Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-08
sEGHcT1cMa.
h. .onl a, NJ, az n,rnldl
THE COLONIAL TRADE.


! The rutificaiioa of the Treaty %, Client. nm ,rs
l7ih day OF February, 1915, terminated the war.
in which the u States h,d then been engaged for
more Than two wears; and restored 10 them the
trade OF which they had been derived for nearly
seven years, as have stated. The termination OF
this war pot sH end 10 bnsiliGies throughout the
civilized world and restored universal peace for
time.
} Some politicians in the II States who had seen
their iormer prosperity while ~ the ruiion oil all
: the blessings conferred by peaceful Commerce.
regarded the return OF such a state of things as
the certain remedy for all The evils we bad endured:
and looked forward with sangume expeciaton of
the further rspid Improvement IN the commerce
and navigation OF the nation. as tie necessary eff
! feet OF such cause The more experienced
statesmen, however saw the subject in different
light They well recollected what adj happened
alter the peace OF 1898; and during lie short
peace OF Aniens in ISO2-3.s This had ,auaht
them. that ii was NOT merely the peeceiuI bur the
neutral commerce which the U. State. bad enjoyed,
that had occasioned the rapid and unexampled adj
vance they had made. during period of twenty
years. and that the season of universal peace for
the very reason that IT the season OF universal
security, could not be the season of singular and
particular commercial prosperity, TO any member
oil the g'ea' family OF civilized nations.
During such season, il had been seem and there
fore was again TO be expected, that every maritime
nation would struggle secure for itself, a, least
iIs own carrying trade. To effect this purpose
all accidental or legal disadvantages would be
countevailed, II necessary, by duties of discrimi-
nation, imposed to favor its own nav igation.---
These would be met and again ccunterVailsd BY
other nations, equally alive TO their own interests
Until, at length, commerce, OveTburih ned by the
continued mpOsiti OF new weights upon il, must
cease; and 50 that very navigation, which it WIGS
the object OF discriminating duties to foster and
encourage, musl ultimately be DESTROYED
3 urh mi eyc he he pfrs, nj,
duties upon trade otherwi:e left fee Necessity
produced by war, or any other cause, nay con-
s'raln foreign maritime States to bear the m Local
or accidental circumstances, which may enable
them to build, or TO navigate their vessels upon
terms much cheaper than Others ae still In corn
pete successfully IN he trade, although thus bur
thsned, may induce hem to endure such dIscrini
! nation. But The moment it operates to exclude
them from iair competition, If foreign States are
TIE lett tree TO act upo the subiec, al all thex
must always c interval the discrimination; or
Withdraw Their overburthened navigation from
The unequal conflict; prohibit The trade entirely
All the hurth-n- apparently sustained by COM
mefce and navl9a ION, however, must ultimately
iali ulon The consumer of The goods, the rrapspor
ta'Ion OF " tich is 'h,s oppressed They act as an
indirect tax upon The az irultuIe and manufacture
OF country, raising tie prices of whatsoever
hey are compelleito purchase. Whenever, here.
lore the trade between one nation and an OF her is
loaded by unequal tu:thens on one sde. i, be-
comes question OF serious considerations whether
these buIihens should be counlervaIed, by new
mpositions on he ether, in order equalize their
operation between hem; or whether tie franspor-
tation should a. once be abaudoned TO the more
favored navigation Of Others; or Wheeler the ,ra,Ie
should be prohibited absolutely.
! To add buthens by countervailing duties
IL, az have said, only 10 raise the price of tho
imported article, in the country by which The coun
tervalIlng duty i imposed; and 10 tax its own
inhabitants his is TO tax all the other great in
teress OF society, for he special and particular
benefit OF navigation alone, which, at last, cans
not be prom oted by it, Except under particular
circum~iances) as have shewn. To abandon the
trade 10 more iavoured vessels, while IL aIaudons
the interest OF navigation IN this INSTANCE relieves
all the other great interests of society from the
| burthens which countervailirg duties would I'M
poe upon them alone. And 10 prohibit the
trade altogether, is 10 sacrifice not ONLY these o.
;heT great interests, but also that Of navigation il,
( self.
! The FIRST Of these may s1mef;rnes be
Tesor!ed TO, where the import trade does not bring
articles Of prime Necessity, but only such as will
stu be consumed, not" ithstan1nS their enlsnccl
price. CounteIvaing duties then act as 2 mere
measure OF revenue. They Impose a voluntary in
direct tax upon @eaiih, which must ever bear such
tax ~ some shape % other. but if discriInina-
ting duties are imposed upon articles OF prime ne
cessity, Or raise his h, as To check the
consumption OF the articles 80 taxed thew beccrne
positive mischief In Tie one case by raising
the price OF the necessarjes Of life the roor ars
tax ed bry ond their means of payment; and IN the
Other. The revenue is injured, 10y the dtninution
consumption, and consequently OF Importation
CountefyaIling duties therefore, hen resorted to
Al ali, should never be nngosed indiscrir,inatejv
but sbOulG always tai upon wisely selgctea arti-
cles, ~ order 10 spare be poor and preserve TIE
revenue. tonnage du.y, however, falls upon
the whole freight OF The ship II Is borne by every
part OF her cstso, no matte oil what II consists. Il
Is, therefore, generally "nw ise, becsu Il most
acc - an ind.s,uminats duty,
\ writer in he lsi Herald surposes. tbst G
BRIAN dad 10 rever 20 her sncicut colo we L.
tenn, alter tie mort pc ce OF Amens rn 1902
This erFcr pro3soly 81 .re-d., from lis not adj.
veruog o the m.nbe. B whi,h ,hi- sv.te,u was
e susp ndsu and revived By tn general avs of
Gie eat BIZ aim ali iore,g', Vessels wee excluded
q al oil tunes from he ioua, pou-. This gen
q efal provision was SuspsHdcd occasiJuGHy by
orders ~ councl, All by tbe pr ciamapp.- Of ,hs
y regal governor or t.tse col mes Wac thc pc,
nod OF such sasPcHy01 ce.seI, the g,HcrQtiuls
OF course revtvrtiC iissl unless new order or
Proclamation is-gcI extending the .erm Of su.i,en-
sion further Soon alter -he 90 unencement 81
e. the wa, between Gre Britain ns France. sss-
Il pensions OF On coiOnlrl 81 fe5n wee 90 dcri rsd
g for The term ol one yea u Dc term comm cnccd
on different days, 'o tine lftr,en colonies MI ~
H. n expired was tcGe.ecd am year 90 We -. a..
Of fore After en- peace Of Amient. io,v.t Or. an
oiHe tha peace cont'.u,d, tn suspension .es.
nos rene ed, but suffered TO expire, ynl t,- cx-
praiion ~ The then current yest en- end a. his o.,
eI"itel o. 'ne diieren' colonies the sncient rule