Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-23

1t cannot be denisiby any who has reas
me documents on our table, that we have beer
brought into this state Of humiliation, and that ih
valuable trade in question has been jeoparcised BY
tue most palpable Encouragement and negligence
ny the Encouragement Of the late Secretary o.
State, through an overweening ambition to dis
play his skill in controversy and polemics, In
making difficulties where none existed, and re-
inning upon speculstions OF his own Imagination
TO obtain some pretext to prolong the discus
sion, instead of adopting the open aud frank
policy OF the sound diplomatist and accepting
at once the terms offered, and which our in
terest demandei. l have said also that we have
suffered from negligence, and can easily shew
that this is, fpossibe. more papable than the
mismanagement. The negotiation, under MIR
Adams's instructions, closed in July, 1924, with
an understanding that it to be resumed, says the
Secretary OF State Tin which remark is contained
Mr. Clay's whole defence worth noticing.) Eight
months after the negotiation was broken off, Mr..
Clay came iato Office; in the mean time pro-
position was made to renew the negotiation. Mr..
i<ns was sent to London in April or May, but
wi'houi word OF instruction to renew the neso :
tlation, Or even to offer excuse for not doing
~; nor does there appear to have been line Of
instruction given to Mr.. King this subject
during his mission. The Secretary of State was
TOO much engaged in other concerns, no doubt, to
spare time to secure this valuable commerce on a
permanent basis. More than two years elapsed
from the time MIR. Rush's negotiation closed be-
lore any proposition was made by our Government
to renew the negotiation, viz: from the 22nd July
1871, TIL 9Th August, 1926.
Thus two years of Encouragement and two
years OF neglect, have consummated the exclusion
OF our navigation from this trade recover which,
we are Called upon at once TO sacrifice market
winch consumes up Yards of four millions of the
exports chiefly of the middle States, three-fourhs
OIL which was carried 10 its market in our ships
but what excuse has been given for all this fatal
negligence. II is curious one indeed, and ] beg
tine House TO consider it. Mr. King left the Uoi-
TED States In April or May; the first despatch
IRON. him, communicated to US, is dated August 9,
1879, Ia WHICH. and subsequent letters, up to the
ism September, he speaks OF his indspostion,
Enough not as being seriously and also of the dis
persion OF the Ernsh Ministers. Mr. Kings let :
Ter OF the 9th August, was probsbly not received
here until some time in September, and The indis-
position OF Mr. King, and the dispersion of the
British Ministers. known in September at WASH
inson are gravely given by the Secretary of State
as the reason tor not having prepared Instructions
ior MIR King, in all the preceding months of
March, April, May, June, July, and August! And
because Mr.. King in bsd health. and the
BRUSH Ministers dispersed in August and Septem-
oer' II was inferred by the Secretary of State that
me same Causes would exist until the folio wing
Summer: tor M; one word of instruction was
gwen TO Mr.. King on the subject, nor any init
ma'!Gn given through him, that our Government
was dssous OF renewing the negotiation, although,
m me mean Time, the alienation of the Executive
had been especially called 20 this matter, no.
only by an invita-Ion to send another Minister,
pn' oy an act OF Parliament, passed in June, 1925,
proposing the terms upon which Great Britain
would open her Colonial Tra;le with all nations
VINO would accept them withia limit ed time
Notwithstanding all these fac,s no step was taken
Dy me Executive to secure this commerce; and
'as' year, when an attempt was made by the 60 OPP
position In both Houses 10 meet the terms of
ierea oy the act OF Parliament, by repeating our
" elsewhere" act, i, esis,ed anil defeated by
some invisible hand behinh the scene Such has
been The negligence, added to the previous mis-
management that has involved us in all this difficult
" and which l. about 10 lead US into another war OF
restriction, and The end oil which none can pre-
tend to foresee. This session we have been amused
win long elaborate reports, evidently made more
wlths view to excuse and gloss over the gross
Encouragement and negligence which has pro-
auced me dihicuty, than 10 propose appropriate
remedy ioI It. Such all the arguments in favor
OF negotiation in preference to legislation, which,
II conceded, wonld amount to nothing. II seems
10 have been forgotten by the Secretary of State
ana The Committee who have l,bcred this point 20
much, that MI. Adams's famous 9. eIsgtpheTe"
act was made by him the cause for refusing the adj
Justment OF this controversy in 1924; but while
urging, with 20 mlch earnesiDess, the argument in
favor OF negotiation, bo;h committees hare pro
posed to fegisfGfe, and this 100, under the uncon-
d'tionai demand OF Mr. Canning. Both Houses
have agreed, unanimously, TO yield TO this demand,
and yet we are now urged to retain our univer-
sally condemned act, aud of course adhere 10 its
foiicy, rather Than give up our smrndfnen, TO the
Senste's bill Ii this advice should prevail, we
can have no hope of adjustment for another year.
ana who can foresee what new difficulties may, in
the mean time, arise, to protract it still further
and perhaps Indefinitely! 1t is not a httle sur
prisnS that an attempt should be made TO excite
our naiioaal prize in favor of this amendment.
10 not tbink II becomes US, at this moment TO
buster and put on vaporiag airs. The Execu.
i've Department has consented to submit 10 the
humiliation oil repeating law cherished by thsm
ior fouT years ~ an instrument OF diplomacy, or
rather an excuse for disputaion. Both the Com
mitees OF Commerce, in Senate and this House
which are the links of connection between the
Executive and Legislative branches, have invited
US 10 submit, and we, tso, have proposed 20 sub
NIT; thereby acknowledging that we have been
put IN the wrong by the conduct Of our Admins
ra,ion and in this stage Of our humiliation, to use
high sounding words about bold firm, and man
Iy policy, IN defence of this amendment, is reaIl;
quite ont OF place. The amendment has nothing
Ia 1t worthy of such defence. 1t resembles
more the kick Of the dying asst evinces nothing
but feeble venom lit has no power TO wound
The bill originally reported by our Committee, 10
exclude all commerce with the British Colonies
IN North America, on the Continent as well as the
West Indies, bad Of that bold character abou,
u but that part Of the inteIdict which related to
Trade on fresh water, hss,-by some continuance,
been given up. New York was in critical stus-
ton as TO other matters. aud she must be ex-