Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-08

I'll During all that time. the Ct',eu
bnth under the confederation, anu uhuer 'he
cent government, have demanded as mater VI
right. due to national comfy, that t'tie So
,,ssen these colonies and the Cn'ted ota..'
should be regulated by treaty. anu PetMans n;n,
settled between the two nations i,a' ' -,
been Welded by Great Britain: mas 10.
been made? No; but The Secretaryo' ia 60 t.aIo
for us, welded the right TO demand II. ne s,,,ars
10 fHr.ad - NV her own laws: and we have agreed
~ raos;ye az a boon, what is in reality favor
oranteJ to her. Before this concession, the pr
s;ph IVast India colonies consumed quite as great
or,nt;tv Of the products of our country d
'her can have done since. The commerce was as
Great though not direct; the Navigation was .N
cIusiyely ours; and if the indirect uahspo' '"t""
,yas mare costly. it was because II gave 'ho'e .,
nloyment to our own tonnage, and oeihS Pa'u W
rthose colonies. was a real benefit to our na'isa-
,;nm For much Of the proceeds OF our exports
wore received in specie, and employed 10 pu'-
chase carooes at New Orleans; and the trade was
fins by its indirectness not made onerous u Us
as it was to them.
WHAT then have we gained by the restoration
s th;s trader Our vessels can carry nothing To
tho West India Colonies under this restoration
which cannot he carried thther IN British vessels;
bnt in the indirect trade much reached those CO.
Ionies. transported. nearly to them, ny our own
vessels which cannot be admitted INTO them no"
even in British vessels. The restored commerce
IS. therefore, so much less than the commerce,
given up in exchange for it, How does It ahect
our navigation? Commercial men nave toid me-
that already one third of the transportation OF our
own productions is done by British tonnage
This was to be expected. For British vessels
freighted from Liverpool to New York. be'ns
compelled to 90 to the West Indies Tor freight
home. will take carsoes OF American produce OH
freight to those countries at cheaper rate than
aur yesse,s can afford to do it. If this does not
secure the whole transportation to British tom
mare. the other parts of the arrangement certain
" will effect this II was agreed, that the Brl-
fish Government should, whenever they might
choose to do so. lay an impost duty on all pro-
ducts of our country. when imported directly
from the United States, into these West India
colonies; and, at the same time, exempt the same
products from such impOsts, II imported from
| her colonies on this continent. So soon as this
,mpost shall have been laid on the products OF
the United States, they cannot reach the West
India Colonies in American vessels; because the
duty will compel them to be transported th;ther,
from the colonies on the continent. We may
chance to carry part of them, in competition
with the British to these colonies; but our YES
sells cannot carry freights, thence, to the west
India colonies. Transportation between colony
and colony, is part of her coastiDg trade, which
Great Britain will no sooner relinquish, than we
shall relinquish to foreigners, our coastlng trade
between one state and another.
In this arrangement for this restoration OF the
West India trade, the agreement on the part Of
Great Britain, not to impose any other, or higher
| H.. hon m
West India Colonies, in American, than 1t import
ed in British vessels did not extend, as they un-
derstood it, to their Colonies on this continent
They will accordingly. place an impost duty on
all such produce, imported into those colonies,
in our vessels; and thereby transfer all our COM
merce, with all these colonies, whether island or
continental, from our navigation, which had the
whole transportation of under the indirect trade
| to British navigation. which will have the whole
snder this triumphant restoration. This is eract
IN what the British Politicians have claimed, as
matter of right, ever since the first moment OF
our independence; and it is what all patriots of
of the United States, since the Revolution, have
refused to yield, until Mr.. Van Buren,, in man
ncr .sfhe most frank and friendly" to Great Brit
ain, did by the agency of Mr.. outs McLane. re-
quest and receive the privilege of surrendering
up this right of transporting own products in
the use and encouragement of British tonnage.
It is, THEREFORE. manifest, that although, when the
West India trade was lost as it has been often al
lodged by the late administration, we had and en-
ioyed both the commerce and the navigation; yet
now, when it has, under the auspices of Mr. Van
Buren,, been restored, we may hold some part Of
the commerce, but must lose the whole navi-
CATION. No matter if it destroy the mercantile
rights of the people; it subserved the purpose of
the Secretary. The report OF this great restora-
ton, reached this country on the eve of import
ant elections; and, that it might seasonaby arrive
at the most distant point of operation, was at the
noon of Sunday, and the hour Of intermtted de-
vo,ion. officially announced from the cabinet at
Washington. The long shadow of this glory of
our diplomacy reached Main, and effected that
object; but Maryland was too near the scene of
this plot, 70 he deceived and therefore she nobly
performed her duty to the nation.
We should have less cause of modification.
had our rights been surrendered with spirit, less
subservient to England, and in a manner, not |
quite so PROSTATE. Money might have been sacr-
feed, and the thing forgotten. but that the upright
enuhlican enirif nf America ubich lilo William /