Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-12

and restricted intercourse, which may be opened
between the u. S and particular ports in the CO.
lonses of foreign nation" (5)
Now, all The foreign commerce the u. States
themselves, as well as OF every other nation in
the civilized world, is Limited and restricted to par
ticniar ports, viz those alone in which custom
hou-es are established; and ourselves, in this
case, had proposed enumeration of such ports
by name, objectingto designation of them by this
general description. The foreign commerce of the
" States themselves. well of every Other
nation in the civilized world, is further lim ed and
restricted, as TO the foreign vessels who may en-
lgagen II, and a. to the articles that may be i'm
ported or export ed in such vessels. If, ueefore,
this constitutes any objection 10 the application Of
the Act of March 3, 1915, that saiutary law wa;
dead letter in our statute book.
As TO the suggestion which would coniine the ap-
plicaton of thjs act, to the commercial inter-
with nation, and exclude its colonies, il would
prove, that if Great Britain had placed the coloni-
al trade upon, the very ground which MIR. Adams
himself wished, still, according 10 his argument,
the President would have had no power to remove
our alien duties. Because. according TO this
suggestion the act imposing such duties referred
ercinsirefy to nations, and to their colonies.
Now, Is there any mind, other than one determin-
ed To find difficulty where existed, which oud
have employed such mere verbal hypefcri,icisms,
II order 10 defeat the plain intent OF this law the
reasons Of which have formerly stated: And
what must have been the stale of such mind,
when in reasoning thus upon this subject, it entire
ly overlooked that broad construction, but recently
given by the President the act Of May 6, 1922,
where to attain the beneficial intent of the act,
Canada and the other British Colonies on the con-
tlnent OF North America, We're dIslocaled from
their geographical position the face of the globe,
and conyerted into islands or colonies in the W.
! Indies?
The truth is, and every who will read the
Act OF March 3, lsl5, must it, that the object
OF that Act was, TO remove all discriminating do
ties, on our par, from any trade (wbelhsr colonial
or nationally in which no such duties existed tn
operate against US. And with this confessed OBJ
ject before him, even mere special peader would
not have thought right to attempt TO defeat The
intent of law, by blind adherence TO its mar
70 ~ cot toOTdS; especially after giving 80 broad
ion to the plain words of another acI for
The opposite purpose. But, according to the trite
sdage, there are some who will strain at cnats
although they swallow cameIs.
The last argument urged by Mr.. Adams in this
letter Is this: " Discriminating duties Operafi7e
TO the disadvantage of the II. S. snil exist in the
British Colonies now opened to their navigation.
1T Is discrimination that the vessel of the ~. s.
which has entered Colonial por; from the u. S.
10 compelled TO return directly 10 them and 20 paw
heavy export duty upon any cargo, which Ahe
may take ON The return voyage; while The Bri.i,h
vessel, entering The same colonial port, also from
the u y has the world before her for her snbse-
quent progress, and pays no export duty upon the
cargo which she iaEes any other British colo
MAI port, or To Great Britain. The American ves-
sci, therefore, II entering the colonial ports upon
equs! terms with The British, goes out OF char
ed with heavy duties. f,om which the British YES
sci Is exempted. The discrimination il mt less ef,
fectnal from being indireci.''i51
I A part OF this argument, if founded IL, fact
would certainly be conclusive; and " ond not have
! required the pigmy aid of the verblI criticisms
before noticed. Ii it was true as fact that dis
eliminating duties (wbetber on exports or imports1
did exist in the British Colonies, operating TO the
disadvantage of the United States, then all must
admit, tina; no power existed, to give eaec, TO the
repeal OF the alien duiies our part But il ia
the seeming consciousness that the fact migh, no,
be so, which appears TO have made resort TO such
verbal distinctions necessary.
Mr.. Canning 10 reply TO this assertion, saws,
" 10 prove that discriminating duties, operating
to the prejudice of the H. States, do actual =
exist in The British Colonies, you state that an
American vessel, when clearing out on her return
from colonial port is sI5ieci to heavy expor
dity on her cargo, from which the British YES
sci is exempt. ct any such export doty have
no knowledge, beyond what derive from YOU,
letter; but isking the fac; for granted. am ner-
suaded tbs, the duty, If levied at all, is equally
levied on British and on alien vessels, eruploved
in the direct trade, and ought not, therefore to be
ciassed with duties imposed on a principls oil dis.
elimination" (6.) And this persuasion of Mr.
Canning, proved t. be the fact.
A 10 any indirect advantage, 10 b. derivel ~,
! the traders on either side from the course of ,L,
u!ienor voyage IN which they might engage. ,hi
has nothing TO do with the repeal of the Acf o.
Marc 3, 1918. 1t WAS the object of that Act :,
repeal ali discriminating duties imposed on OH, mari
on the vessels or commerce of those WIN b,d ~,
such duties existing on tleir part, TO operste :,
our disadvantage IL, thei efore no such jiscyf,oi
mating export dny as was stated, existed in fact
the President bad ths power, and was bo.ad [,
exert u, TO give effect to Ibis act And hi. il ba
] undertook 10 Prove.
( Had II been said at once, that although the Pre-
s'dent had discretion given to hin to prevent tb,
eSsc'lon oil these alien duties, yet hat be did no
/ see III 70 employ such power in this case
although he people OF the y. s. might have fol
regret at the dec sion, they would have been soar
Ell the morttcstion OF the argument urged 20 su-
tam q. b1t so,hing except Indignation, can IRE
! vent the shapie they must feel, when great dues
no" OF high national importance, was disposed o
/ by such mere verbal distinctions as those bav,
slated: or by reliance upon supposed facts. tb
proof OF which could no where be found, except !,
the assertion TO support WHICH they were relied Oh
on. They answered the purpose however tor \, hrl
! 'ney were most probably intended. They suspen
dsd The discussion OF the subject between the tvv,
governments, until af 81 the session Of Congress
and by passed during that session i, was MIA
Gel upon new grounds. The history OF This Act
will give 10 ny next number. sENEy.
7 -
j (t) See Mr.. 6. Canning letter to Mr.. Adm.
dated Washington, Oct, %, 1922, contained
the documents accompanying the Presidents Me,
sage 10 Congress, az he com nencensnt OF the 90
cohd session OF the 1911 Congress, Documer