Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-10-22
ypWHITT0AE


1t frequently necessary for the friends of the admins
raiOn To back TO first elements, and TO demonstrate
anew the pla'nest propositions. The same men, who
supported and vndcaed Mr.. Adams, in q large ex-
peDdure of public money made for the purpose of
gaining this siradc who pofessed Implicit confidence
in the s,aiesman.hip OF Mr.. CLAY. when he in
in tfuc'ing iri ter al ST James pesevere against
every Encouragement, aud indigDi,y, and to impor-
tune the British Court for the opening Of negotiations
which they had declared closed and
who have abored for two three years 10 redeem the
character OF the last administration from the reproacfr
oil having lost u, all the advantages OF the direct in
tercourse-are contending that is fully to re-
gain it, that it is better lost than won, and that all the
efforts OF Messrs Adams and Clay. and GallaD, (ex~
pensye as they and rui,les TO achieve this ve-
y object from sheer ignorance OF the true
interests OF the country We are required IN these
days OF new political philosophy TO shew why il not
better TO carry our produce to market through cir~
cuous and expensive route, than by direct and cheap
one;to prove that laws not necessary 10 instruct
our merchants in the best of trade and the most
profitable mode of carrying business,-and are
asked why laws procams,ions ana orders 10 councifs
are not required TO prevent American vessels from
lining their owners in the direct trade when the circuit
Gus one, much preferably this sect Of econo-
mists, Is open 10 them before. When the alphabet
OF commerce has been rehearsed TO them again, and
they have been made to understand that the saving of
labor Of time and of expense, is actually benefit to
the community, met by appeals 10 pride, aud
told how undgnihed il is accept of any relaxation OF
Colonial laws as JorOr, when il was demanded by
the preceding administration right, and are lee
tured upon the prophecies Of national character This
appeal is not fortunate than any of the Others.
ana comes with very III grace from those who sup
ported Mr.. Adams. Ii is on record, that Mr.. Adams
and Mr. Clay, abandoned every preence of right"
and that they actually solicited and refused the
terms which have now been obtained This solicta-
ton was, notwithstanding the rebuffs which minis
ter received, repeated under circumstances. which
placed our Secretary OF State in very humliang situ-
alton The circumstances they appear in the
respondence now before u.s. are snmmarly these, ard
they should close The mouths Of Mr. Clay's partzan5
against national pride in this matter.
The act OF Parliament OF 1925, as is well known,
in this country. was contemplated by the terms Of the
British act The administration having reelected TO in
teres Themselves in the matter, bill was introduced
on the 18th April of the next year, OS26) by General
Smith of Maryland for the purpose OF meeting the Bril-
fish offer and repeating the discriminating duties This
bill was laid on the table, nj the instance OF the Pres
dent, having been stated in debate, that negotiations
were pending and that the adminstIa preferred that
The fact 10, that egociaons were not pend
ing; they had been closed by the British government,
with resolution, that the whole matter should be set
tied by distinct acts independent legislation, of which
the act OF Paramsn mt referred to, the leading one
upon the British side The alusions to the state Of the
negotiations at that me Gin ls25-G) contained in Mr.
Galatians note to Mr. Canning, dated December 2s'h.
1876, aud Mr.. Cabnng's reply, dated January 9Th,
1897 shew that egociaons not actually pending
between the countries at the time, and that the British
government entirely disclaimed the idea.
Mr., Galatin says
THE proposals made by both parties during the me-
gocatons 10 the year 1924 were avowedly founded ia
together Unable still TO agree upon points,
II was concluded to suspend the ueeociation with a
distinct understanding thatit should be again renetoeG
al some convenient day."
To this poIt ton of Mr.. Gaatins note Mr. Canning
replied thus
"Ths undersigned is at loss 10 understand on what
ground il was assumed at Washington, that there
would be at all times undated position the part
Of the British Government, TO make the trade of it's
West India Islands the subject OF diplomatic arrange
ment"
Thus il seems. according TO Ministers statements
that the negotiations had been suspended in 1924 to be
tesuned at some convenien nj day They had no, been
/ a he tins hon heh ointro
duced into the Senate They not in fact resumed
until Mr. Gallan sent out in the latter part of that
year; and nearly three afterwards when Mr. Gall
attn undertook TO resume them. he informed by
the British Secretary that the British Government was
sat loss to understand" his claiming 10 open
the negotiation again
In point of fact therefore there were no gociatons
pending, and the failure OF Congress to meet the Br-
ti'h offer Of 1925, the act Of the Executive de.
feang the intention of Congress by p omsng ne gocia
tons which did not exist, and which were po5tpon-
ed 10 a very remote period and then failed.
When. however, negotiations were in fact opeped
by Mr.. Gallatn in 1927 these facts were adduced by
the British dplomass evidence that the American
Government had declined, or rejected the offer, and
Mr.. Clay was put TO very considerable difficulty in ex
planning through Mr.. GalIatin the reasons for his me-
gect OF the offer in the Of which explanations,
the American Cabinet made very sorry figure. A
moDg other things Mr. Clay confessed that he had been
deceived in his idea that ne gotations pending and
that il was 'misconce pton'
The last note addressed by Mr.. Canning 10 Mr.. GAL
atiu this subject, summed ZIP the chief points Of
difference and contained the following sgnifcao para
graph:
"The undersigned believes that he has now fouct adj
on every topic in the last note addressed TO him by Mr.
Gallatin TO which he has not had occasion advert In
former stages Of their correspondence.
'He t0W not GHOtO himself to he drawn again into
decision OF topics already than sufficiently de-
baed."
II after this intimation had been transmited to
Mr.. Clay that he wrote his elaborate Dispatch aban.
doning all bis pre,ensOns, Isborng TO his me-
glect Of the act Of 25 in every manner possible and
pressing the British Government to grant to again,
the terms of that act AZ that time, Mr. Canning was
no longer Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the sub
stance Of this dispatch communicated to his success
sor Lord Dudley, by Mr.. Glllan, the l7,h day Of
August 1927
In that dispatch Mr. Clay consents 10 the British
mode OF lega,ion in preference TO that of negotiation
upon which he Rad previously insisted After recount.
ing OF the advantages aud Disadvantages Of these
modes of arrangements he concludes thus!
"Under the influence OF these considerations the
government Of the United States dcqIeses in the de-
cision which bss been sken by the British Govern.
men, n the Colonial Trade shall be regulated onl
by law"
He attributes the neglect Of tbs American Govern
aent 10 accept the offers Of the act OF '25, 6rs 10 the
expectations Of negotiation, secondly to want Of time,
thirdly 70 want Of precision in the terms Of the act
making IL difficult ascertain precisely the terms offer.
ed and lastly 10 belief that the ilish Government
had either exempted intended TO exempt the United
States from the operation Of the restriction All the
reasons are taken up 10y the British Minister'S and
shewn forth iu light in which every American should
regret 10 exhibited The official papers Of the chief
unctionsres Of his government His regret, too
must be increased from the consciousness that they de.
served It all