Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-01


British Minister, were Immediately made for a
joint mission, bu, Mr. King desiring TO return, Mr..
Gallatin was appointed sole Minister, and FUN
ished will instructions.
Considerable time had elapsed, hut under cir
cumstances occurring under the eye Of the British
Minister. and OF which he regularly informed |
M impotence, how ever, was manifested and since |
the British countervailng duty Of 1928. by which |
they put themselves, on their own principles, on
an equality, we we've the aggrievtd party. In
March, 1926, the British Minister informed this |
Government that the Ministers on their part, were
appointed 10 resume, forthwith, the important ne
goliations pending between the two Countries
lie suggests, also the proPrety Of joining another
minister TO conduct the negotiation.
No in'imation given that any change had
taken place in the views or policy Of the Govern
meni. No dissati,faction with the existing state
oil the trade; an sTdent des manifest ed to resume
the negotiation, but without remark on the de-
lay, which they know wasunavoidsble, and it wa
distinctly known to the British Minister thai
Instructions would be in the hands Of The Minister
by the end of May, which it was thought would
be as soon as Mr.. Gallatn could arrive, who was
TO be charged with them The instructions without
any reference to the time they were drawn up
were necessarily dated after the appointment of the
Minister to whom they were directed.
Mr.. Gailatin arrives, and, two days after the
Order In Council issues, without notice or explana
ton. An order " hich not only annuls all the laws
1 III.
abruptly, all negotiation, and all intercourse with
the British West India Colonies; which entirely
| changes the relation of the two countries: is at
variance with the sentiments and propositions ,e-
erred to u.s. and irreconcable with the invitations
received during the Spring of 1926, to continue
the negotiations,
| Your committee have stated these occprre,cc-
because they justify ihs conduct of this Govern
inent, and they forbeaI 10 make any reflections on
the conduct OF Great Britain,
| The acts of Parliamen, of June and july con.
tanned the principles of new system of colonial
policy the object of which was 10 facilitate The
trade to the Spanish American Colonies, BY entire
pots in her Yves, India Islands, upon the ware
housing plan, and TO open the trade 10 the rest of
the world, who had not before enjoyed it, upon
certain restrictions, but not those (nu, having
Colonies) who should give her like or equal privio
leges but who should place her GO on footing of
the most favored nation"
These laws were framed with views to her own
general trade, both with this hemisphere and the
European Continent, through her West India Colo
MES. IL was not known OF expressed TO be a
tender OF the liked and unalterable laws of her
trade Ii was not thought 10 contain sine qua
non, nor believed 10 anticipate the result of me-
) gotia'ions pending between US, which we were
long after invited 10 resume. The nations who
had colonies could and did accept the terms but TO
those that had no colonies, the terms ere UNEQUAL
Great Britain open restricted trade 10 her Colo
"
Ing N" restrictions are 10 admit her on the footing
OF the most favored nation. There is no recprocity
In this, though IL Is possible, under peculiar cir
cums'ances, such terms may be acceptable.
5 These laws were not notified to us as contain.
ing the British ul'imaium, intended, (if no,
accepted,) 10 Supersede the ablished regulations
between us.
: They contained Numerous sections and Urea,
completely; they were impeIfecily understood
differently construed. and left isnoran, of the
extent OF uie concession 'ewere required 10 make
in placing them on the " footing of The most favor
ell nation, expressions which have given rise to
so much discussion, and which are by no means
settled Nothing can he more vague and underlined
than those terms, and there no Limitation IN
the concession in the broad construction which
has been given to it. II involved, howeve, the
acknowledgement OF the points which had been al
ways refused In the negotiations, and one, es-
E pecally, which at that time, was thought bv the
; most experienced merchants and statesmen 10 he
a dangerous experiment, and for which there was
no equivalent that IL, The right perform IS ha,
! has been called the tiple voyage, by which she
escapes from the direct voyage, and passes from
EnSiand to our ports with her productions, and
then takes cargo OF ours for the West Indie
and thence with colonial produce elsewhere
Alter due examination OF this law, it was
deemed by the Executive bet er continue the ne
tgotiaiion, with view, Isl, to permanent regu-
iation by treaty, when full explanations would be
i'"e ""u All uouOts removed. III. In the hone
oil connecting with IL the adjustment of the rght OF
navigating the ST. lawrence with which i, IL al
most inseparably connected. Sd. Regula ions with
regard 10 colonial charges, consuIs, Sc snd. last
~ respectful compliance with the expectatiops
manifested by the British Government, in apooio,-
ing Ministers TO conduct The negotiations with us
(without reservaion,) and to which our concur
renee was invited
Ihe subject was brought before the Senate a,
the last Session. These and OF her reasons inbucsd
The Committee ri Commerce TO decline 10 lpsis
Ia'e on the subject. Ii was then referred TO ana.
'her committee, who reported bill, no, 10 place
'ne commerce on the terms prescribed in the act
oil Parliament, but to remove the Discriminate
duties a majority OF the Senate disapproyed OF
The Dill, believing 1t safer to tIus the whole sub
Ject to The pending negotiations, and aware of the
diihculty OF fixing the regulations OF trade by ac,
OF legislation The instructions aferward, given
evince the determination of this Government. TO
terminate this commercial warfare with nation
WIN whom we have so many connexions, even AZ
grea, sacrifice.
They were framed in conformity to opinions
expressedby large portion of the Senate and as
was believed 10 changes which had taken rlaee in
the public mind.
u Experience has sbeyn that we are able to en-
gage ~ lair competition in the trade allowed us
tba' IT was mutually beneficial. 1t was ascertain
ca mat Great Britain could not yield the point so
long IN dispute, and we had The alternative TO
yield, or obstiDatey adhere, and incur all the in
Jury to both parties By interruption of the in,
! tercourse
II is believed by the Committee that. mon the
principles Of reciprocity, this Governmen. ha. con
tended Tor its just rights 1t was an effect to place
our productions OF agriculture in the colonial
| markets upon an equal footing The surrender