Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-03-20

law "''Jo'iy, anu Dy thelr pert!naCIouS adherence
10 the Canada amendment
From the National Inteligeuccr nf SATURDAY
THE CooaiM Question sated-It was the sentiment
Of the gallant aud Iamen,ed DEcAruR that in all
collisions between his country and foreign nations
he was IN favor OF his own, right wrong. The SEN
t'ent may be surpassed by some to eyince an excess
OF patriotism, when applied TO controversies in which
ones country is clearly in the wrong. In all other
respects, that is, in all doubt or where our
country is clearly right, II will command general
currence In pronouncing judgment on the differ
ence between Great Britain and the United States
in regard TO the coona! intercourse we do not uercee
that II Is necessary 10 invoke the aid of the more
questionable part of the sentiment. For having Ell
eavored TO take unpreudced view ofthis question
appears 10 us that te brief statement of the ponts
III dispute, which we now propose 10 make can hardly
iai 10 induce at least ali impartial citizens to lean 20
the side o! their Government in this controversy
We address the following remarks to such only as have
not as yet taken decided stand upon this question
and whu may desire 10 have clear statement of the
presented to ITEM
During the last Administration, then I'm, two
Governments willing 10 agree, by convention
that the trade hetwec the United States and the
British colonies should he limited, as by their res
pCCve laws, limited. a direct n,etCourse
between the United States and those colonies Both
,.ere willing 10 abolish e alien or dscriminaiir
duties they levied in their respective ports
Great Britain without condition, and the United Sta ties
upon the Condition that their produce in the British
West India colonies shor!d be liable 10 nav himer
duties than similar produce coming from any other
place, including British possessions. This was tbe
only point which separated the two Powers. That
removed, both were wiling to regulate the trade Hy
treaty. The negotiation, with which MIR R,su
was charged, suspended in 1921 on that only point
The parties separated with mutual UNDERSTANDING
that they would again Inc negotiation al some
future day, and endeaYor 10 settle Tie terms Of the
intercourse by trcGiy.
Such was the state of the question under the Adj.
minstratisn Of MIR. MONROE That Administration
f,f,,x. ,,oI ,i,,ttt e a..
moi SUSTAIN in the British West India ports fair com
petition with Canadian proGuce If 10 he bur
thened with heavy duties from which Canadian pro
dnce was exempted And, If any error he inpu;abic
On this subject tie last Administration which is
tar from being ceftan) II that of contendnr too
innoh in behalf fthe interests o: the Unite States.
me duty OF deciding on this point OF difference
between the two GOVERNMENTS tus left undetermined
dcvoived on the present Administration On fill
consideration II appears TO have been resolved y Il;
III spirit Of concession and cancellations To Weld the
point which lad prevented Mr. RUsu from conc.udicor
a convention, in 1894. with the Bri,is!, Government
rs lae as the @ed OF March, 1896 the British Aiinis,c
at " ashnSton, IN pursuance OF Instructions inyiIcd
the American Government 10 renew that negotiation
10 which joii p2r;IcS up 20 that time, constantly looked
as Tie meaES o: settling bv treaty. the terms of tho
colonial Intercourse MIR. G. irI1TJI shortly ,Fter
went 10 Lngand authorized and instructed 10 conclude
a convention Oh the very terms which Great Britain
had herself proposed TO MIR. RUsH. Upon his arrival
instead O being met with corresponding isposi;i0n-
instead Of the British Government beinp ready to
proceed IN that negotiation, for which the American
Government had been notified in the preceding March,
that preparations were nakng, he was suadcn, and
unexpectedly met by 40 order in C0uucil closing tie
british ports against from The fist Of the ensui,
Dccemher and BY the annnpcation for The in ST time
Of resolution oi the British Cove ne, 10 treat
at al! with that OF the Uniled States on tie colonial
trade.
Whatever error il any, the present Administration
has committed, il cGrtaiGy has not been that Of p.
;eSt'p@ an unaocommodating spirit towards Great
Britain. 1t may be well dorbe'l. indeed, whether il
was not disposed TO yield much, in giving M the
principle, insisted uroD by the last Administration
that American produce should be received in British
colonial ports al the same rate Of duties and charges
With Canadian and other produce.
On the point whether il IS most eyncIient tiat fIe
trade should be arranged by treaty or bv reciprocal
legislation. it is obvious mind that the former
NODE has tie advantages Of ccfE1iY in m condiiiU:.s
and peImqncnrY The rule which il FIXES by tie
common consent OF both parties can only be altered
by the concurrence OF both Tie latter mode Of ar
ranging the trade, is liable 10 lie objections of anccr
taIny as to the terms OF tho trade, and frequency OF
change, and may be varied by the separate legislation
Of either.
Error has been Attributed 10 Toe Administration,
because Congress did not legate on the subject a the
session before The last. Vel: what prevented Con
grcss from Iegislatng then? il is an extraordinary
reProach to make 10 The Executive, that Coa5yesg diJ
not perform It's duty, suppcsng il TO be lis duty 20 e
glslate. On this point, recur TO tue speeches Of
two gentlemen who took the lead on opposite sides
" " f'~'O W. '"c usod'e lH tbe senate al ITS last
session. winch baYe been published in pamphlet form,
aud which we propose 10 publish in cJicnSo shortly
General SrTu says, in his speech, speaking OF tie
proceedings at the session preceding the last 81 took
"'ny own course, and moved that The report Of TIC
1" Committee on Commerce should be recominiued,
with instructions, and succeeded by large majo
''ry of the Senate Ii was sent TO tie Committee
"on Finance, and reported bill, which would have
passed but for cni Of time. It not rejected, as
d" Mr.. Canning has stated" Again, The venerable
Senator SAYS; The terms offered were liberal. We
call admitted they SO; that perfectly sa
"tised with them. And why then did VIC not accept
chem have already answered th- question: be
'canse Congress had not time To act" Aud again
speaking Of the bill at the session before the last lie
says: THAT majority fthe Senate in its favor
81 do know, and ths it would have passed fsre h0i
had time" Thus according 10 the high evidence of
the Senator from Maryland, three Tires delivered, il
was not the PREsfDENT but ,rof Of Gqse hat proven
tod The passage Of the bill at the session prior to the
s.ta rather stfanre caHsc. =. Inc :f.v. ighrn ,t,