Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-15
SELECTIONS.
IRON the No.foiI Hsreld.l
TIE COLONIAL TRADE.
No. XVII

opened to the vessels of the u. States, coming
directly from thence Into any of these ports,
such vessels were allowed 10 import from the y
States, certain enumeI sted articles of the growth
produce or manufacture of the u. States. From
any of these ports, such vessels we're allowed 20
export 10 the u States any article whatever arms
and naval stores excepted. But they were reCuir-
ed to give an export bond, for landing the same
| the pert Tor which they were entered. No ton
h'ge duties were imposed upon the vessels of the
u. D and no o her nr higher duties upon their car
goes (eiiher OF imports or sxpor,s) were exscted
fhan such as were pay able upon Btisl. vessels en-
gaged in the same trade.
By the Presidents proclamation all the ports OF
The U States were opened 10 British vessels COM
Ing directly from any Of the British ports opened
as Aforesaid. Into any of these ports of the u. s.
such vessels were allowed to import from any of
the said British port, any article OF the growth,
produce or manufacture OF any of the enumerated
Northern colonies OF Great Britain if such vessels
came from any OF those colonies; or of the British
West Indies, if they from thence From
any OF the ports of the u. States, such vessels
might export, to any OF the enumerated British
ports, any article whatever. But they were re-
CURED 10 give an export bond, for landing the
same at the port for which they were entered.
British vessels, however, and their cargoes, srriv
ing IN the United States, from any of the enume-
rated British ports, subject TO pay the discri-
mina,ing duties imposed upon all foreign vessels,
and their cargoes, not specially exempted ,bereron
BY Treaty.
Then the condition of the trade on either side
differed IN these two particulars only-F'irst, by
the British statute, any OF the enumerated arti-
ces. being OF the growth produce or manufacture
OF any po|s Of the United States, might be I'm.
ported in vessels of the u. States 10 anu of the
enumerated ports; while by the Presidents pro-
clama,ioD, British vessels coming here from the
Northern colonies OF 81 eat Britain, could import
The productions OF these colonies only; and those
coming from the West Indies, could import none
other than the productions of those islands. And
secondly, "ritish vessels employed in the permit
ted trade, aud their carsoes chargeable in the
ports OF the u. States with much higher duty
han vessels OF the u. States employed in the same
trade, and their caTgoes, were subjected 10 in the
enumerated British ports. Thus this much yexed
question was al last reduced 10 these TWO simple
propositions.
The first of these propositions, involved mat
Ter oil no great moment either side. II might
possibly be productive OF some little inc enience
TO both parties, occasionally, but the instances
would be very rare indeed. Because nothing bur
some casualty, would induce either to wish 10 en-
sage IN any trade circuitousiy, which might be car
ried on directly. And TO the last proposition,
the discussions which had taken place, seemed TO
have reduced that TO mere question of fact
For whatever doubt existed, as 10 the power of
then imposed upoa British vessels engaged in this
trade, none could doubt the power OF Congress TO
do so. And if the fact was, as Mr.. Canning sup
posed ii to be, that discriminating duties existed
on the part OF Great Britain, it seemed 10 have
been conceded, that such ought TO be suffer-
ed 10 remain on our part. Very confident expec-
taion entertained, therefore, that Legislation
would soon effect the satisfactory arrangement OF
difficult matter, which negotiation had in vain a
tempted TO adjust during 80 years.
In this state of things Congress met; and as the
relaxation OF the system oil restriction, effected by
the Presidsni's proclamation, would CEASE accord
ing 10 the terms of that proclamation, with the
session Of that body, during their session, on the
Let Of March. 1923, they passed act, entitled
a" An act to regulate the commercial intercourse
between the u. $. and certain British colonial
ports"O)
The general arrangement and phraseology Of this
act, seems 10 designate it, intended counter
part 10 the act OF Psrliament that had occasoned
lis enaction, and which was before Congress while
acting upon the subject. With some few necessa-
ry exceptions, the words used in both statutes
are the same auta!is nIutGRdis; aud every reader
who will compare the two, will think, az did the
majority OF those by whom it was passed, that it's
sole object was, to adopt recpTocsIly, on our
part, the same conditions, which Great Britain had
already adopted on hers, and SO TO close the con-
troveTsy.
And 20 it does apparently. Tor i, suspended
during The continuance of that act, 90 much Of the
previous acts Of April l8, 1913, and May Is,
1920, InterJicied the intercourse between the
United States and the British colonial ports emu
neraied in this act Of Parliament; and thus OPEN
ed this intercourse, on our part, as j. had been
pened by that statute on the part of Great Britain
II permitted any British vessel TO come directly
to the u. s., from aay Of the said enumerated
ports; and TO import any article Of the growth,
produce or manufacture q the said British colo
MES, the importation Of the like articles 10 which,
from e!setoheTe, was not, nor should not be, pro
hlbed by law, and which might be exported from
any of the sai9 enumerated ports, TO the United
States on equal terms, in vessels belonging the
United States. Thus removing The first OF The
distinctions drawn in The Presidents proclaim alion
between the Eorifefn and Southern colonies OF g.
Britain
II authorized british vessels, which had come
directly from any Of the enumeraed ports, to ex-
port from the u States, to any Of the said euume-
rated ports, any article of the growth produce or
manufacture Of the y. s., any other article le-
gally imported therein, the expectation Of which,
eiSetchere, should not be prohibited by law. bnl
requiring similar export bond, 10 be given. ia the
Of export by British vessel, 10 ha, required
by the act Of Parliament in the case OF export by
American vessel.
And il declared rha, on satisfactory proof being
given TO the President that no other or higher do
ties, or imposts, charges Of any kind, were le-
We'd or ezacted, in the enumerated British ports
upon vessels Of the u s., or their csrgoes, than
upon the British vessels the Ike cargoes, import
ed into the said ports, from eisct0here, the Pres-
denl might issue proclamation, declaring, that
other higher duties, oi impos's, or charges Of
any kind. should be levied or exacted in the ports
Of the u s. upon Bri'isb vessels, the like car.
goes imported inio the same, from the said enuma-