Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-18

a
decision was afterwards revoked, although the condition
had not been performed, and although Older in Coun
Gil had granted the privileg yes in question.
II now appears that the the 9TH July 1925, Goth
Gto'N cap. ll+) which contains no repeating clause
former acts, refers, under the law OF navga
"n 10 another act of the same date e Geo w., cap
VS mat this, although contains repeating clause,
understood and construed having superseded all
former acts the subject, and that actual repeal
Oh the act of 1922, C Geo ", cap 10 SIP is tn
ne round in another act, also of the 9Th of July, 1925,
leo w., cap. 1863 entitled Act repeal the
eral laws relating to the customs"
The intricacy of those several acts and difficulty of
'heir precise meaning Of asccain'ns what
paris OF former acts actually repealed, and what
S" III "rcc'a difficulty which, in the OF the Ju5tee
seems 10 have led into highest tribunals
o D'eat Britain may well for the construction
put upon those acts in the United States; aoding, the
same ne' sufficient reason for having preferred renew
" Va e to pure acceptance the conditions
contemplated by the of the 9Th of JULY 1928, q Geo
'cap ll4) had ii been only for the prpose OF ascer-
tanning the true intent aud meaning of the
Even so late as October last, Mr. Vaughan, APP
pears by his correspondence with Mr.. Clay, pro-
vided with instruction that enabled him give satisfac-
Tory answer to the inquiries, whether according the Bril-
sh interpretation American vessels might trade between
Inc British colonies aud foreign countries and whether
duties of every species had been abolished
Inc proposition made during the last Session of Con.
g'ess, and to which Mr. Canning has alluded affords an
additional proof of the imperfect Understandings owing to
the completeness of the several acts Parliament which
mat time prevailed respecting their object and inen-
ton. Ihat proposition only for a repeal dis
terminating duties and if adopted, would have
~, -, "S intercourse II Is now understood that
would not have been accepted by the British umenr
compliance with the condition reouted bv the ACT of
the 9th of July, 1926.
1t is not Intended, by these facts and observations TO
convey any reproaches against His Aaestys Government
of the unexpecteh resolution which il has
taken But they stcturiy show, that the United
States could have entertained doubt of the continued
disposition OF Great Britain settle Colonial Inter
course by ali amicabe arrangement and that there were
piemoy reasons for preerring that mode rather than
legislaie the subject.
Supposin tina the determination the ritis Gov
eminent not to renew the negotiation point had
been communicated known, the specific condition on
which American vessels might be allowed to
III tie intercourse between the Gned States the Bri-
tish colonies expressed in the Parliament as
to have required explanations before could be complied
with.
The condition required from countries having colonies
was both distinct and reciprocal Nothing asked
than that they should British ships the like priv
escs of trading with their colonial possessions, which
granted to their ships of trading the British
sessions abroad. No regard paid TO the nportunc,
of such colonial possessions. Sweden, by permitting Rr
tish vessels to trade with the island ST. Bartholomew
was allowed privileges which offered to the e. States
ON different terms. And it'll the exception of some
OF the German states those terms applied other
thine power than the United States. All this Great B-
tain had right To do; complaint is preferred that
account ii was the condition which required from
which they had consider.
That condition that the u. States should place the
commerce and navigation of this country, Grea Brta
and OF ITS possessions abroad upon the footing the
favOured nation.
navigation of the British colonies had it been so intended
ana expressed as that the United States might have
ished ii, by placing the intercourse between their donu
'oIs aud the British colonies the footing in
~ respect, the Intercourse between the United States
ana the colonies OF the most iavoured the condi-
ton though not altogether tree of would al least
have been apparently reciprocal. To require tcs;des Tia
should be extended the commerce and uavipat;o r
Great Britain generally, that should embrace ,haI :;
tercouTSe between her and the United States winch
guIatcd by special convention, they should iran,
any privilege III that intercourse 10 British vessels, not
stipulated by that convention, price for the
sion OF trading with the British colonies, total de-
pauure from the principles of just reciprocity.
But aPpeared also extremely difficult at all possible
TO understand what was meant-by placing that
and navigation the footing most favored nation
Ii Great Britain only asked to be placed on that foot
Ing, on giving the equivalent which any other FOREIGN
nation may have given to bsUnitcd States i'm order =,
have privileges which she does enjoy the
law of the U. States has already made provision IN ,ba
respect There is no privilege enjoyed the United States
ny the commerce and navigation of any foreign nation
which Great Britain may obaiu, By ALLOWING tn
them the same reciprocal advantages which thew eno,
III the ports of such foreign nation on VIII ich such
iegc depends. To comply with the condition TINS under
stood, the u States would have had no new act TO ncr
orm.-lhs could hardly be presumed to have been the
intention ofthe act OF Parliament
But if, by that act, it intended to renue nc the
condition for allowing to American vessels the privilege of
trading with the British colonies, the commerce mi
navigation of Great Britain and of her possessions abroad
the footing with the commerce and NAVIGATION Of
any other foreign nation, which, by Of rcciprnca
w fh'ei'Idh VESSELS may, now or here
after, be entitled to greater privileges than (rea, Britain
enjoys, the condition was inadmissihe.
British vessels and those Of several other nations
by virtue OF treaty stiPulaons other rccprocaI
regulations, import into the United States articles of the
produce manufacture of the TO which such
vessels respectively belong the terms and ON the
payment on the same duties OF tonnage aid
if imported in American In every instance the
privilege reciprocaand will with respect to anv
of those countries whenever vessels of te United States
laden with produce OF the United States may be
admitted into the ports Of such country the same terms
vessels.
In conformity with the navigation law Of the United
States tie prohibition to mpor', in foreign vessels cr-
ChandsC no, the produce of the country tn which such
vessels respectively belong, extends only vessels of
such nations have adopted similar regulation Great
Britain Is accordingly one of the few nations vhc tire
prohibition applies.
In pursuance Of the treaty concluded in Dccem.cr G2
between the United States and Central America whatever
may be imported Into exported from either country in it's
vessels, to from any foreign place whatever NAV
IN like manner, and paYment Of the same hn,inr hn