The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-12-10

lciples of liberal intercourse and OF fair re-
ciprocity which intertwine with the ex-
changes of commerce, the principles of JUS
tice, and the feelings of mutual benevo-
lence. This system, first proclaimed to the
world in the first commercial Treaty ever
concluded by the United States, that of 9th
February, HIS, with France, has been in
variably the cherished policy of our Union.
1t is by treaties of commerce alone that 1t
can be made ultimately to prevail as the
established system of all civilized nations.
With this principle our fathers extended
the hand of friendship to every nation OF
the globe, and to this policy our country
has ever since adhered whatever of regula-
ton in our laws has ever been adopted I'M
favorable to the interest of any foreign ma
ton, has been essentially defensive and
counteracting to similar regulations OF
theirs operating against US.
Immediately after the close of the war of in
dependence, Commissioners were appointed by
the Congress of the Confederation, authorized
to conclude treaties with every nation OF Eu-
rope disposed to adopt them. Before the
wars of the French revolution, such treaties
had been consummated with tho United Meth
erlands, Sweden, and Prussia. During those
wars, treaties with Great Britain and Spain
had been effected, and those with Prussia
cessons to the liberal principles of intercourse
proposed by the United States had been obtain
ed /; but as, in all the negotiations, they came
occasionally in collision with previous internal
regulations, or exclusive and excluding COM
pacts of monopoly, with which the other
parties had been trarnmelled, the advances made
in them towards the freedom OF trade were par
tial and imperfect. Colonial establishments,
chartered companies, and ship building intiu-
Jad and
OF all the great commercial States; and the
United States, in offering free trade and equal
privilege to all, were compelled to acquiesce in
! many exceptions with each of the parties TO
their treaties, accommodated to their existing
laws and anterior engagements.
The colonial system by which this whole
hemisphere was bound has fallen into ruins.
Totally abolished by revolutions, converting
colonies into independent nations, throughout
the two American Continents, excepting por-
ton of territory chiefly at the northern extrem-
ity of our owa, and confined to the remnants of
dominion retained by Great Britain over the in
sular Archipelago, geographically the append
ages of our part ofthe globe. With all the rest
we have free trade-even with the insular colo
MES of all the European nations, except Great
Britain. Her Government also had manifested
approaches to the adoption of free and liberal
intercourse between her colonies and other ma
tions, though, by sudden and scarcely explain
ed revulson, the spirit of exclusion has been re-
vived for operations upon the United States
alone.
The conclusion of our last Treaty of Peace
with Great Britain was shortly afterwards fol-
lowed by Commercial Convention placing the
direct intercourse between the two countries
on a footing Of more equal reciprocity than had
ever before been admitted. The same principle
has since been much farther extended by Treat
les with France, Sweden, Denmark, the Han
seattle Cities, Prussia, in Europe, and with the
Republics of Colombia, and of Central Ameri-
ca, in this hemisphere. The mutual abolition
of discriminating duties and charges, upon the
navigation and commercial intercourse between
the parties is the general maxim which charac-
terizes them all. There is reason to expect that
it will, at no distant period be adopted by other
nations both of Europe and America, and 10
hope that by its universal prevalence, one of
the fruitful sources of wars of commercial COM
petition will be extinguished.
Among the nations upon whose Governments
many ofour fellow citizens have had long pend
ing claims of indemnity for depredations upon
their property during period when the rights
Of neutral commerce were dlsregarded was that
of Denmark. They were, soon after the events
occurred, the subject of special mission from
the United States, at the close of which the
assurance was given by his Danish Majesty
that, at period Of more tranquility, and of less
distress, they would be considered, examined
and decided upon, in spirit of determined pur-
pose for the dispensation of justice have
much pleasure in informing Congress, that the
fulfilment of this honorable promise is now in
progress; that a small portion Of the claims has
already been settled to the satisfaction of the
claimants and that we have reason to hope
that the remainder will shortly be placed in
train of equitable adjustment. This result has
always been confidently expected from the
character of personal integrity and of benevo-
lence which the Sovereign of the Danish Do
minions has, through every vicissitude of for
tune, maintained.
The general aspect of the affairs of our
neighboring American Nations OF the South has
been rather of approaching than of settled tran
quillity. Internal disturbances have been more
frequent among them than their common friends
would have desired Our intercourse with all
has continued to be that of friendship and of
mutual good will Treaties of Commerce and
of Boundaries with the United Mexican States
have been negotiated, but, from various success
sive obstacles, not yet brought to final con-
cluson. The civil war which unfortunately
still prevails in the Republic of Central Ameri-
ca, has been unpropitious to the cultivation of
our commercial relations with them and the
dissentions and revolutionary changes in the
Republics of Colombia and of Peru, have been
seen with cordial regret by us, who would glad
iy contribute to the happiness of both. 1t is
with great satisfaction, however, that we have
witnessed the recent conclusion of Peace be-
tween the Governments of Buenos Ayres and
of Brazil and it is equally gratifying to observe
that indemnity has been obtained for some Of
| the injuries which our fellow citizens had sus-
tanned in the latter of those countries. The
rest are in a train Of negotiation, which we
hope may terminate to mutual satisfaction, and
that 1t may be succeeded by Treaty of Com
merce and Navigation upon liberal principles,
propitious TO a great and growing commerce,
already important to the interests of our coun-
try.
The condition and prospects of the Revenue
are more favorable than our most sanguine ex-