Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-04

In Resentment Because prior Act OF Far
lament of 1922 opening certain colonial ports
under heavy and burdensome- restrictions to
vessels of the United States, had not been
rcciprocatcd by an admission of British vessels
from the colonies and their cargoes without
anv restriction or discrimination whatever
But, be the motive for the Introduction what
il may. the British Government, have mani
tested no disposition, either by negotiation or
bv corresponding legislative enactments, to re-
cede from it, and we have been given dis
tinctly to understands That neither of the bills,
which were under the consideration OF Con-
eress at their last Session would have been
deemed sufficient in theireoncessions, to have
been rewarded by any relaxation from the
British interdct. ltisone of the inconveni-
ences inseparably connected with the attempt
to adjust by reciprocal legislation interests OF
this nature, that neither party can know what
would be satisfactory TO the other; and that
after enactinga statute for the avowed and
sincere purpose of Cancellation, it will gener-
ally be found utterly inadequate to the ex-
pectatiens of the other party, and Will termi-
nate in mutual disappointment ,
The session ofConsress having terminated
without any act upon the subject, Proclama-
ton was issued on the 18th OF March last,
conformably to the provisions Of the 9th sec
ton Of the Act of LIST March, 1928, declaring
the fact that the trade and intercourse autho-
rized by the British Act Of Parliament Of
cath June, 1899, between the United States
and the British enumerated colonial ports, had
been by the subsequent a cts of Parliament OF
5th July, 1925, and thesOrder of Council OF
eth July, 1926, prohibited. The effect OF
this Proclamation, By the terms OF the Act
under which it was issued, has been, that each
and every provision Of the Act concerning
Navigation, of 18th April, 1918, and OF the
Act supplementary thsreto OF lo.h May 49,
revived, and is in full force. Such, then, is the
present condition Of the trade, that, useia' ID
it is TO both parties. it can,ssi,h single mo-
men,ary execution, be carried on directly by
The vessels of neither. That exception Itself
is found in Proclamation Of The Governor OF
the Island Of ST Christopher, and OF the Vir-
gin Islands, inviting, for THREE months from the
28th Of Angus, last, the importation OF the ar
,icIes OF the produce Of the United States,
which constitute their export portion OF THIS
trade. in the vessels of all nations That pc
riod having already expired, the state ii mutu-
al in,crti clion has again taken place. The
Blush Government have not only declined ne
co,ia,ion upon this subject, hut, by the prlnci-
ple thew have assumed With reference TO II,
have precluded even tho tncapS OF ntgotia'ion.
II BECOMES not the selfrespect of the United
S.a,es, either to solicit gratuitous favors or to
accept as the grant of a favor that Tor which
an ample equivalent is exacied. 1t remains to
be determined by the respective goyernm,n s,
whether The trade shall be opened by acts o. re-
eiprocal legislation 1t is i'll the mean time
satisfactory TO know, tt,at apart from the IN
convenienccs resulting from disturbance oil
the usual channels of trade, no loss has been
sustained By the commerce, the navigation or
the revenue Of the United States, and none Of
magnitude is.to be apprchcnded from this ex>
listing sta,e Of mutual irtcldlct.
with the other maritime and commercial
Nations Of Europe, our intercourse continues
with Ii,,le variation Since the cessation, by
the Convention of oath June, 1922, of all dis
eliminating duji upon the vessels OF the
Uuied States and Of France, in either country,
our trade with that nation has increased and
is increasing. a disposition on The part Of
France has been manifested to renew that ne
eo,ialon: and in acceding TO the proposal, we
have expressed the wish that ii might be ex-
tended 10 other objects, upon which good
understanding between the parties would be
beneficial TO the interests Of both. The origin
Of the political relations between the United
States and France. is toeval with the first years
Of orr Independence. The memory OF il Is
interviewer with that Of our arduous struggle
for national existence. Weakened as it has
occasionally been since that time, ii can by
US never be forgotten; and we should hail
with exultation the moment which should in
dictate recollection equally friendly in spirit,
on the par, Of France. a fresh effort has re-
Gently been made by the Minister Of the Uni>
ted States residing at Paris, to obtain con-
s'dera,ion Of the just claims OF citizens of s.e
United States. 10 the reparalion of wrongs long
since committed, many, of them frankly ac>
knowledged, and al of them entitled, upon
every principle Of justice, to candid exami-
nation. The proposal last made to the French
Government has been 10 refer the subject,
which has formed an obstacle 10 this consd-
Grafton, to the determination of a Sovereign,
the common friend Of both. To this offer no
de6ni,ve answer has yet been received; but
the e.:.an, and honor able split which has
-, III ,;o,s bscn the pride and glory of Franz e