Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-20

I The gentleman from Maryland says, Mr.. Hus--
klssoA has done away all the onerous port charges,
and that United States vessels now paw none Of
them. MIR. Huskisson has no power to DO this
| by an act OF Parliament 10 regulate the customs
passed in July last which the gentleman probably
mas not seen, Tor it has not been printed for the
OF the Senate-and was not among those laid by
him upon the table-,he Lords Of the Treasury
were authorized to regulate these charges. The
committee OF Commerce were not negligent of their
duty; they sought to obtain information on this
head from the most authentic source, not from the
Executive or Departments, to which they could
have access; but, either the information was not
possessed, or 1t would not be impaired He beev ed
the former, for he doubted if any one in the Uni
tel States knew what had been done under the act
OF Parliament, or what the present of charges
was. The charges in single port, while SO many
local and colonial regulations existed in others,
was no evidence Of general system; but he did
not know what they had been, for he held in his
hand a statement, showing, that, a small luIn-
Der loaded vessel, from Edenton to 81. Kits the
charges, before she got out of port, were much
more than double the original COS, of the entire
cargo. And the principal objection 20 the whole
project was, that, it now removed, might, again,
at any time, be renewed, by the repeal of act of
Parliament, or change of local regulations, in
which we had no voice.
1t is said tina; in the trade 10 Jamaica, we have
1870 out or the 200 vessel. engaged In it, and tina,
we were paying heavy tonnage duties, so or co.
OOO dollars year, which we might save. and
which the British willing to give up. He
did not think there was much strength in this argu-
ment. What did it show Why that our YES
sells could prosecute the trade and pay the duties,
and that the British cannot and if the QIantity OF
produce wanted snow supplied, the asriculiurs,s
get all they can have and If, in addition 10 this,
1870 parts Of it, out Of 200, finds employment for,
anil i ,tal hwN
interests essentially benefited instead OF one.
lie did not believe better state Of things would
soon exist. The duties being Oft, and B<i,ish yes
sells admitted freely our own, the reverse of il,
or an approach to it, might, aud probably would,
| be experienced.
! The gentleman from Maryland has also told us.
when he wanted information, he was in the habit
OF going to head quarters Mr.. j.. said he was not
in the habit of frequenting the Department. the
Heads OF which were necessarily occupied, as his
own time also was ; but, in this instance, he also
rad thought proper TO do it and as he understood
the gentleman from Maryland to say, that there
was difference of opinion on the subject, and
that tbs President and Secretary of State accorded
in the propriety of now opening the trade, by an
act at once sbolishng the remaining discriminating
duties ne would distinctly state that such was not
his impression nor belief He did not understand.
so far from it, that both the President and Secreta-
ry were decidedly OF opinion, hst after ten years
unavailing efforts by egl-lation, and when the
subject was now under diplomatic discussion be-
tween the Governments withth hope, if not ex-
pectation 1t would come to issue before the next
meeting OF Congress- it would be wiser and better
10 leave the attempt TO be made to adjust il, upon
lair and equal principles, by convention, than TO
surrender at once the whole game give to the
British carte blanche take away all the offset,s
we have to offer, and admit them into our ports
precisely on the same terms az our own vessels, or
those OF the most favored nation are admitted.
While they placed the admission Of our produce in
10 their ports, on terms so di~~dvantageous as 10
give full freight, and beyond it, TO the like arti
cIes when imported into the West Indies from else
where that is from Canada, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick and have excluded altogether
some of the principal staples of some of the States
the sailed provisions, the FISH, and other minor ar
licle-.
The colonies, the gentleman from MARYLAND
says are 10 De considered ~ integral parts of the
same couln,ry, and the British doing this cannot be
objected te. This, he admitted, might be strong
ground and, if they were SO considered for pur-
poses Of trade, might be difficult TO draw the line
OF distinctions but, the British refuse so to consider
them, s. would not include sAem in the Convention
oI 1918 = The duties aren0t the same in G. Britain
and the colonies, and the latter impose them with.
out an act of Parliament. II was therefore. the.
opinion of the Executive, and in which he fully
concurTed, that II was better 10 leave the adgIs-
ment of the intercourse 10 Convention than at once
to abolish the duties without condition and thu.
Idssdyan'ase leave the intercourse TO be de-
pendent upon acts OF Congress, orders in Council,
or acts OF Parliament revocable at any time and
at The pleasure of either party.
| Mr.. l.. said, be had not contemplated TO 90 in
10 the subject at length, nor did he know that il
would be important TO do it he was willing the
report should spesk for itself, aud he would not
repeat H.. He strenuous as any one for an
| open and equal trade. lie was willing if Con-
gfess pleased fully 10 give the power to the Presi-
dent TO regulate the intercourse with the British
colonies, on fair terms, at any moment when it
/ could be done and TO leave him to act on his
responsibility, if We could not wait seven or
eight months. If the merchants heretofore had been
quiet, and left The Government to pursue its own
course, he had reason TO believe this would have
been effected long since their uneasiness and anx,
ety led the other party To hold out, with the hope
to make better bargain and the only point 10
be determined now is, whether you will abandon
the fair ground on which you stand take away
all inducements 10 Great Britain to place you on
better, and more equal terms, when you have moth
ing more TO yield and also, to give TO other ma
tons the right TO claim similar accommodations
from you -ior what you give to her, you must give
10 them, 1t they require it. lie believed not but
the Senate, In its better judgment, would decide.
AS to HE renewed reference TO the committee, they
would cheerfully attend to any duty assigned them
- but, as they were unanimous in their opinion in
the report they made, it would probably be better
TO give the subject, for furih1 consideration, to
those who had not prejudged It.
Afer Mr.. Lloyd closed. Mr.. Tazewell addressed
the Senate, in reply to HIM to whom Nj Lloyd
, reioined. After which the Committee Of Com