Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-04-17


If the object of this act Of Parliament 10 open
The ports of the British colonies in the Yves, Indcs
and IN America 10 the ressas of the United States,
upon terms OF reciprocity, it Ect wcil adapted 10
lis purpose.
In the 18th section Il is declared to De the intention
ana meaning OF the act that the privileges granted -
20 foreign ships and vessels shall be coufued TO the
sH's aud vessels OF such countries only as rive TIE bc
Prsrtfeses 10 British ships and vessels in their por in
America and the West Indies. And the King is author
Heo 10 issue MS Order in Council prohibiting trIde rrs
intercourse uh6er the authority of the act, il shall
appear 10 in that +.e privileges granted by his act TO
oFeiG shi and vessels, not Go,cca to itisI yes
se's 'aoing 10, and from, any such country or island
under the provisions of this act
Now, what The ;,rioilegcs GRANTED b mr., IN tho
vessels of the United States, That tber NAV b,nr nj;
recNy and not otherwise, from some part of The nj
u 1',es TO certain colonial ports, named in the act
't Parliament and Others certain articles az NOR
oahuise, specifically banned, aud none others. That
upon thelr arrival, OF all the articles which they are
PettHNted to bring they shall pay enormous duties
Upon ,na nertion which! Consists of the productions
"a 'he United States, consunabe in the colonies them
selves; and the only portion Which, in the results Of
trade, would be 10 The United States profit, able OK
port and 10 one part of tie colonies necessary import
hhu these duties are to be paid, while the British
vessels enioyits Ill ne prioilegcs granted I'm tais
acf possess tue additional and exclusive pryilere of
carrying TO the same West India Forts directly or
indirectly, tc same articles thus heavily CHARGED ,vto
Corning from the United States but free from ali ~1r
when carried from the colony North America 10 The
colony III tue Yves, Indies.
dmi cd 10
tie above privileges has the further privilege if She
can procure cargo TO return directly and not other
Tsc, To The United States; and Give bond upop pcn.
any, equal 10 half the value ofsad cargo for the
landing II ct the port ports for which entered: and
iHi r!"'rcg certificate thereof within twelve r,o,hs
ou, there is charge, not indeed imposed Jy this act
o' IRON which this act has not relieved them: that Of
payIn colonial export duty OLA or pcr cent aid W.
IoIein upon this return cargo To this charge Bri
tIsh vessels may also be LIABLE if their owners choose
20 ,nou IL Dull they prefer exporting their cargoes
~i.hunl paying any export duty, they free TO go
IL any part OF the British dominions in Europe or a.
nerc' They are not rcu ed give the ex port bond
ar the and:ns OF the articles the ror or rorts for
"nct en'e' ell, and for producing, within twelve
months a certificate thereof.
by the letter Of the act OF Parliament ie tho ,riyu
eyes granted 6y 10 the vessels of the United States
should appear to the King to Le 0ooed to British
vessels trading under the provisions of the act he may
/ by an Order in Council, Isis discretion ,,rohiL;,
f'GHe and Intercourse under the authority of lie act
The words, ''the privileges granted by this acfn are
explained by the context tho section to mean IEn
privileges to be allowed by the laws Of The United States
10 briiish vessels employed in the same trade
II an act of Congress had passed. admitting British
vessels coming from colonial Brti,h ports in Amer
Ca anu Tie w est Indies, to enter certain sneci. list
OF ports IN the United States selected at Tie plea
sure of Congress, and Others; if il had allowed
them TO bring in those vessels enumerated list Of
articles, iroIn which and u.olasses for exa,nnIe
should be excluded and ohes; if il had included
Tor example, sugar and coffee among the admissible
articles, bnt burdcned them with duties eouiyaIen. 70
he tx
upon tile same articles imported from esey here; il
II bad compelled the British! vessels so admitted J
they took return cargo TO give bonds for landing
Ii at the port ports in the British colonies for
which the vessel should clear OUT and if not bv the
act of Congress, but bv some law OF The State ro,,
which this privileged British vessel should depart an
eEport duty OF d or per cent ad yalUeu, should lie
levied upon this her cargo; then British vessels
III tie ports OF The United States would have been all
lowed IKE privileges with those granted by the act of
Parliament to vessels OF the United States in the
colonial parts. And so exactly like would they have
been, that, under such OF (onpress and sucl ,
grant of privileges British vessels the cnndit;ooaI
authority given by tie 18th section of the act OF Par
i'anen TO the Aug of prohibiting the trade and intel
course. would not have attached, according the let
ter OF the act, although IT might have appeare 10 His
Majesty thai 'the privileges granted IN, This n,t
not allowed 10 British vessels trading to, and from.
the United States, under IFS provisions.
The privileges Grnnted 6yHis nct could of course
be allowed only by tie authority from which il
cnanated; that is, by the British Parliament. Lille
privileges would have been much as | have now de.
scribed thai is, privileges subject like limitations
aud restrictions which, the hare position of them
here 81! show, wot'd have baea found TO ba Priy
leCc5 AZ all.
The act ofParamenl opened certain colonial poris
upon certain very conditions 10 vessels of the
United States. Ifthe United States had opcned their
ports to British vessels from tie colonies without con-
d:on or limitation, the privileges British vessels in
cur poris would have been in no wise like those OF
the vessels OF the United states IN the colonial ports
In point of fact, the privilege of the British vessels
would have been exclusive, and that OF tue American
vessels cEcilsion.
Immediately after receiving tie act OF Parliament
which opened certain ports Of tie British colonies in
the West Indies, and in America, to the vessels Of
the United States, the President exercising the au-
thory given him by anticipation in tie act OF Congress
o 9th May, 1922, issued his prOcaJuaoD opening the
ports of the United States, generally 10 British vessels
coming from any of the ports enumerated in the act of
Parliament. And, in this proclamation he gave the
most liberal construction, for the benefit Of British
vessels the of Congress which it founded
for by the laws Of tie United States, when the acf of
Congress passed, and until the proclamation Issued
fbe ports OF the United States were closed against
British vessels from any Of the British colonies in tine
West Indies or IN America; while, by tie British laws
the ports OF ST. John and Halifax, in New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia those Of Pert ST. George and Ham
ton IN The island OF Bermuda and the ports of the
Bahama Islands were opened to vessels Of tho United
States These porte therefore, the act Of Parliament
did not open 10 our vessels, and the proclamation bv
PcnDg the ports Of the United States to vessels cornr