Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-13
Congressional.

regulating our Commercial Intercours. with the
Colonies
MIR Cambreleng said, in reply 10 The gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr.. Webster that he was
~ anxious as that gentleman possibly could be,
that we should adopt some legislative measure to
recover If practicable, our West India commerce.
But anxious as he was, be should certainly vote
ior adherins 10 the amendment of the House, If
The OIL OF the Senate liable any such con-
siructon as that which had just been given to it
by the gentleman from Massachusetts. According
! 10 Tie view of that gentleman, ii adopt the
bill o. the Senate. shall revive the obnoxious
principle of the act of March 1923; we shalt re
quire from Great Britain the privilege of importing
into her West India Colonies our produce and
manufactures, on terms favorable as if they
were imported from Canada OF from, the mother
country. Our -four, for instance, must be adj
United into the West Indies without duty, because
rome is charsedupon it when il is carried thher
from Canada ! have great respect, said Mr. T..
Tor the opinions of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets, particularly IN questions of construction !;
but with all Difference, | must be permitted to
say, that the bill OF the Senate Ii liable no such
construction, and that none such would ever be
given 10 it in any court OF .aw or council of
Statesmen.
The bill of the Senate, sir, simply requires that
no Discriminating duties OF tonnage or impost
should be charged in the British Colonial ports,
on the vessels of the United States or their car
goes. am grossly deceived myself if the gentle
man from Massachusetts has not entirely miscon-
ceived the character OF discriminating duty Be
rause, Great Britain permits, fer example, flour to
be carried from one part Of the Brush empire 10
another, free OF duty and charges dollar barrel
on it when imported from foreign countries into
the West India Colonies, she does not thereby i'm
pose discriminating dnty. II has nothing TO
90 with the question ot discriminating duies and
II was by adopting the very principle now con-
tended ior by the gentleman from Massachusetts,
! that cur present chief magistrate committed the
error which was lbs cause OF all our present diff
hcul'ies Sir, Great B'ain has rigiss 10 pro-
hbr what she ieases, and to regulate her iInpnsts
as she peases; and she may do either as j, respects
foreign countries, without involving any question
as TO discriminating ddties, infringing any pro-
vision oil the bill o the Senate. That bill requires
nothing OF GTea' Britain but reciprocity II re-
quIes nothing more than that, Tor correspontinp
advantage, she -b'l PERM, an American vessel to
| take Cargo, for Instance, from New York to
Jamaica subjected TO the same rates of tonnage on
the vessel and OF lu!post the cargo, as would
be levied we're the vessel and cargo Brush pro-
perty. Sir, If Great Britain should levy on the
American veHsei OF her cargo, either in the shape
oil tonnage on tie vessel, or imrost on the mer
chandIZe, one cent more thar, would be charged
on the British Vessel or her cargo TIA. additional
tonnage or irnpCs; would be discriminating ,lu,v
and would infringe the provision IN fbe bill Of
The Srnate. This Is tie irue definition of dis
eliminating duty according to every lust rule of
construction. All we require and eli we have
a right to require is, that our vessels shall
be allowed TO enter the colonial ports AZ British
vessels, and that our produce and manufactures
snail be charged with the dute. whether iu.-
ported from the United States in British or Anne
rican vessels THIS Is the plain and manifest con-
s'ructlon which common must give the pro-
vision in the third section OF The bill of the Senate
it is susceptible ofno other; for the case sur
posed By the gentleman from Massachusetts does
not probably belong TO the class OF discriminating
duties.
will concede, sir, tina, another tti: unmpor-
tant provision OF the bill, might be impi owed but
II i not involved in the alnendn enl and operates
after the 3lst of December nexr. / defy the gem
tleinan from Mass. by any ingenuity Of con-iruc-
tIon, TO point out an objection 10 any provision Of
the bill which cannot be as well rc,ne,lied after
the Bis, Dec. and by the next Congress a. no W.
The whole character of This measure was changed
when, by adopting the bill OF the Senate, we pos,
poncd the operation OF our contingent interdc-
ton from Ne 3Oib OF Sept. 10 The 3lsi Dec. IT.
form and extent are now no longer matters OF i'm
por,ancs. he question pending between The two
houses Is not nov worth the time spend in the
debate; for, il this commerce il o. open TO us on
bly, take up the subject and frame its restric-
tons according to circumstances they may then
exist. While The Introduction was proposed 10
take effect in sniicipa ion oil the meeting of Con
; gress, how II ,hould extend and in what manner
ii should be enforced, wrrc questions of impor-
lance they now OF no sUbsiantisl importance
whatever. ibe only part of the bill of any ma
teral consequence now is, that, abou; which there
is no difference between the two honses--itis the
suspension Of our acts I'LL the 3lst Decem-
Der next, to ford Great Britain an opportunity
OF opening the trade ON terms OF reciprocity. Let
us adopt the messure, sir Jet US suspend our laws
until lie next meeting Of Congress; and il Great
Britain should then continue to refuse us share
in her colonial commerce, shall be really to 20
4 further in or interdiciions than the gentleman
from MASSACHUSETTS, and some of lis friends are
now will 10 go.
should haze preferred The bill ss IL was oriri.
nally report ed 10 the hou e-I think the bill Of The
senate conced,d TOO much that the contingent
intadction dies not go lar enough hut because
the bill bappes not 10 be precisely in the share
or form which would have suited my own view
and opinions am on that account 10 sdhere 10
n mere amendment, and defeat the measure altos
seher! Berjuse one Of it, provisions Is not as
should have framed il, am 10 reject the bill
! aud sacrifice ihe interests Of my own countrYnen
Throughout, tie Union, who engaged in vari>
oos wsysin furnishing the supplies necessary for
the West Ind Colonies? Am to leave all inter- I
course 10 BE- iaterdceJ, aud deprive ourselves of
a market for -four lumber &c. &c. because in one
OF i,s proyi. ions happen 20 differ with Others on
a point of no substantial importance! What is (
substantially me point on which the two houses are
~ yaranceY Nj a. To the euspensinr 81 ~, a,te