Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-05
7s6cseeasoseU aSg 655e.
TUESDAY MoRNlNe:. JANUARY !. laa1.
THE WEST INDIA TRADE


the West India ports, discoses las tho New York
American observes) what was the policy of England
in consenting to the arrangement The arrangement,
was sanctioned by the King in Council on Nov. s.
and order made Tin consequence cf our Presidents
Proclamation opening portso British vessels and
Ether cargoes coming from the West Indes) revokng
previous orders in Council imposing restrictions on
shipping of the States and authorship the mpor-
tuition direct into the British West Iudes, of the pro-
duce of the u States in ships OF the same and their
expectation of goods from the said Islands to any
foreign country whatever
On the 9Th November, Mr. Herries, President of
the Bora of Trade, introduced the subject before the
House of Cocapons TO the short speech of Mr.
Herries on that occasion, we beg leave to call the
readers attention, revealing clearly as it does the
views by which the British Government was actua-
tpd.
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Nov 3.
Trade 5etlceen the United States and the TTesL Ia.
da Charlottesville. Herries having moved that the
Speaker dc leave the Chair, The House resolved itself
into Committee of the whole House
MIR. Herries said that the subjects upon which the
House had resolved togo INTO Committee, were the
relations of foreign trade with the British West India
islands. and system of regulations upon the subject
founded upon the principles adopted by the British
Government and Legislature in 1926. lie should
have to submit to the 1ttention of the Committee
schedule framed, after mature elaboration, for the
protection of the mother country. and for the pro-
lection of her Colonies with reference 10 the imports
from foreign States into those COLONIAL possessions.
He need explain 10 the Committee, that the ar
rangements now effected had been fo long lime
pending between the United States of America.
which had prosecuted their intercourse with the COL
onio possessions of Great Britain This intercourse
was placed upon permanent basis by the close
of one of the longest and most interesting controYer
sizes which had ever occurred between two nations.
Phe adjustment had taken place upon the basis of
the Act of the British Legislature passed 1898:
Act which laid down definitively the principles
upon which this state would permit participation
by foreigners in that trade which By the admission
of all parties, it belonged exclusively to Grea Brit
ain to regulate From the conclusion of the last
war Great Britain had endeavornd to efFecr by ne
gotiaton and international agreement of the pr incl
Piles upon which the intercourse should be conducted
and necessarily attempts had been made 10 achieve
this object, but always unfructuously. By "a Rob-
nsAct, free passage was given for commercial
intercourse between the United States of North
America and the British WEST Inda Islands. That
Act heyever, not passed solely for the pul5t15s
of trade with the u. States, buI for trade with
America in general. America had entirely and un
conditicnaliy withdrawn all her pretensons, and En-
gland stood upon the footing which she lie
gisated upon this subject in 325, and to which she
had declared her determination TO adhere But he
should not do justice the American Government
if he did not state that 1t impossible for any par
ty to Rave conducted negotiation, involving such
important interests, friendly, civil, straight
saw in more wise and prudent manner (Hear
'Phe measure of suspendlng the intercourse of the
Colonies with the United States must have tendency
to create new channels of trade interests in the
Colonial trade, and to up classes of claim
ants the future distribution of the protecting duties
It necessary to repair former and to
let the North American Colonies stand in that posi-
tion in which they might have stood before the Act
of 1925 In forming this schedule 1t necessary
to look to the North American Colonies, and if such
arrangements injured other interests those interests
had been created solely by rejecting the principle Of
the Act of 1926, which the United States
knowledged tolbe Just. The schedule of duties for
protecting the Colonies was entirely in our pow
er and might be varied suit the interests of this
country It had been necessary impress this for
chilly upon the American Government to prevent any
future plant, and objection had been made
the principle, america had always raised or lowered
her duties as she thought proper 'rh object oftbe
schedule was to give encouragement to n supply
ofthe West India Islands by the North American
Colonies of Great Britain, instead of by the United
States OF America, or by any other country. This
was to be done by a perfect freedom of trades be-
tween the colonies. 1t would be necessary also
take eff duties ships of foreign countries arriving
IN the ports of the North American Colonies. and
which had been levied to the present time a duty
had existed 10 the present upon American ships
it having been the policy of England to encourage
circuitous trade, but noV the object to create
direct trade, and every obstruction of this nature
ought to be removed. Flour md grain had never
yet passed 10 the West Indies from the North Amer
any superhuous quantity for the supply of the Islands
In all those articles in which the North American
Colonies did not require support the utmost freedom
oftrade was to be conceded TO the United States.
Where the duty had been Is, or 600 stayes it was
proposed to fix at los 6s. all cases of direct i'm
portaion from the United States. In ali probability
the West Indies would continue to be supplied by our
North American Colonies, terms as reason
able as could be expected. The mode In which he
proposed to proceed to lay before the Commit
a printed Schedules showing the present and the pro-
posed duties; the subject would thus be placed fairly
before the House, and Hon Members would be in a
situation to come to conclusion upon it. tc
considered that free intercourse would be produc-
tive Of great advantage all parties. lie trusted that
there would be no objection to receiving the sche
dule now, the rather asst would be explained by COM
paTatlve tables, add opportunity should be afforded to
conslGer the effect Of the proposed regulations pre-
vIously 10 bringing up'the report on Thursday. TIE
Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving a rcso-
luton to the eitect:-Tbat it the opinion cf the
Committee, that in lieu Of the duties now PAYABLE the
following duties contained in the scedue) be levied
on articles not the manufacture Of the United KING
L 10. IL T1.-s, ~,