Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-20
DOMESTIC.
From tAe Norfolk Hsraid.1
TIE COLONIAL TRADE.

much examination and discussion AMONGST the--
hav'ng bestowed more attention Upon this sub
Ject probably ,than most of your readers; and DO
sessins Information in relation to it, derived from
sources, not open to many, even of those who mar
nave attended to it as much a have done. hav,
been 70 induced to believe, that i might possible
render an acceptable service TO them, by exbibis
Ing to their consideration, brief history of lila
measure and by tracing it to it's probable causes
and effects. To do this satisfactorily il will h.
necessary to 60 back, to period sntecedent To
our own existence as nation; and to trace the
SUBJECT through all the different changes il has M.
dersone, as well in negotiation, as from leyi.,,io,
since
VIII begin then by stating, that from The ear
Hest period Of the existence OF colonies ev.,v,
non having such' has invariably claimed the ex
ciusve right to their trade; and his rig hit 40 s.
Serted mas at no time ever been denied; or even
aouoted' o! ans other nation in the world The
principle Of colonial monopoly, thus claimed anil
conceded during a long series of years, a, Ienr,h
became part OF the public law and now derivs.
lis force and obligation, like many other parf. 81
NAT law, from the tac consent of mankind. evi-
denced by the long practice s. uniform acouie,c.o.
oil all civilized nations.
When Grea, Britain first began to establish col,
onies In America, in the 10th century. imi,a,;n,
me example OF Spain, OF Portugal, and OF ever
other nation IN Europe, who had preceded her in
Inc WORK OF discovery, and OF settling the n.wlv
discovered countries, she too adop,ed he ...;..,
principle OF colonial monopoly and assertins
''sh' TO The exclusive trade of all her coIoni,l
possessions or dePendencies, this right was conce
ded 10 her BY all The rest o. the civilized world
~ ING manner, and 10 the extent i, has all,
"aSs, oo'h oefors and since that period, been &C.
knowledged as ia all other nations.-Tbe pr.s.n.
United States, (ruos: of WHICH were once coior;.
Oh 1feat Brittany TOR a period of more than Is., =
years anterior TO cur revolution, enioyed all m.
oehei's, ana We're subject TO all the inconyenen
ces OF thu colonial sys'em.-Esch of these S,a,es
'nen coionies OF Great Britain, during all this re-
'oe' e"Joyed ifee intercourse, with all the 9th
er Possessions OF the parent country, from Which
both par les derived rnutuaI baneSt and con,ans
ence.
Inc war OF the revolution tcrmin ated this state,
Vi 'a'hgs' winnie that continued, all Commercial
WIN the common enemy, was az
course suspended end cut OFF. The restoration Of
peace IN IIS3, while IL recognized our .x;s,.n.
rs az independent people gave to ns ,hor.h."o
the rights, and impose nIon US ALI the fi;s,hi, .;
OF nation foreign 10 Great Britain This ne,-,
Ie'ailon then established between US PLACED he IT
=. upon the same ioong, in regard 10 the coIonja,
possessions SILL retained by Great Britain. as
cry other foreign nation occupied in tbs resps
and we became so deprived OF the in,.rc.
winch Tor more than ceutury we had carried
with them.
HE mutual advantages derived TO each of
parues from this intercourse while il ccz,A--.-
ana nv pIox'mily OF the u s., tue colonies
OF Great b'iain IN America, rendered the ,r,d1,
between them, II no, accessory, yet SO conveni.,t
each, that very after our revoIu,;c, . -
formation wa made in the British laws IN ,,..
MEDIATE them 10 The state of tb,ng. -,
'hen existed This reform consisted in a no.a
granted W pariiaIne"f TO the King, 10 disosns.
with the provisions OF The ancient rta,p,.. or Is.
realm, upon the subject oil navigation and trsds
In favour of the British Possessions in Amc,;
"nsh-oe'ei he should see lit to do do SO; and The
authority so Siven.io the sovereign, he was IN
thorzed 10 delegate, in certain Cases. To his -
Sen'aiives, The governors OF the different Amr-i
can colonies While therefore all vessel. ~ az
" 81 IKE those OF every other foreign ma
were absolutely excluded from the coloo;at
OF Great Britain, BY the general laws of
country, yet Cur vessels found sd,ui...,,l
those ports occasionally, under the suspep,ion IS
these laws, produced by orders in council ana ~.
pfociaHsti OF the regal governors issu ed m
suance OF The au hoIity derived rs have at,
lhis relaxation OF the colonial systein horv...
as might naturally be supposed, was nsvs, ros.''
dto by Ire4t Britain, sxcep, for the convex;
ence anu advantage OF The colonies. The inte,ss,
OF none OF the " D.. Offers ed any Inducemen, -
her, SO 10 suspend her ancient gensraII,w. ~,
had M more claim upon her 80 to do. ,bar ~
other lofeign nation. II was her own nece.;.I
or her own benefit alone, that prompied s,at',
measure ans dispersion the sfore was alvo,x,
temporary IN It's DURATION, and limited in i,s =.
tent, not only as TO the ports opened 10 o,.
sells, but as 10 The articles we we're permi,,ea
carry thiiheT, and 10 export from thence T.
word, American vessels were ge9eroly,, e,,,,,ss,
rom all The British Colonial possessions bu, 49,.
occasionally received there, as I have 60,
whenever the interest or necessities of ,bss. O.
! onies required supplies II ON the u S.. Of .,,Ls
iicles, as could be carried to the CoIoni.s - ~
vessels more promptly and more adj, an,aasn,'J'
than la Britsh vessels
On The part Of the u. s., they were VALE,
lenl to permit the in ercoUrse to remain pnon ~,
| footing Each OF the States Of the Union -,
then sovereign and Independent of The Others 90
Joyed the right OF regulating it's own commere, NJ
la except where some Treaty entered into h., ~
old Congress, contained commercial stnp,.,;on.
Obligatory upon all; and none such Then .,;s,.1
10 relation 10 this svbject-. Deeply Involved -
debi, the consequence OF be war Of the tevoi,-
ioD; burihsnsd ty the ex ,enses OF their own eo,t
sfnmenis, lben recently eslahlshed; DERIVING mo-,
- their revenues to meet these debts aud er, -.
ses, rom imposis; and not having many vessels os
their own; bur few OF the States felt much ;r,.,ss
IN tae snbIee' q navigation; and I'll were be,,s,
- shed with the revenue derived from ipno,,.
lions, no mailer how made, than to s,ternn, q,
bull up shipping interest oil their cvvr, bv ,,oh;,
bitor5 or oiher laws, which they clearly fot...,m
must act, most oppressively. upon he great go
cultural and commercial interests 81 The coont,v T..
NAM instances, therefore, 30 far from raoo.;.~
new rio ions upep this iate "