Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-01
RICHMOND, JUNE 1.
COMMUNICATED.
THE COLONIAL QUESTION

I2th inst. says, that 4" the opposition to Mr.
Adams ON the Colonial policy" may tell them as
much a. it peases of what they have lost, SO long
as they have retained their honour And Chsves,
in the same paper, supplies me admirably with
woSds. He forciby states, that there is a most
wilful "perversion of the plain history OF the bu-
siness or a melancholy self-delusion n,'' not
(" the long winded structures OF the opposition on,
this subiect;" but the silence in which the Gov
eminent and its adherents are compelled to pre-
serve-for, excepting few weak and whining
paragraphs in the two Nationals, and reiteration
of the old and hacknied story, that the West Indies
are dependant on the United States, have seen
nothing worth reading since MIR. w bsier's Coun-
Sty Court Speech.
These N. Y communications have led me to
resame the subject, and TO discnss the Report of
1922. If am not greatly mistaken, the more it
is agitated, the more IT will prove the wretched
diplomacy OF that famed character, ]. Q. Adams
What my opinion has long been OF his diplomatic
talent, you well know l DO not fear but that the
result will prove the correctness of tie Notion,
that he never ought to have quilted the Pro!e.
soE's Chair.
It's we'll 10 observe, that the committee wa 9.
formed to report the petitions for the repeal of
the laws of 1878 and 1920. 1t may now become
interesting from the history which Semen is giving
US of ihem but which have not yet scent
The Committee observes, that 90 the repeal Of
preventing, for time, the success of their poll
.cy;" tina, IL (" has not had sufficient time 10 be-
stow on them (ihe laws) that deliberate conside-
ration they deserve This is said to be owing TO
the new political era, Sc. and to the fact that
I" the old commercial system is giving way for the
introduction OF one more liberal aud enlightened"
These chapges produced pause; and il Is sagely
pronounced better 10 stand still and vail for
LUCK than to proceed g BY standing still, our
chance for acquiring advantages is much greater
than by acting" 1t strangely enough States . its
reliance, az it ought, OH principles that are in sue
ceseful operation, and on which the u. S. should
depend for freedom OF commerce" This argu-
neni is used in favour OF an act copied | believe,
from an act of Charles the 2nd--n fact, the navi.
gation act of Great Britain. ITO repeal this act
would be TO change the policy and reject the best
means hat can secure to it that freedom-and to
sanction the restrictive principles that have de-
pressed it,"
Evidently abiding TO the broad and liberal basis
OF The act of 1915, which il thus characterises -
a. The act OF 80 March, 1915, proposes to each
commercial nation fair and liberal terms of COM
mefcs; it speaks plain and Ineligible language
TO each nation; it says. receive The vessels OF the
United States into your ports, loaded with the
produce and manufactures Of the United States on
the same terms you receive your own vessels into
your own ports importing the same articles of
merchandise; and your vessels, importing into the
United States the produce and manufactures of
your country, shall be received into The ports of
the United States on the same terms and condI-
eons that vessels of the United States are received
into The United States importing the sarne articles
of ulerch sndse:" Also, evidently abiding to this
act, the Committee explicitly declares in another
place, that this Government has ever been dis
posed TO act with fairness and Justice TO all ma
tons. II has never asked favor from any, which
II has been unwilling to reciprocste From the
.Jy ~ ,h.a fha prtNaC
1906 was rejected,) " the constitutions went into
operation. this Government has uniformly mani
tested disposition 10 open free commercial in
tercourse with every nation.''
I'm PEASANT; it is impossible not to observe, ,ba,
the tariffes would be little as;onished if Brit
fsh Minister, with this paragraph from official
report in his hsad, were 20 urge the consideration
OF MIR. Huskisson's proposition on a Secretary of
State, or the United States Minister in London
50 propose to admit all foreign articles msnufac
tured wholly Of cotton, whether from the East
indies or elsewhere, at an uniform dniy of 10 per
cent, which conceive 10 be sufficient to counter
vail the small duty levied on the "a " material in
this country Any protection, beyond this, hold
10 be Dischievous." This speech of Mr.. H.
may afford food for reflection and caution
The Committee then enters into a brief history
Of the Commerce of the Uni'ed States, and evil
Gently having even then in view measures tending
to cranp the foreign commerce OF the country
Cypress the cotton and tobacco growing States,
and grant exclusive protection TO the nanufactu-
Ter, of which the tariff already obtained and that
20 be obtained and will be the fruit. il tells
US, OF the Increasing products of other countries
Of the Commerce of the UGted States having ac-
CURED an impetus which must be transient mas
much as II is accidental. II states all this in the
face of this language =" Great Britain. is looking
on this eventiu period with no little soliciiude:
restrictions imposed By Der monopolizing policy
are 30 efectually retorted, as to inspire more
liberal notions" a disposition is evidently mani.
fesiedby her TO erect 4" other notions on the ground
Of RECIPROCITY and trust her success in commerce to
free and open competition" To accelerate this
happy change, to realize it, the measures 1.-THE acts
Of 1915 and 1920, 1t is to be presumed,( which
have wrought that disposition, should not be rash
~ and inconsiGeraiely abandoned" II then
eublimely Ot must be O., for no one else could
& think OF putting such language into an official re-
fspoTi,) observes, when the voyage is nearly at
yan end, when the destined port is in view, il
would be timeity in the pilot TO keep the sea and
expose TO the mercy OF the winds and waves, the
lives aud fortunes OF those entrusted to bis skill end
care" And then comes the declaration, since
proved 20 be sincere 10 the woolen tariff" This
concise view is presented to the considerate and
The dispa-soDaie for the purpose Of shey,i ing that
the productions Of the United States may be in
less dems I'd than heretofore" And to exhibit
the Inconsistency Of these politicians, except in
what they leem their Own interest," and 20 provs
their folly cutting of market Tor $50 900 bar
res OF hoT' we are told that ia 1915, six mil
lion Of busels Of wheat were shipped from Odessa
TO Mediterranean ports, and ia 1917, three mil
lions to Lghorn alone.
The Committee states ~ fact, on the authority
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations, that in
February, 1913, heavy duties were imposed in
the BTinh West Indies, on American produce,
n fTan uhn