Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-13
congressional.
GENERAL SMITHS SPEECH

Il.
Delivered the Senate OF the uuied States, Feb 81, 1927
Mr.. PREsIDENT:
I believe that every member of the Senate
desires that the Colonial Trade of Great Britain
with the United States shall be open on terms OF
mutual interest. and fair reciprocity. We require
particular advantage.
We had it ia power to have had tina. trade
an those terms, had met wrh frankne.s the
liberal terms offered hy Great Britain in her act
Of the 9Th July, 1925. We did not;and in con-
sequence, an Order Of Council, dated the 9th
lay OF July lasr, Issued. deprvmg II. OF the trade
30 any OF the colonies possessions abb DAD. ex-
eept the Eas, Indies, which was secured TO US by
the Convention sl London.
The President submitted the whole slliec, Tn
Congress, and had hprej that a bill, formed in
spirit OF Cancellation, would have been presented
tor consideration. thiak the bill before ~ is
not OF that character. On my first reading of il.
thoaghr rather flvofably f it. Though, some
amendments might be made to II, which mem
TONED 10 the Chairman, Mr. Johnsron,) and
meant to have coutented myself with them. But
on more close and critical examination, found
that il would not answer The objsct professed-
that of cOnciiiaii0Ii. That, if presenteA in its
present form the British ministry, j, would
probably be ms anly rejected and the trade would
be lost, perhaps for At least thought il
probable that would be its fate. therefore de
termined to present substitute, which would be
variety OF amendments; and | now move to
s'r ke all the bill after the eaacias clause and
- insert two sections Which aoN submit.
Here the amendment was read
In. PREsIpENT:-BeforeI Lake more rar,
,icG!ar view of the bill and report, ask leave TO
present brss history OF this important branch OF
commerce.
EARLY. think, in the FIST " secoad Congress-,
dlty was impo-ed, b. law, foreign vessels en-
tering the ports Of the United States of % cents
per ton more than imposed on orr own YES
oels. and 10 per cent. additional, the duties on
goods imported ia them: and those are what are
ienominated discriminating dnfies. The conse-
qlence was. most rapid increa.e of orr naviga-
lion. So much so. that in the short term of two
or three years, vessels were thought sufficient
for the transportation OF our own produce, and
the importation of all we required from abroad
The British government, always alive to eyerv
thing that sfact their navigation, were alarmed
al its operation. They saw the great advantages
which must necessarily arise from the law TO our
navigation, and the conseqIsnt inj4ry to theirs
A large committee Of Parliament was raissd-anJ
they made report which saw. 1t concluded
with recommending forbesrance for the present
and presumed that some favora5le Opportunity
might offer, that would enable lnrm 10 parry the
blow, or 10 remedy the injury in some peacesble
manner. An opportunity did offer, when Mr.
Jay made his treaty. They embraced il. Tha,
treaty comedies to Great Britain the right of re-
tsiisiion and it agreed that our vessels should
entering the ports of Great Britain, pay a duty
equal to 81 cents per ton, on vessels and on
the goods imported in them additional duty of
10 per cent. on The duties imposed by her laws
all except tobacco, which was subjected TO A
duty Of Is pence sterling the 100 pounds The
consequence was, that it secured to them the car
rFing of all the tobacco and cotton of the United
States, so tar as necessary for the consump-
ton of Great Britain or her foreign commerce.
and gave her a decided advantage in the CARRYING
OF all the other exports of the United States, ne
cessary to her consumption. II Mr.. Jay had IN -
derstood the subject, it would have been much bet
Ter to have agreed to the repeal Of OUT Giscrimi-
mating duties, in favor of Great Britsin; for, at
that time, we could have entered into fair COM
petition, on equal terms, in the carrying trade.
England being then engaged ia war, aud for
some years after, the operation Of her retaliation
was not felt by US. But, Mr.. President, was
aware OF the consequence. whenever Great Britain
should be al peace; and made a detailed report
10 me House Of Representatives, in 1901 or 1902
and proposed repeal Of our discriminating duties
90 all nations who would admit our vessels into
their ports on equal terms with their own failed
that time, because Of the Opposition of PhiladeI-
phis, New York, and all the Elst The treaty OF
Amiens opened the eyes OF the Eastern merchants
British stnps obtained freight Of cotton at CHARLES.
ton, when American chips could not get a bag on
freight. The fact WIS., that it was nearly az good
Tor the planter TO pay the freight 10 Blush ship
az To have II carried ia an American vessel for
nothing. The Consequence was, that when ~.
ltodocei the bill relative TO The discriminating du-
ties in 1870 it passed without opposition
Ny opinion bas been, that we have never gained
nuch by cur negotiation with Great Bri,ain and,
- one proof, have sabtnuei the preceding OBJ
sefyaiiOns
remember well lhst our New England friends
we're wfoih, very wfofh, indeed because q, hen
Independent Of Gfss Britain, she you'd no, per
NIT u TO have al the advantages in her commerce.
tha' we had enjoyed when her subjects. Although
4 wssa foercbsnt, and should have been glad 10
Rave BAD ;hep, J., coila re; PEI csivs ,hst had