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

U. States are governed by peculiar local FORMS al
together different from those of the States of the
Coniederacy; but we have never commended that
this anomaly ought TO affect the regulation OF our
commercial intercourse with foreign Powers.
country having colonies may be situated to-
afford the kind of productions, both
ther country and its colonies. And there may be
a greater dtfrs ence in the nature and sale OF The
productions of two different countries, neither OF
which have colonies, than exists betw cen those of
a country and lis colonies, and another which has
no colonies. IL might well be argued, that the
iac' OF twenty-iour States composing this Union,
entities 1t 10 demand concession from all other
Powers whose territory is not DIVIDED into
equal number of similar parts, that the United
hingdown, being constituted by the union of three
Kingdoms, would be Justified ia demanding, upon
THAI ground, from any composed only at a single
Kingdom, more than it granted La all CONNER
cial intercourse between different Powers the
question resolves itself into of profit and loss
II 1t be the interest of The parties that the trade
should be allowed. ii is altogether immaterial how
those territories are governed or divided; both have
an equal right TO judge Of the conditions OF the in
tecourse. l. ould be most strange if the fact Of
foreign state Sweden for example) possessing
colony, no matter how unimportant, entitled such
state TO treat different principles with Great
Britain, In respect to inter course with her colo
MES from the United States.
Neither can il be admitted that the possession of
Colonies entities the nation holding them, to the
exclusive enjoyment OF the circuItous navigation
between the parent country, and foreign country,
through any all of those colonies, upon the
ground OF lis being the prosecution OF a coasting
trade, which is understood TO have been taken by
Great Britain. Ii the connection between the u
nited Kingdom and its Numerous Colonies is to be
regarded In the gh, of that of a continuous coast,
II must be allowed that this coast has very great
extent. IL passes around Cape Horn, doubles the
| Cape OF Good Hope, crosses the Atlantic Ocean,
penetraies almost every sea, touches every conii-
nent, and encircles the Globe. a colonial coast
'tg tr0ie, OF this universal reach, presents none
oil the properties OF an ordinary coasling trade,
| except that OF the identity OF sovereign pow yer.
The foundation on which nations are supposed 10
reserve 10 themselves, exclusively, their own
coas;ing trade, is merely that of monopoly,
but principally because they Tn ereby better
abled TO check all invasions OF their own laws
reason which Is napplicsble the widely dispers I
ed condition OF the British Colonial possessions.
Entertaining such opinions have been herein
stated, in regard TO the power OF commercial regu-
iation, the Government OF the United States has
ALWAYS conceived that the trade bet cen them and
The British Colonies was open to ali considerations
which are applicable TO any other trade, and that
1t was consequently fit subject of arrangemcntby
treaty, or III any manner by which any made
nigh, heregulaed Great Britain may uudoubted-
~, ii Sic phases, deny to herself the advantage
oi consulting with foreign Powers, through the
accustomed organs OF intercourse TO The condi-
tons on which, with mutual benefit, the trade may
be carried But If she chooses 10 restrict her
self to the single mode of regulating il by act Of
Parliament, il cannot be admitted either tha, such
restrictions is necessary consequence from the
nature OF Colonies, or, as will be hereafter shown,
that ii is in accordance with the practice Of tie
British Government itself.
The British Secretary OF State alleges that, in
1872, the British Government opened The Colonial
intercourse 10 Us, and withheld il from all other
Fowefs; that, In eject, thereby acquired a
monopoly in the supply Of the consumption Of the
British West Indies, hut that Grea, Britain did no,
preclude Eeiseiirom the right open her colonial
ports to other nations, whenever II might suIt her
purposes. We did not ask that Great B.iiaia
should shut her colonial ports to other powers
The ocolusI1n was, no doubt, in consequence OF
il!e es Innate which she made OF her own Interests,
without any intention TO confer exclusive bene-
ut upon us, as The opening OF them by the act Of
1928 is according to d similar estimate. We have
no right 10 coml lain, aud never have complained
that Great Britain seeks for the United kingdom
and Tor its Colonies Tie beet markets for sale and
purchase, any more Than we anticipate any com
plant from her, il, when driven from her
colonial ports, should the like liberty.
Ii she has resson elicitae herself that, by Tie
of events, she is enabled to draw eIn other
habit OF obtaining from the United States we have
perhaps occasion Tor equal ,ongratG!aticn that By
the same other events, markets have been OPEN
I'd to u, which may be found ample substitutes
TO those which IL is her pleasure TO Close against
us.
Asto the monopoly which it is alleged we have
enjoyed, should be observed hat The ielative DO
siion OF the Blush West India Colonies TO the
United States, and the nature of their respective
climates and productions, are eininently favorable
20 mutually beneficial comnnci &C between them
From their proximity TO the u S. they fund Their
convenience in drawing from those rerIshable
and bulky articles which they want, rather than
from distant countries. IF the West India
Islands were situated on lhe European instead of
the American side Of the Atlantic Ocean, and Ia
rope could supply as cbespy and a5undanty the
description Of articles as the u. s., the British
Wesi India Colonies would prefer obtaining Their
necessary supplies from Europe. The u. States
contribute 10 other West India Colonies, in as great
extent and share in tie navigation between them
as largely, as they do in their intercourse with
those OF Great Bnisil. This ~ tie effect of the
law OF proximity. II il be monopoly, it has
emanaed from no human power, but from a much
higher source. Far from fepining al the disFensa
tons OF Providence, nations, contcnted with tie |
portion OF his bounty which has been allotted TO
each, would 10 well to acquiesce, with cheeIlol
submission, IN the arrangements Of the Universe
which In his wisdom, lie has thought proper to
order.
TIE u. States have never made it a subject 81
serious complaint, that io tie induig ence which
their laws have granted Of unrestricted liberty OF
importation expectation Of whaiever j. pro
dpccl OF mauufaclured 10 tie ". S., or ID the Br-
ush colonies, respectively, tbey have been nci, IN
wi n a. 4