Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-19
OMcsal 3sapers.
On oar Relations uith Great Britai,


Mr.. Canning to Mfr. GdiLotiu.
The undersigned, his Majesty's Principal Secre-
,ary of State for Foreign Affairs, has the honor
acknowledge the official note. of the Goth utimo,
addressed to him by Mr. Gallatin. Envoy Exiraor-
binary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America, the subject of an Order in
Council, issued by his Majesty on the 27ih Of
July
The undersigned feels himself greatly indebted to
Mr.. Gaiiatin for the full and frank exposition,
viii, tina, note contains, OF his own opinions, and
Of those OF his Government, upon the whole mat
ter TO " hich the Order in Council relates; and Tor
the opportunity thereby Afforded TO the undersigned
FOR entering into explanation, equally rnreserv-
ed, of the opinions and intentions OF his Majes,y's
Government that matter
II will be highly advantageous 10 dispose at once
of subject which s'apds apart from all the other
Important subjects which Mr. Gallslin IL authorized
20 discuss with the British Gove,nment-a subject,
whchi to be argued on principles, and TO be de-
cided on considerations peculiar 10 itself.
Mr.. Gallatin will allow the undersigned TO take
tie liberty OF renarking, that this peculiarly OF
character seems 10 have been overlooked BY Mr..
Csllatin, in his note OF the 25h CT August.
Throughout that note there appears TO be one per-
vading error. Mr.. Gs!lsi.n treats the question
as if it had turned altogether this single point
- what the equal s. reciprocal conditions, ua-
Ger which trade between the United States
and the British West India colonies, -hou!d be
carries! ou!" assuming, as a sort OF axiom, that
such trade is open to the United States any
other trade in the world, and never nquiring whe
ther some compensation might not be due from the
United States to Great Britain, fer The concession
OF privilege, which it is her undoubted right TO
give or withhold
The under s. gnel is prepared TO shew, that. even
# the liberty 10 trade with the British West India
colonies were sratuuousiy Conceded by England to
the United States, still the footing on witch the
trade, SO Iegmitled. is now c.rri,d on by the u.
states, is unequal and unfair.
But the objection, " .,ch the British Govern
inert feels he proposition for such pari,l equa-
i.zaton of condition., Mr.. Gai.atin's instruc-
;ons appear he intended to establish, lies deeper
than Nj. Gallatin's proposition goes, the uiier-
signed thinks it right To explain, in the first in
stance. the nature and grounds OF hat fundamental
objection.
Il is, as Tie undersigned has already said, the
uaques. oale right. and /, h,s, I'LL ,yi,hia these
lew years, heta Tie invariabic practice, Of coun-
tries having colonies, 10 reserve 10 themselves the
trade with those colonies, aud TO relax that reser
vatSon on'y under special circumstances, and on
particular occasions When relaxation OF that
nature has been dictated and limited, by the me-
ce>sies Of the mother country, Of the colonies
the foreign counties taking advantages of it, mag
fairly aver, that they owed no;hing TO the Stale
which hal granted such Ie..xa,ion. They my
even hav felt themselves at liberty 10 decline 10
accept OF rartia admission into the ports OF the
colonies, thus evidently opened from considerations
%o' local or temporary convenience, unless they
were SLOWED general liberty o. trade with ihUse
colonies, independently OF such considerations.
Tbs introduction OF the American Govern
rent, in 1920, of any commerce wrh the British
Wet India colonies, NATL American ship ing
should be permitted free entry into the British
colonial ports, is to he justified upon this ground
The obgiou, way OF meeting that introduction
D. -.
commercial aad maritime Powers tie trade refused
by the United States
Circumstances, not necessary 70 be detailed
here, rendered that expedeni, at that time unad-
disable
In 1892. he privilege of trading with the British
West Indies was conceded to the shipping OF the
y. States, with certain restrictions ard limitations
uader which they to enjoy it but ,lat
privilege Great Britain still withheld from all the
Powers OF Europe.
The concession to the u. States was in effect,
II not in words, exclusive for the new countries
OF America (not then recognised by his Majesty }
bad no commerce or navigation which could inter
fere with those OF the United States.
1t cannot, however, he supposed, it is not af.
irmed by Mr.. Gallatin, that, by granting the pri-
yiIege, thus in effect exclusively, to the United
States, in the first instance, Great Britain preclud
ed herself from extending it to other nations,
whenever the course of events should create a ia
vorable occasion for doing Events, which
interviewed between 1920 and 1926, created such
occasion.
As little can IL be supposed, that, because Great
Britain submitted at moment of necessity, 10
terms which, though not unjust, were inconveai-
TO her, she bound herself 10 continue TO submit
20 them when that necessity should have passed
away.
Scarcity may justify the demand fora high price.
and monopoly may give the power Of exacting il;
hut there is surely no Understood compact between
te buyer and the seller, that the former shall no,
cndeavor to make himself independent Of the lat
ter by opening the market 10 general competition
These obvious and simple considerations led to
the act Of Parliament OF 1928.
Our right either 10 open lbe ports Of cur Colo
BSss, TO keep ,heu cIosed, might suit our
own convenience; our right 10 gran, tie indul-
geDce Of a trade with those Colonies TO Foreign
Powers, wholly psfdslly, Internationally Or
condiiionslly, as we might think proper, and, ii
cnndiiJnaiiy, on wla conditions we pleased, was
clear. We were not bound by any engagement 20
cootnue a monopoly OF such indulgence 10 one
Foreign Power sgaiGs another We had for three
years, felt the Inconvenience Of such n.onovoy
We naturally sought, therefore, in our new mea-
sHe. 10 avoid the recurrence oil the like nconyeni-
ence, by making our indulgence general TO all ma
toHs; and, 10 order 20 keep the regulation Of that
indulgence 10 our own hands, we granted il by
spontaneous legislation, aud not by positive treaty
The question is now, therefore, no longer what
was in 1920 or 1922, question between Great
Britain aud the United States OF America; II is a
AN be's I'm Great Br.f.in ana oil The ~ oi,s