Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-08

.u;red to nav on their5onnage and cargoes, the
Initiating duties which had Reen con''n'
ued by that order. Such state Of the Uaae
would result from the passage OF the Dill; unless
some measure should be adopted ~ our uoV,
eminent to prevent it, before or at the perioo
| mentioned.
In The meantime, the act Of 1923 being sus-
pended by the second section OF the ast beiore
the House, British vessels would not only en-
ter our ports directly from the British colonies,
but would be allowed to depart thence, 'aoeh
with our produce, to any part OF the world
They might even clear directly Tor Cuoa' or
any other West India island, or clearing tor the
British colonies, being in consequence OF the
suspension of that act, no longer Obliged to give
bonds to land their cargoes in British colonial
port, they might engage in carrying, as they
would be allowed to carry, our own produce TO
any market.
Now, Sir, said Mr.. T. is it not apparent to
every mind, and can it be denied or doubted,
that this state of the commercial intercourse
between the British colonies and the Y. States.
will be decidedly disadvantageous 10 our navi-
CATION, besides placing this nation before the
world, in the attitude OF humiliation! 10 per-
nit it would be 10 abandon entirely the ground
| which this country had unifoI mly maintained,
in its commercial relations and intercourse With
all nations. 1t would be departure from the
principles which had governed our councils
| from the organization Of our Government. For
himself he was free to say that he would not
| Weld his assent to measure which involved
such consequences. Such state OF things
ought not to exist. In his opinion, due re-
gard to the honor Of the country forbade it. The
! rights and honor Of the nation he would main
| tain. However anxious he might be that the
two Governments should make friendly and
satisfactory arrangement, in respect to sub
iect which had so long been in negotiation, he
was, by no means, prepared TO give his consent
to an act, which, in the event Of no arrangement
being made, would leave British shipping IN
possession Of ihe whole trade with the British
West Indies, and give t. il most manifest adj
vantage, in the continental ports, while it left
our own navigation pressed by all the embar-
easements and restrictions to which it was now
subjected by British laws. If this bill should
become law, he thought its tendency would
be to procrastlna:e, rather than to facilitate an
arrangement between the two Governments.
He was utterly opposed 10 the adoption Of
any measure, which did not establish an ultI-
mate exclusion from our ports, of British ships
coming from the Colonies, in case Great Bril-
tain should continue the provisions Of her order
in council If that order should not be annull-
ed, he deemed an interdict Of all intercourse
with the British Colonies Indispensable, and
he entertained the decided opinion, that the
interdict ought now to be established by Con-
gress to take effect after reasonable time. The
want Of sue h an interdict constituted the chief
defect of the bill under consideration, and with
him, an in.uperable objection 10 it.
Mr. 7. said he should have preferred the
3oth Of September next, as the period when the
prohibition Of the colonial intercourse propos-
ed by the amendment should take effect, the for
mer acts, on The same subject, having gone into
operation on the 3Oth September next follow
ing their passage; but he was not disposed 10
insist on that day, and was willing, for the pur-
pose Of effecting the passage Of proper act,
which he deemed important, 10 extend the pc
riod to the 3lst Of December next. In this O.
pinion he understood the Committee on Com
merce TO concur. A full and fair opportunity
would thereby be afforded TO settle, by negotia-
ton, perplexing and difficult question, affect
ing important interests.
The nterdict of the Order in Council took
effect in less than four months after the pro.
mitigation Of the order, but we, by this amend
ment, do not propose an lnterdict until the lapse
of ten months, although the British interdict
has been in operation since last December
This certainly was liberal, perhaps too liberal,
but it would manifest friendly spirit, as we'll
as spirit of forbearance on the part Of this
Government. Twill, however, give the British
Government distinctly TO understand, what is
our purpose on the happening Of an event which
we wish to avoid. He would not leave the mat
ter in state o! uncertainty, which might, and
probably would, induce the British Govern
ment TO speculate on our ultimate measure. 1,
was due to frankness, that the measure by
which we mean 10 abide be now fixed
The measure certainly could not be Justly Of
fensve to Great Britain. She had no. right to
except to it, having herself led the way. 1t
was not a threat, but a measure Of protection,
on our pert.
In order to effect the interdict which the Com
mittee on Commerce considered expedient, the
amendment he had offered, proposed 10 revive
the acts Of the 18th OF April, 1918, and Of the
18th Of May, 1920, which constituted the in
terdiction deemed proper by Congress at that
| time, under circumstances like the present
The mo aSure now nrono led had hoo tes,ed nv