Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-15

the United States to the British West India COLO
MES.
Secondly "A claim on The part Of the United
States TO participate in the colonial trade oil Great
Britain.
The things may be right or wrong in themselves;
but usage surely points exsc the contrary TO that
in which Mr.. Gallatin applies it
ME. Gsl!atin has yet another ground on which
20 rest this claim Of the United States to parti,
cipation in the colonial trade OF Grea, Britain:
Duriog the European war, Great Britain
found II convenient occasionally, but repeatedly.
TO open her West India ports to American yes
sells; OF The same time -he asserting the prin-
ciple uniformly denied by the United States, thar
neutral was not authorized by the law of nations
10 carry on in lime OF n trade with a colony in
which he was not permitted 10 participate in time
OF peace"
First II the ports were occasionally opened,
the very terms OF the proposition show that they
were generally shut 1t would be difficult 10 ina.
eine either more complete proof of the ncknoyv-
legged light TO adml' exclude Foreign trade
from the colonies, as the governing horiiy might
'hink 1T, OF more perfect retuision . he plea
OF usage In favour ct perm inently open trade.
Sec ndly-The rule o! 1876 appears 10 lava
little application 10 the POINT in dispute 1t might
TO tie sure be, In all such cases, question with the
neutral, whether he would be tempted by the omen
ports OF one be!liserenl, 10 run the risk of cap
ture by The other. Bat the point of dispute is
whether by occasionally opening her colonial ports
Great Britain virtually abandoned the right of clog
Ing them again, when -he thought proper: and Oh
this point, The merits OF the rule OF 1856 have not
so lar as The undersigned can make out, the mo,t
distant bearing
ThiTdly-A il is intended to prove that the
United States have claim participate in the
colonial trade for ever, because the ports Of the
colonies were occasionally opened during the war,
Mr. Sal.atin describes the p, as Ina wing been o.
American I'rue bnt A
merican vessels only, or -pecifcsiIy. The por's
were open 10 the vessels OF all friendly powers.
he argument, therefore, to the special claim CT
the u"ned States, falls to the ground.
The truth, however IL, that under the words
" ght' and claim 80 frequently recurring in
this discussion, lies the real and Fundamental dife-
renee OF opinion betv cen Great Britain and the
United States, klch his frustrated all attempts
10 settle the disputed question OF colonial intrs-
course upon coaimon principles, by conventional
aTraus cmen'.
When it is COME dei Ina, the y" riehi'' by WHICH
Great Biitaa prohibits foreign countries ON trad
ing with her colonies, IS the same g right" with
that ny which slIe might, ii she thought fiji, prohi-
hit them from 'rAdng with herself, TINS areunen.
(Which Is employed by the United States aIonel
implies. ih,t lie special prohibition is grievance
10 he UUited States, if OF he same amount,
OF The SAME h"d as the general prohibition would
be.
This Is a doctrine which Great Britain explicitly
denies.
j; seems 10 he admitted, indeed, that there was
tlina when he distinction teiween colonial trade
and tie trade OF the mother country wa, ten BILE.
But II fa- been Assumed, in obscure terms on
The pa'' OF The u. s., that tie colonial system ia
now virtually and.
Great Britain denies this assumption
Whatever relaxation Great Britain NAV think
nj to Introduce for her own sake. ard for that lf
ler colonies thein-ei We, into her colonial system
she holds her II ShI'' TO EI,iniain that system.
~ with re pcci to ioreign Nations 10 be unallered
ana entire Great Britain, beie lore, cannot, cons
sent TO any diplomatic arrangement by which such
" right may appear 10 be relinquisbed, on by
"ihrh her assertion Of it can be understood to be
IN any degree qualified controlled
Hence the ImpractcabiIiIy (already so repeatedS
" pr0ved) OF any treaty upon this subject be-
tween Great Britain and the United States.
Hence the necessity for O., eat Britain of doing
whatever she means to do in b, way of relaxa-
ton OF her colonial monopoly, by acts OF her own
Legislation
This deduction trngs the Undersigned TO the
last point IN MIR Ga!latIn's note, and that on
which ~ Is most anxious tha; there should be no
misco"cepiioD between them.
Mr. Galstin speaks of " permanent exclu-
sion OF the United States Nv Grea, Britain, from
trade open TO the rest Of the world as a mea-
sure different IN character from general exciueiQn
% al icIeign nations.
El is this j.,I description Of :he eject Of lbs
act Of 1882
Considerations (of which Great B,hain alone Is
the l"dge) haze induced her to open her colooisl
trade 10 other nations. Size opened 1t TO Them,
not as q matter OF special .avour or Of special
celia M 70 my e, but on specific conditions
comuon TO 'ti nations " no n,,.nt think e. to
sub<cIibe TO them, ADD to the UnnsJ States among
the rest.
II some Of 'he nations Of the world have taken
advantage Of he opening thus offered 10 uem by
accepting the conditions annexed to n, and u here
have omitted 10 do 80, and If lhc United States
are, by 'ieir own cl!oice, the latter class, sure
Iy " i no. description pf the consequences
OF this, their own voluntary OMISSION 10 say tina.
the UG,ed States are " esci1dtd" by Great B.i,
tain irom trade shich. on The contrary GIcat
Britain In yited them sha g.
Exclusion OF foreigners from the colonial irafo
j. hs general principle OF lonis policy; adrnis-
sion 10 that trade Is the exception exception.
winch, IA Ills in-ancs, Great Britain was rillfng
TO grant 10 all hose who were resfy 10 purchase
u on terms cd equally to al.
The United States canuOi u,can 10 pui forward
the PfcenIon, hat what is g,anted 10 other 01l
terms, should be gfan,ed t. mean Internationally
II not, It seems difficult to imagine how they can
feel u 10 be unjas' or u1knd, Ga certainly is not
20 felt, OF intended, on be part oi this cOaDtr5N
that the United Sta'es having upon a free, and
(as IS knOYn from The public proceeding Of the
leCisistuYcl deliberate consideration, declined to-
subscribe tho Terms Oh which exception from
colonial r'phiiilrn was tcndered itnpsrtisHv 10
all nations, they should dud lhsmsrlve.. In COM
mon vi'h such of those nationsas have decided
Ike themselves, halle TO that exclusion, which IN
an always has been, the general b,inciple OF co.