American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-30
Washington, Ahreh II.


THE CoIohrAL QUESTION sTATEu-It was
the sentiment Of the gallant and lamented Deca
tur that, in all collisions between his country and
foreign nations, he was in favor OF his own, right
or wrong. The sentiment may be supposed, by
some, to evince an excess Of patriotism, when
applied to controversies in which ones country i
CLEARLY in the wrong In all other respects, that IS
in all cases of doubt, or where country IS clear
~ right, it will command general concurrence
In pronouncing judgment on the difference be-
tween Great Britain and the United States, in re
gard to the colonial intercourse, we do not per
ceive that il is necessary to invoke the aid OF tt
more questionable part of the sentiment. Fo'
having endeavored to take an unprejudiced we"
of this question, it appears to US that the brle
statement of the points in dispute, which we no"
propose to make, can hardly fail to induce at least
all impartial citizens to lean to the side OF their
own Government in this controversy. We ad
dress the following remarks to such only as have
not as vet taken decided stand upon this ques
ton, and who may desire to have clear state
ment Of the case presented to them.
During the last Administration, then, the two
Governments were willing to agree, BY convention,
that the trade between the United States and the
British colonies should be limited, as, by their re-
spectve laws, it was limited, to direct inter.
course between the United States and those colo
mes. Both were willing to abolish the alien or
discriminating duties as they were levied in their
respective ports, Great Britain without condition,
and the United States upon the condition that their
produce in the British West India colonies should
not be liable to pay higher duties than similar pro-
duce coming from any other place, including Bri-
tsh possessions This was the only point which
separated the two Powers. That removed, both
were willing to regulate the trade by treaty The
negotiation, with which Mr.. Rush was charged,
was suspended in 1924, on that only point. The
parties separated with mutual understanding that
they would again renew the negotiation at some
future day, and endeavor to settle the terms of
the intercourse BY treaty.
Such was the state of the question under the
Administration Of MIR. Monroe. That Admins
traton conceived that the produce Of the United
States could not sustain, in the British West In
dia potts fair competition with Canadian pro-
duce. if It were To be 6urthened with heavy duties
from which Canadian produce was exempted. And,
# any errar be mpuable ON this subject to the last
Administration, (Which is far from being certain)
it was that Of contending too much in behalf Of
the interests Of the United States.
The duty Of deciding on this point Of differ
ence between the two Governments, thus lett un-
determined, devoved on the present Administra-
tion On full consideration, it appears to have been
resolved by it, in spirit Of concession and concl-
iation, to yield the point which had prevented Mr..
Rush from concluding convention, in 1924, with
the British Government. AS late as the 22d of
March, 1896, the British Minister at Washington,
in pursuance of instructions, invited the Ameri
can Government to renew that negotiation, to
which both parties, up to that time, constantly
looked as the means of settling, by treaty,
the terms of the colonial intercourse. MIR. Gal
latin shortly after went to England, authorized and
instructed to conclude convention on the very
terms which Great Britain had herself proposed
to Mr.. Rush. Upon his arrival, instead of being
met with corresponding disposition-nstead of
the British Government being ready to proceed in
that negotiation, for which the American Govern
ment had been notified. in the preceding March,
that preparations we're making, he was suddenly
and unexpectedly met by an order in Council. Gle
sing the British ports against from the first of
the ensuing December, and by the annunciatlon,
tor the first time, of resolution of the British
Government not to treat at all with that of the
United States on the colonial trade.
Whatever error, If any, the present Administra.
ton has committed, it certainly has not been that
OF manitest!ng an unaccommodating spirit tow.
ards Great Britain. 1t may be well doubted in,
deed, whether it not disposed to yield too much
in giving up the principle, insisted upon by the last
Administration, that American produce should be
received in British colonial ports, at the sane rate
u duties and charges with Canadian and other pro
Jnce.
On the point Whether il is most expedent that
the trade should be arranged by treaty or by recip
roca' legislation, II is obvious TO our mind, that the
former mode has the advantages, of certainty in
the conditions, and permanency. The rule which
IT fixes. by the common consent of both parties can
only be altered by the concurrence Of both. The
after mode Of arranging the trade, is Liable to the
objections OF uncertainty as to the terms Of the
trade, and frequency Of change, and may be varied
by the separate legislation Of either.
Error has been attributed to the Administration
because Congress did not egislate on the subject
at the session before the last Well: what nre
vented Congress from Iesisatns thens 1t is an
extraordinary reproach to make to the Executive
that Congress tld not perform its duty sunnns,n.