Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-15


which it is well known, there exists great diversity Of
opinion among citizens, but respect 10 which
stpua'ions can be made with foreign power, at least
without reciprocal engagements the part oil such
power-engagements into which there is no reason to
Relieve that the Government of Great Britain would at
this time enter. IT, by the imposition OF those duties,
the United States the production OF the
articles at home, It'll their right and their duty to per-
severe IL not the principal burthen falls upon their
own citizens and consequently furnishes OF
complaint OH the part Of others
III the encouragement, by Great Britain, Of her
North American possessions in the grow and pro-
duction OF similar articles TO In rae which " supply h
West India colonies Is the motive, tn. obi cton no
less obvious To that end, the present government
now exercises. without plant or obi sciion cur
part. the common ght OF imro-ing higher duties on
articles which not, than those which ara, the
grcwth or produce OF the North American possession
and in doing so, she exercises to the full the right
eeded to all nations OF encouraging home productions,
by the imposition Of protecting duties The exclusion
OF one natl IN from the privilege al Bringing no the
ports Of another articles that in competition with
home productions, whilst their introduction IL conced
cd to The rest OF the world Ia which cannot
ind lite jusibc rion in any principle applicable to the
protective system. IT, however the President should
De appointed in his expectations founded on these
aud her spending views tho subject, he wish
Is you to ask request which he IL confident will b"
readily gran ed that you may be favored with
| ~ and d, finite TO the propositions you
hori.ed to submit. He makes this appeal to the
|ior OF the Bi.h government that he may be enabled
the event alluded toy to lay before Congress at the
commencement OF the next session. the result Of this
overture. the end that that portion of the capital and
|enorprse of our country which is now waiting the de-
|csion oil tue question may seek other channels of
Ip'oyment
Should your advance. be met in the spirit ia which
hey arc offered will become important to consider
'f the form in which the proposed sdus,me mt ought
10 be made.
This Government has heretofore srenuously con.
Tended Tor arrangement by treaty. and that OF Great
Britain has strenuousy opposed any other mode
fhat OF separate legislation The President is willing
70 adopt either mode IL the views Of the British Go.
|vernmen are now diffsrsntiu thatrespect and
ransement by treaty be acceptable. you authorised
TO copc'uds upn the principles Of these instruction,
In that event. thc Prssd'pt reii's upon your known
d'scretion and intelligence, that tho articles to which
you agree sha be In such form will carry toto full
and fair effect the view. Of this Government as now
expressed
II (Which more probable) resort to mutual 10 gs.
a.ion is preferred, the consideration OF the mole best
calculated for the satisfaction OF both parties will
py your attention.
That may be effected In two days, viz eth IT
by order of Council, opening the British ports to
American vessels after certain day, in the event Of
the United s ates having before that time complied
with TITO conditions Of the act Of Parliament of the 5th
OF july 1875, by opening ports to the admission OF
British vessels and allowing their entry with the same
kind OF Bitch or Colonial produce may be import
ed in American vessels, the vessels of both countries
paying the sam. charge; by suspsnh:s the then du,
ties o" British vessels ami cag2es, and by aboli hing
course between the United States and the British Co.
ionies-hus leaving Great Britain in the ssion of
the circuious trade between Great Britain proper and
the United States, through the ltsh colonies Or,
ths President will recommend the same me ssure to
Congress- at their next session, being assured by
the itish Government that the passage of &C, Of
Congress TO that effect, will lead TO the revocation of
the British order in Council Of July 1927 to tina abo-
Ii Ion or su+pen'on OF all discriminating duties or
American vessels in the Bri,i coIoni, ports, and
the enjoyment by its citizens OF the advantages Of tbs
last mentioned act OF Par lament.
You are authorized to agree to either mode; but the
former il, for many reasons, to be preferred In all
that IL said upon the subject il must lie bosne in mind
that the President, whatever may be his wishes or
the eour.e he might otherwise adopt, has no authority
to move In the matter without the aid Of Congress
The only laws relating to this subject now in force
the acts Of 1918 and 1870; by virtue of which, our
ports closed against the admission Of British vessels
engaged In the colonial trade. T6ey do not confer a
dsF ensng power the President and he has no such
auth ;rity derived roa any other
Some explanatory act, or stipulation having pros
pecve view to such provi'ion as Congress may axe,
will certainly be necessary to enable the United States
avail themselves of the privileges offered by the act
OF Parliament OF 1928 BY thata act, We are required
as condition to the Enjoyment OF s advantages,
place the commerce and nav CATION of Great Britain
and her possessions abroad upon the footing OF the
lift meant by the condition that the
commerce and navigation OF Great Britain, and of
her posses.ions abroad, shall be gratuit0usly and
generally placed on the same oong with those of the
most favored nation, by granting them privile ges
which are allowed us TO other nations for equivalents
received, IL would be wholly inadmiysable.
BY the laws Of both countries the vessels of each
prohibited from importing into the ports the other
any other productions than those of the countries
to which such vessels respectively belong. By the
laws OF the United States this restriction is applied
a
to our commerce. Almost all other countries HAYS
clujed il from their navigation codes; such nations.
enjoy the privilege Of importing from any
country, upon paying our alien duties--a privilege
which cannot extend to Great Britain be cause her
laws deny il to ia.
Our discriminating duties also have, 10 ous.quence
OF arrangements by treaty, been abolished TO GER
tain natons and Their vessel, aud cargoes adj nj
equal terms with those Of the United Saes We
have, moreover, treaties with Central Am. RIGA and
Denmark by which il is stipulated that whatever cal
be imported to- exported from, either country, fom
or to any foreign place, In it's vessels, may be so
imported exported in the Of the other coun
try, on the payment Of the same duties. Should the
term " most favored nation" be understood by Great
title herself in case of literal compliance our part
with the terms OF the act of 1895 all those
for her European navigation ADD commerce, without
recprocatiug them to the United Statss-a privilege
shs would III hoped bs too just TO DESIRE and which
certainly, the United States could not for moment
think Of granting. The force Of these objections and
the necessity Of preliminary explanations upon this
virtually admitted by Lord Dudley, in his reply to Mr.
0iatiDs notes OF the 4h OF June and 18th july 1926:
but he considered them answered by the statement
oil Mr.. Gaatin that the President was willing to re.
commend certain specific measures to Congress, as
Ia hlmcnt OF the conditions OF the oct Of 1925 and the
President would have adopted them himself IL he had
been clothed with authority to that effect
The 'imPl. aud sufficient reply 10 this view OF the
matter, IL, that these measures proposed by the
United Satef; not strict compliance with the con.
ditions required, but as all that they could Offer and
WI! an accompanying declaration that they fell sbor
OF what the act OF 1928 required, and would still leave
or commerce with the tsI,niss dependent upon the
future di'Psnsa'ion Of tho British Government The
validity Of this opinion Lord Dudley did not attempt to