Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-18

victim or n SLIGHT
From the United States Gasettc.l
THE HON. LOUIS McLANE AND THE BRI-
TISH WEST INDIA TRADING. Y.
We. have that Mr.. McLaue promised the
British government, that material provision of an
act of congress should be totally frustrated and
annuiled by an executive construction.
Upon these terms, Aberdeen yielded his slow
consent. Our ports first to be opened, with
out waiting for the satisfactory evidence which
the act required; and then he engaged the direct
trade should be opened-but what conditions?
The act of congress required that American YES
sells may import into those colonial ports from the
United States any article articles that can be i'm
ported in Il British vessel
But Lord Aberdeen and Mr.. McIane agreed, that
American vessels should not be allowed to do any
such thing; but that this should be construed to
mean that British vessels might carry any article
at all, but American vessels should be restricted
carry only american produce.
Lord Aberdeen also apprized NJ hclIano, as
parts ofthe arrangement that tLJre would be mod
ications in the schedule rc duties attached to the
act of parliament of 1915, with view more effcc-
tualy to support tie interests of the British North
| American coonIes.'
When tne news of this extraordinary arrange
mer.' reached this country, in September, 1880, a
demur took place, which it may be hoped was ow-
ing to the reluctance of the President to sanction
| such proceeding.
But the elections were pending in some of the
debateable states; the newspapers had raised
shout of the successful issue of the negotiation
IioSl was aIIoCted Oy interested
partisans, for the restoration of the West-India
trade, the humbug extensive, and seryiceable
10 mar all this chorus of triumph to repudiate
the miserable arrangement, and adhere to the re-
questions of the act of Congress- would have been
most notifying; and upon the elections, most dis
astrous.
1t was determined to maintain the delusion at
any cost, and the 9th of October the Presidents
proclamation was issued
The official paper of the administration has, with
in a few days, spoken fthis arrangement as hav-
ing met the unan imous appreciation ofthe senate.
The oditor probably believed that Mr.. M'Lane ac-
tualy negotiated treaty, which was regularly ra-
tilted by the senate The blunder is not
for many bold untruths were published rcspec-
ing the whole affair, that the nation generally
have had but confused knowledge of the trans.
action.
Unhappily the senate had no control over the
proceeding. There neither treaty, nor con.
vention, nor indeed any thing that deserved to be
called negotiation.
Mr.. M'Lane had written very long letters
to lord Aberdeen to which no sort Of answer was
returned. Then congress had passed an act which
of course superseded Mr.. M'Lano's instructions;
dispensed with his further efforts, and authorised
the presidents, by proclamation, open our ports
TO direct commerce with the British colonial ports
In case the British government should perform Ger.
tain specific, and plainly ineligible, condition.
Mr. McLane then, very ncedessly solicited the
British government to comply with the proposed
conditions. The British Secretary told him that
IT performing half of the conditions would answer
the purpose, his government disposed to do so.
Mr. McLane undertook to promise that such half
compliance would he considered sufficient and sat
isfactory; although the condition not complied
with was one upon which the United States had
always insisted.
| Such is the simple summary of the whole nego-
tom; and thus it to the president for his de-
termination, whether he would redeem the Off
cious pledge of Mr.. MsLane, and issue the
proclamation without the fulfilmcnt of a material
part OF the condition on which alone he author
lied to issue it.
| There be no doubt that he was bound in dutv.
and proPriety, to wait for the full performance of
the conditions which congress had chosen TO re-
quire.
forth, bearing upon its face paipabe and ,oiIfuL
FALsEHooD.
1t rectes and declares that he had received sat
lsfactory evidence, that whenever he shall give eff
!ect to the provisions of act of congress Great
Britain will open the colonial ports to the vessels of
the United States and her cargoes upon the terms
and according to the reputation of the aforesaid cf
NOW the President must have kno,on as did every
one else that had seen Lord Aberdeen's letter
which constituted the satisfactory evidence ~ IF
the intentions ofthe British government: that Great
britain was not going to open the colonial ports nd
ON the terms or according to the acquisitions of the
act OF congress, at all. The terms and reousitions
OF the act of congress, contemplated the opening of
thoSe ports to American vessels, with the same car
goes which British vessels could bring from the ITni
ted States.
to
such condition, and those ports were to be closed
against American vessels with assorted or mixed
cargoes, but were to be opened for British vessels
with such cargoes.
Nevertheless, President Jackson undertook To
open our ports by his procamationi so since
that tIme-in spite of the act of Congress- Bri
hsh vessel may be laden with mixed cargo in our
ports alongside Of American vessel which is
restricted to carry only American produoe,-and.
both sailing together to the opened ports,-tbe a
merlcan IS liable to be turned off or confscated
Tor carrying such goods the British vessels NAV
import with safety and with manifest advantare. !
mus have the consistency of our commercial |
policy and the dignity of our national character.
been trltied with and disrcgarded for the sake n
the private views of two individuals !
seeking higher Office and a Fictitious reputation.
such IS the disgraoeful issue Of this nn,sc,IIsj |
'ncgociation'-which began in slander-,vas nro |
'ccuted through servility and humiliatien-and has
ended IN bold violation Of truth-and a gross in
.uIt TO tho American people in an executive NULL
1cation Of the solemn act of their national 1orisIn
ure. s''i"
But what has been gained to the interests of
rade by all these sacrifces7 -
n few considerations on that subject remain to
&c Presen ed.
Editors OF newspapers in tho United States arc
elnested TO announce that SUSAN, only daughter
Mr. James Abel, of Northaunpton RnSI,nd AL