient that such per
in'sssion saon.d be subject 10 certain conditions:
be it therefore enacted, That the privileges ,ber.by
granted to foreign ships shall be limited 10 the
ships OF those countries, which, having Colonial
possessions, shall grant the like privileges of trad
ing with those possessions TO British sbips. n,
which, not having Colonial Possessions, shall pacs
the Commerce and Navigation Of this country. and
ITS possessions abroad, upon the footing of the
most iavorei nation; unless lis Majesty, by b;s
Order in Council, shall in any case deem i, exns.
dent 10 grant the whole any of such oriyil.ea.
to the shirs OF any foreign country, although ib.
conditions aforesaid shall in all re pec,s he fol-
, filled by such Foreign County,"
! While discover no ambiguity in the ,bov.
we cannot but regret the very ambiguous terms Of
1be following statement in The Message
- That The Biiii-h Government, theI efore de-
clines negotiating concerning il, and that as ,b.
U. States did not forthwith accept. purely and
simply, the terms offered by the act of Parli.men,
of July, 1926, Great Britain would cot no,v .i,,
fla
terms on which she has opened Iheu 10 the nsviua.
ton of other nations"
The natural construction to be put on the shova
is, that even if we were willing 10 place British
colonial vessels and commerce, on the foo,ipv NJ
the mort fayoured nations, II is now ton late f.,
our thereby obtaining the same privileges In their
colones and yet it is impossible that This c,r r..
the real meaning intended, if il 10 so, thu, si,her
the party making, or receiving the commuoics,;on
on which the statement is grounded, could have
had reference 10 the terms of the Briii.b A., -,
Parliament, as oy 'he very section e liaveouo ed
! il will appear that the moment we renox. o,,,
discriminating duties and restrictions from R,;,;1,
colonial vessels, our vessels will enjoy in ,b.i,
colonies ell The privileges granted in them TO an
foreign ship; tor 81 must he particularly remark 81
that by Order IN Council, privileges may be Grant
"a 10 nations not complying with the act of Par
isment, but no such authority is given TO ercJ,,y
the vessels Of countries putting British nsvs.,ion
and commerce on the ioo'iug OF the most fayoureJ
nations, and it is therefore only while we con,ioo.
cur restrictions that she could refuse to admir- ~,
| vessels.
In referring TO the acts Of Parliarnen, o,o,ino
the Colonial Ports, The term certain, ports,' !,
used IN the message and some restriction is ,herebv
implied il is true The ports are enumerated in The
act OF Parliament, but tie lisl contains every ons
where there IS regular Custom House established
and the same act restricts british vessels & or,
using any other ports in their intercourse win "a
reign nations.
The only reference made TO the articles admitted
from the United States into the Colouies i. in :,
luding TO the act OF Parliament Of 1922. anil H.
crbes u a. 4" allowing the IMPORTATION of e~,,o;,
articles OF our produce buticae'I p.ilh heavy In
tIes' and excluding some of the most valuable -
cles OF our exports" While the Act M InIv
IL oil