Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-06-08
COLONIAL TRADE.
From The ". Y. Commercial advertiser.

denied. Let such as assert that we are WronS.
and the British right, beware lest they be found IN
the enemy's camp. There is no neutral ground be-
tween friend and foe. There are some questions
between nations, which agitatc their councils, and
which so vitality affect and deeply involve the power
and prosperity Of each, that he whu, in regard to
them, is not for, is against his country. In my
poor Judgment this colonial question Is peculiarly
and almost purely of that character The opponents
of the Administration talk of the Hest LNta 1rdaeI
onhg--and talk of il though this trade was he only
matter in difference between us and England. This
may evince their adroitness at political ledgerde-
main but it is at least questionable, whether it,
will exalt them in the estimation of an intelligent
people, While bad men not to be kept IN Office,
faithful andhonest officers should be protected IN the
execution of their trust IT, Ill this representative
government, we shall ever come, as the old Grecan
republic did, to dismiss and disgrace our best and
abest public servants, upon the mere accusation OF
interested men, without trial or examination. tie
pend upon it, we shall have the highest offices filled
with false patriots set of reckless double dealers.
who will prefer their own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
and power, at the expense bath of the interest and
the honour of the nation.
But our trade with the British colonies is not the
whole matter in dispute. The great subject of con-
troversy is the navigation of the two countries. The
question at bottom is the navigating, the shipping
Interest. This is the mother interest and which.
LONG, and ABLY, and faithfully, endeavouring to
cure. The trade is incidental to 1t and its secu-
yitv depends upon it. This same navigating nte-
rest is entire. is rational, and lies at the foundation
of our maritime strength and naval defence From
it are to be drawn the efficient means OF sustaining
our Federal power upon the ocean, and of protecting
against the armies of the old world, all our republic
can institutions. our affairs, and our homes. No
portion of this interest can be sacrificed without at
,t mn md +,n, .hnla lie
It right then. to make mere party question OF 1t ::
Is it patriotic, is it honest to hazard this great i'll
terest for the purpose of gratifying the personal re-
veage, or promoting the ambitious views OF any one
man or set of men?
The shipping interest of the nation has always
required and received the fostering care and pro
lection of the Executive. and of Congress, Until
1915, our vessels enjoyed in our own ports PRIV
leges which no others were permitted to enjoy In
that year, Congress passed law Offering to abolish
discriminating alien duties of tonnage and
other charges in favor of any nation that should do
the same; so that Il British vessel, for example
should be admitted into an American port upon tn
same terms precisely as an American vessel, and al
American vessel should be admitted into British
port on the same terms precisely as British vessel
Most OF our treaties of commerce and navigation
since that period have been founded upon this prn
cple of reciprocity. We relied, for success. upo
the strength and speed of our vessels. and upon tn
skill, activity. and bold enterprise of DIR seamen
We have thus far been successful. The object was
to make OF the ocean what nature probably intende
it to be, the open and unnDstructed highway ut n;
tiuns--to secure honorable competition-to brea
down, or at least to mciiorate the rigorous rule,
colonial monopoly--to facilitate the intercourse
men and the exchange Of cnnmDdties-and, in
word, to give wider spread to the ptInc lies al
blessings Of friendship, of hospitality and Of peac
England concluded It treaty ueih upon tbs b
SIS but excepted from. rs operation the West Indies N
other colonies
The right Of England to close her ports against
has never been denied, This is an undoubted rig
and is possessed alike by every nation But whe
ever they are to be opened, the terms and con
lions upon which the navigation and trade are to
carried on, are always proper for examination a
negotiation.
1t is the ayowed policy Of the United States, a
from which they have never deyiated, to place In
navigation and trade with every nation upon prn
pes and terms Of perfect reciprocity. 1t will p
senly he seen, however. that Enghtad has nmito,
ty refused, aud still refuses to do 50, 1ciA respect
her co{ou,eS
We offered England to admit her vessels and p
duce into ports upon the same terms
own vessels, and the Ike produce from any part
the world were admitted. She accepted this off
and, so far as the productions Of her immense p
sessions are concerned, she still enjoys the bene
of it--for we admit them all upon equal terms,
exclude We eXacted the like terms Of h
and received them except as TO her colonies. fl
all intercourse with these, the policy Of England
been from the beginning to exclude us i; and 10 ;
DIV them with our produce and us with the !
duce of the Islands, IN her ozca ships, TO the ex
sion Of American shipping. We have said to
that this was uneg,nl, and not quite fair, and told
she must not expect to build up the navigation
trade OF the Islands at the expense of our nav
ton. We have therefore all long nssted-Fi
that the alien duties and charges on vessel and
go, on either side should he abolished Secon
that the vessels OF each should be permitted to