American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-16
Washington, FEB. 28.

In the debate in the Sena.e upon the bill TO regu
tare the trade with the British colonies. as well as in
the Opposition presses, great exertens have been
made 10 cast ceusure upon the Executive or an al.
legged injurious preferences ior negotiation rather
than legislation upon the regulation OF this trace !;
and il has even been affirmed that the sacrifice OF the
trade itself has been The result OF this excessive
fondness for negotiation. Laying aside for mo-
ent any consideration Of the actual state OF the ne.
potiation at the commencement OF the last session
of Congress- and of the honest conviction entertain.
ed by the Executive, not only that satisfactory
but speedy arrangement OF that trace would DC ei-
fected by these MEANS we ask whether, II any such
preference did exist is it not abundany justified by
the fact that of ell the measures recommended to
Congress in the message OF 1928, scarcely one has
pet been brought to maturity nor can i. be believed
that this subject had it been recommended to Con
gress ct the last session, would have met with bet
ter reception than did multtu6es OF others recon-
mended by the Executive since now, having had
The subject before them since the commencement
Of the present session, has been brought forward
Daly within the last ten days OF is duration; and
= rem each member Of the Senate, governed by the
oCal interests of the State he represents ands pre-
Jared to offer amendments, so various in character
and 50 unlimited in number, that il would seem all
hGl impossible to obtain the sanction Of majority
4 ,ha, body, much less the sanction Of Congress
Bat it was not, at the time, mentioned by the
Opposition as subject upon which legislation wa
required. It was admitted BY both parties TO the
trade AZ that time to be subject not only for nego
tiation, but upon whch negotiations had been com
menced, and were then pending. II was firmly be
lieved by the executive Of the United States ha, il
was subject which would soon be amicably adjust
ed by negotiation. Under these circumstances
while every effort was making, and while some o.
her general principles were relaxed in their opera
ton By the United States, in order TO compromise
This long existing dfel renee with Great Britein, the
Government of that country, without any notice oil
such intention, changed their ground, and declining
negotiation. assumed the basis Of their future reg
uaticn oil this trade, an enormous ACT OK Parliament
OF elgh'y SIX sections, comprising code oi coonia
commercial law and 20 perfectly unintelligibe, that
her reyenue officers who we're 10 carry it into exc
culion. interpreted it differently and thai one Of her
aacst Judges has within few months given a de
elSion entirely a variance With its provisions. In
short section ofthis act, the passage mpor, o.
which was ever communicated to his Government
a provision is inserted by which the character o
oar trade with the colonies was entirely changed
Ihis section provides that the colonial trade shall
be open to nations having colonies On terms OF re-
c,procity. That THAT the trade from any nation
aaving colonies 10 the British colonies, and from
thence ,c any par. Of the world erccpi Great BRIT
an, shall be open to such nation, upon her grant
'ng the same terms to B:i.ish vessels trading with
ScE coionies-yiz: 20 eiear out for any part os the
7o7,d e. cept the mother country Such regula
tien ofine trade wita nations hGrins colonies, was
~ ier.ns Of reciprocity fit were 50, The requisi.
:io9 from the United States OF the same terms could
not be upon principles Of reciprocity. In the one
case portion OF colonial trade was given for por
ton OF colonial trade. We have GO colonial trade
10 gl7e Great Britain therefore demands from
vs. ne i.aae from the United States to any part
q the wnrld, in lieu q wSh she gives US the trade
from her colonies 70 any part Of The world except
ing the mother country. But This is not all. The
section OF the act alluded TO requires tha, all nations
not having colonies shall place the commerce and
navigation OF Great Britain. and oi its possessions
abroad upon the footing OF the most farored nation
IN ORDER to enjoy the trade to the colonies as nsr
Cd by this act. We have treaty with Central A..
merica, BY which the importation and xpo, tstop
OF goods and merchandise, without regard to the
country OF which they the growth or manufac
tnfe' - allowed, Must We then gran, this favor to
Great Britain, in return for the privilege Of trading
AZ The produce OF her colonies : Must ne permit
her to transport Tor us the produce Of he world for
The transportation allowed US of the produce OF an
integral portion Of itp Yet such must be the resul,
We accept the terms Of this act and place her on
tne ooting OF tl.e most tdrUred nation. But let u.s.
~ order 10 understand The better consider what
vas the character OF this tssde before the operation
Of the act of Parliament Of 9Th July, 1925, and
wnas change is apparently offered by tha, act. We
NAV perhaps find that mach is asked. and little
granted.
Previous to the passage Of the act d Parliament
o. 9th July. 1925. the trade between the United
States and the British West Indies had for some
tliae aeen regulated by acts Of Parliament on the
one sue, anu OF Congress On tue ether. which per.
mltted onf the direct trade in specified articles
that s ve,seis OF the United States were permitted
to trade from the ports Of the United States to tie
colonies, and from thence to return TO the United
States; and vessels from the colonies were permit
ted to enter anv of the ports Of the United States,
ana IRON thence to return Immediately to the colo