Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-16

The frst oil those two principles is so strongly
recommended TO all nations, by considerations OF
policy as well as justice, that il will command, at
least in the abstract the assent OF most, as soon as
il is announced. Nations are equal. common MEM
bers of an universal family. Why should there
be any inequality between them. in their CONNER
eial intercourse. Why should enc grant favors to
another, which il withholds from third. All such
partial iavors liable 60 excite i-alousies and in
the end, arc counter balanced or punished by the
injured powers. The principle now proposed does
not preclude those particular arrangements which
are founded upon real and just equiv aents, inde-
pendent of mere commercial reciprocity, by which
certain advantages are granted to particular pow
cr; but il is wiser even TO avoid these much az
possible. II the principle be correct in its univer-
sal application, il inust be allowed 10 be particulars
ly adapted to the condition and circumstances OF
the American powers. The United States have
had no difficulty in treating, on that principle,
with the Republics OF Colombia and Central A
merica and il is accordingly inserted in the rea-
ties which have been made with both those pow
ers. Other of the American nations are believed
to have a disposition TO adoptit. The United Mex
lean States alone have opposed ii, and in their ne
gotiaions with us have brought forward the mad
Missile exception from, it's operation. OF those A
merican States which have Spanish origin, in
whose behalf Mexico insists upon being allowed
10 grant commercial favors which she may refuse
to the United States. OF the view which we en-
terrain of such an exception, you will be able 10
possess yourselves, by perusing despatch from,
this Office to Mr.. Poinsett, under date the 9Th day
OF November, 1925, copy o! which is herewith.
He has been instructed obreak off the negotia-
tons, il, contrary to expectation, the Mexican
Government should persistin the exception. What
renders it more extraordinary is, that, whilst they
pretend that there has been something like such
an understanding between the new Republics, no
such exception was insisted upon by either Co'om-
bia or the Central Republic 1t was not even mem
toned during the late negotiation here, which ter
minated in the treaty with the latter power. Whe-
Their il was adverted to or not, in that which was
conducted by Mr.. Anderson with Colombia, he
will recolect. We can consent to no such excep-
ton. You will resist it in every form, IL it be
brought forward; and you will subscribe to no
treaty which shall admit it. We are not yet in
formed whether Mexico has abandoned the ex-
ception, and concluded with Mr.. Poinsett COM
mercial treaty, or has persevered in it, and broker
off the negotiation. The basis of the most favored
nation leaves the party, who treats on it free 10
prohibit what foreign produce and manufactures
he pleases, and TO impose on such as may be ad-
nittedint his ports any duties which his policy or
his interests may require. The principle only en-
joins impartialty to the foreign powers 10 whom
it is applied, and consequently that his prohibitions
and his duties. whatever they may be, shall equal
iy extend TO the produce and manufactures of all
OF them. If a nation has already contracted en-
gsgements with another power, by which il has
granted commercial favors, iuconvenent or iaju-
rous to itself, il may be contrary TO its interest
the United States have made no such improyident
concessions TO any particular foreign power, nor
have any Of the other American States, as far as
we know. The time and the theatre therefore,
propositions Tor the adoption of broad and lib.
erai commercial principle, which, by dispensing
equal favor to all, deprives every OF any just
cause Of complaint.
2. To the other leading principle which has
been stated, that of allowing the importation nto
or the expectation from, the ports ofany American
nation, in the vessels of every other, of all produce
and manufactures, the introduction or expectation
of which is admitted by law, both the native and
the foreign vessel and the cargo paying the same
duties and charges, aud no other, the President
attaches the greatest importance. You will press
it, in your conferences, with an earnestness and
zeal proportonate to its high value, and to the IL
beraty in which it is conceived. Its reciprocity
is perfect; aud, when it comes to be adopted
by all nations we can scarcely see any thing be-
yond IL in the way OF improvement to the freedom
and interests OF their mutual navigation. The de-
vices of maritime nations have been various to
augment their marine, at the expense of other
powers When there has been passive acquies-
cence 10 the operation of those devices, without
any resort to countervailing regulation, their
cess has been somstmes very great. But nations
now too enlightened TO submit quietly TO the
selfish efforts Of any one power to engross, by Its
own separate Legislation, disproportionate share
of navig alton in their mutual intercourse. Those
efforts are now met by opposite efforts; restriction
begets restriction, until the discovery is at last
made, after long train OF veSatious and irritating
acts and manoeiivres, both sides, that the
of selfish Legislation ultimately does not affect the
distribution of maritime power, whistit is attend
ed with the certain evil of putting nations into an
i'll humour with each other. Experience at last
teaches that, in every view, it is better 70 begin
and TO continue in the career OF iiberality, than
in that of narrow and restricted policy, since
the most that can be said against the former, is,
that It only conducts TO the same end, without,
however, the unpleasant incidents 10 which the
other finally but inevitably leads. There is sim
plicity in the principle Of reciprocal liberty Of na
vigation, which confers on il a strong recommen-
dation. Il renders unnecessary all difficult and
vexaiious SCRUTINY into the origin of the contents
of "A mixed cargo. Ii dispenses with all penalties
and forietures, denounced for what is often both
an ignorant and innocent violation of Custom
house law, in the introduction, perhaps, of sim
gle interdicted article of small value, which is
made, by arbitrary regulation, to faint the whole
cargo Of immense value. 1t sets up a rule at
once plain and inlegible. II refers the foreign
err for what he may lawfully DO, to an observation
Of that which the native actually does II opens
every American port TO every American vessel,
on the same equal terms, no matter in what dis
tant sea her enterprise may have sought and earn
ed the riches with which she is laden. This prin-
ciple Of reciprocal freedom Of navigation, ike that
OF the most favored nation, leaves every State,
which adopts il, at liberty to impose such tonnage
uu,es as i's necessities OF poicy may utcta'e. ~
only holds out that whatever may be imposed shall
extend alike 70 the nationa and the foreign vessel
and also that the cargo whether of importation or
expectation, shall be charged with the same duties,
whoever may be the proprietor, or 10 whatever
vesselit may be laden. Perhaps il may be propos.
ed to agree TO the imposition of precisely the same
rate Of duties, on vessel and cargo, in all the ports
Of the American nations. Bot that would be in
admissible. II would subject each State to incon-
venient restrictions on its power Of taxation, in.
stead of leaving it free, as is best for EACH TO con-
suit the circumstances of its own peculiar posi-
ton, its habits, its constitution of government, the