Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-27

NOW, subsequently 10 the uate Oh 'iat 'CNs u
wit, on the 9th December last, we concluded II
treaty with the Republic Of the Federation of the
Centre of America, which having been afterwards
ratified by both parties, is now in full operation.
BY this treaty il is stipulated that whatever can be
exported from or imported into, either county, in
lis own vessels, Ia or from any foreign place what
ever, may, in like manner, be exported or import
ed in the vessels Of the other country. the vessel
aud the cargo paying, in both cases, the same and
no higher duties, and consequently neither paying
the Alien Duties II we had entitled ourselves
by the fuliment of the required conditions, TO an
intercourse with the British Colonies, we would
now be obliged in order TO retain the right to that
intercourse, 10 allow British vessels, both OF the
parent country and it's possessions abroad liberty
of expectation and importation co-extensve with
that of the vessels Of the United States. although
the interdct of the British law of navigation should
! remain in full operation on the vessels OF the u.
States.
If we are mistaken in the extent of the conces
sons ecuired by the British Government, TO place
the Unitel Kingdom, and its possessions abroad,
OH the footing of the favored nation the best
| and most friendly mole OF correcting our error
would have been to have accompanied an official
communicable of the act OF Parliament with
full and frank ex lapaton OF those conditions the
performance of which our part, would have
satisfied that Government BY withholding ell
explanation, If the Congress OF the u States had
le.slsted that subject a. its last session, must
have acted either, lst upon the exposition OF the
conditions of the act of Parliament now given; or.
2ndly, upon the views of the British Government,
| a. disclosed in the negotiations # 1924. IL could
not have conformed to The conditions OF The act OF
Parliament, understand them, without a
manifest sacrifice of the interests OF the People OF
the L. :. and abandonment OF those principles
Of reciprocity for which they have ever con,ended
in all their negotiations with foreign Powers. IL
now appears that it would have been nnavailing
it Congress had legisls,ed in compliance with the
views of the British Government, presented In
the negotiations of 1924 According 10 those
views, that Government was then willing that
the trade between the Colonies and the CEi.ei
States should continue restricted, j, then was,
by the laws OF The two countries, to the direct inter
course that is to say that British vessel clearing
from the u. States for Colonial port, should
be bound 10 land its cargo in that port; and an
American vessel, clearing from the Colonies for
the United States, should be bound to land lis
cargo in them. But, without any intimatcn TO
III, through the regular diplomatic channels of an
alteration in her views, Great Britain has now
changed them, and, on the lth September, 1926,
for the first time announces her determination e 10
consent TO enter into am renewed negotiation up
on the intercourse between the United States and
the British Colonies, long the pretenson
the above restriction to the direct intercourse
recorded in the act OF 1923, and there applied 10
COLONIES SlOne remains part oil Tie la OF
the United States - And we are also given TO |
understand, 60 that the British Government further
it to The spirit of fankness which it wishes
to cultivate, all its relations with the u States
TO declare, that, after having been compelled 10 |
apply TO any country the int erdct prescribed by |
the act of 1926, the British Government cannot |
hold itself bound TO remove that interdct, as a |
matter of course, whenever il may happen to suit |
the con enience of the foreign Government to re-
On.ider the res which the apDIcaiiop ofl
that interdct occasoned.' The pretenslon
referred to is the exact counterpart of a similar
pre-exsting pretensioD, contained in The act of
Parliament of 1892 The British Government
does not appear TO have reflected, tina, its rejec-
ton Of all negotiation the subjec, deprives of
the best of the only two modes Of getting rid Of
the exceptionabe restriction.
From what has now been advanced it has been
established-1st, That the Colonial trade was fit
subject for the adjustment, by friendly negotiation
between the two Powers, of the conditions on
which it should be carried on; 2ndly, That it has
been long, and often in fact subject of negotia-
ton between them; and, :;dly, That the American
Government was bound TO conclude, from every
thing which passed between the two Governments,
that both parties entertained the expectation,
that it was 10 be arranged by negotiation,
and only by negotiation. 1t under this full |
that your general instructions were |
Nhat may be the nature oil the proposals. which |
you authorized to make, upon the renewal of |
the negotiation so confidently anticipated. it is not
now proper should be communicated to the Brit |
isl Government. Respect for ourselves, no less |
than for that Government, forbds that Should |
obtrude upon their consideration proposals against
which they have deemed ii proper 10 shut their |
ears. II will be, however, no violation of that f!
respect to say, that they OF character, on |
all the disputed points between the two Govern |
ments authorizing 10 believe that they would be
satisfactory.
The Government of the United States is anima>
ted by the sinceTest desire to maintain with that
of Great Britain, not merely the forms of courtesy
and amty, bu, to cultivate cordial and lasting
friendship; 10 settle every conuoVerted question
between them upon principles Of justice and re-
ciprocity, and by enlarged liberality in their
mutual intercourse, to advance the real prosperity
of both Entertaining this desire, it has learnt,
with the most lively regret, the resolution Of the
British Government to close the door against those
friendly explanations and that frank and mutual ex-
position of the wishes and views of the parties, |
which are, or should be, the object of all nego
tiation The harmony of nations requires that
every avenue TO such explanations should always
be fully open. But such free access, on all
questions, appears to the Government of the Uni-
ted States to be especially desirable between two
such nations Great Britain and the u. States,
whose interests and happiness so intimately in
terwoven. BY rejecting the ordinary mode OF
treating through the established agency of accred
tied minister's and substituting 10 it that of mulu-
al legislation, which, after all, is but another
though less advantageous mode of negotiation, we
deprive ourselves OF many facilities. Congress and
the British Parliament numerous bodies, acting
in different spheres, and IT is not derogsting from
their undoubled wisdom and superior intelligence,