Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-27
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED,
From he Ne,o York .4n1erican.
THE COLONIAL. TRADE.

4 III l.. "
IJ,,n no public question within our reeoliec-
ton has there preveaIled so much delusion, SO
much unwilliugness 10 see the truth, as upon
this Never before, since we have mingled In
DoIitical discussions, have we seen manifested
50 much and culpabe indifference 10 the char
acter Of our own country-Such aiacritY IN
trucking TO the naughty pretenslons OF rival,
as IL the discussions concerning the trade with
the British West-Indics. We are amazed at
the arguments adduced, and at the quarters
whence they come, TO 10 stify Great Britain al
the expense of America, aud are compelled to
sdopt the conclusion, that faction, ever ready to
seize upon any topic 10 decry those whom 1t
would overthrow, is al the bottom oil them all.
II is now made matter of reproach TO the
administration, that Congress broke up without
passing any bill OH this subject; and the Eve
ming Post has even gone so far IS 10 say, (with
how much regard 10 truth and decency we Will
not determine,) that the President had defeated
the measure in the House of Representatives.
The Richmond Enquirer indeed, the great op-
position journal of the South, ranks :hls same
colonial bill among the fayori,e measures OF the
administration, in which il announces, with ex-
ul,a,ion, that they ,cere defeated Leaving these
worthy fellow laSorers i'm the same righteous
cause--(,h hat Of pulling down scholar, states
man, and man Of pure and Spolless life, TO
build up mere soldier, without education, eX-
perience, or habits ofindus,rious application
whose life, until laItery, has been one long
brawl)-leayng 10 these worthless TO reconcile
their own contradictions, we ask attention TO
brief exposition of the facts of the case.
The Executive, in the discharge of its legiti-
mate and appropriate duties, and moreover in
this particular instance, in obedience Gas we
have on former occasion shown to the injanc-
tons Of Congress, sought to regulate by treaty
the Colonial trade. Every effort, from causes
not now necessary 10 recur to, failed. Great
Britain suddenly assumed new and naughty
tone, and interdicted, under civcAmstaa6sSSvss s.
msrsed disGollriGsssSr idhfa4" ports Anticipating
the possibility of, though by no means expect
ing, such an occurrence, the act of Congress Of
March, 1928, authorised the President, in such
event, to make known the same by proclama-
ton, and that thereupon the entry into the ports
OF the United States of British vessels from
Yves, India ports should cease. Did the Presi-
dent execute this authority? No. And that
perhaps is jus, matter of-reg-et, certainly
we had almost said, reproach. But, anxious not
TO perplex, BY any exercise, even OF the lawful
duty confded to him, a question upon which, as
the session Of Congress was then close al hand,
he wished the National Legislature to deter
mine, he abstained from fulfilling, what, perhaps
upon strict construction Of the law, was an I'M
perave obligation. This abstinence does not
look like any wish TO force matters in any sense.
Congress met at their appointed time, and with
his opening message, the President submitted
the whole CORES pondence relative to, and the
state Of, the colonial question.
After long interval, bills were reported in
both Houses, calculated, it was thought, 10 con-
ciliate Great Britain. Such was the professcd
object and aim Of both. That Of the Senate was
first taken up by that body, s. sent to the House.
There 1T was amended, that while still
measure decentralization, it should no, be, under
all possible future circumstances, one Of pure
aud unmixed concession. Upon these amend
ments the two Houses disagreed, and thus the
bill fell through. So much as to the naked fact
Now as to the merits Of the questions upon
which .he two Houses disagreed. They were
briefly and substantially these. l. The Senate's
oili repe aied Internationally, after the Slst of
December next, all discriminating duties o.
British commerce from the West Indies 9
1t prohibited the President, by susnendBe the
act OF March, 1928, from exercising. until arier
the Slst of December, the right now cop6ded
to him by that act, Of issuing proclamation
reviving the prohibitory acts of MAY, 1920. and
April, 1918 5. In the event of no adjustment
by the 3lst December otthe question with Eng
ilnU, III puTpOElSu 10 revive tue acts OF March
1928, MAY 1920, aud April 1918. The effec,
Of this bill would then have been, frs., to leave
to British navigation for whole year, the en-
tire trade between the West India colonie. and
:hese United States, during which time the A
merican flag was to be totally excluded from
these colonies; aud secondly, if Great Britain
should not at the end Of the year choose 10
make terms, but, arguing from past concessions,
persist in her unjust claims, the question is to
be replaced ,ehers il no,c IS, by reriving The lac
of 1928, astuaty IN force at present, with this
only, but essential difference against the United
States, that whereas now British cargoes, in
British ships from the West Indies, pay dis
eliminating duty, they would after January
next, in conformity with the proposed bill, be
exempt therefrom. On the first Of January
next, then, the question would, if the Sepate's
bill had passed, stand thus-that Great Britain
would have enjoyed years monopoly of the
trade, and would be in better situation, by
the positive repeal ofthe discriminating duties,