Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-13

willing 10 md 10 Congress, at s next sion
lst To su,p. nd the alien dutiee Brsh vsessls and
cargoss and TO allow their entry into ports with
| the same kind Of British colonial produce as may be
imported in American vessels OF both countries paying
2dlv To .bo,h the sric tions IN the act Of 1928
to the direct intercourse between the United stes
and the Brii,h colonies. thus eavn Great Britain in
the xcusy. DO ssoa OF the circuous trade betweeeo
Great Britain proper through her colonies ard he was
directed to IL qure whether the passage Of an act oil
Congress to thu. effect would lea! to the alton
Of the order 10 Council Of July, 1926 to the abolition
of the dscrimna trg duties on American vessels in the
Bri.h colonial porte. and to he enjoyment by our
sells Of the advantages off red by the Of The Of
July, 1925. The effect OF these concessions, II was
pointed out TO him. would be waiver Of the claim OF
the United Slater, made In the act OF March, 1929
the admission into the colonial ports Of produce
upon tho payment OF the duties similar pro-
duce from other parts Of the Btsh rosseseions was
| quired TO pay.
No answer was made by tho British Government .
Mr.. Gaa,ins note OF the 1h Of June 1927. announe-
ing the willingness Of the Government TO arrange the
trade by separate legi.ation; and ME-. ming, be-
ing applied TO by Mr. Gaatin TO know whether he
the intention; that they considered that note
ly furnishing explanation; and he expressed his
prise that any doubt could exist the hoal disposition
| Of the British Government upon that subject.
Alter Mr.. Canuing's death, tho will ngn IS OF the
United States to accept, through the medium OF sepa-
rae legislation, the terms Of tho act Of Parliament Of
tho Oh July, 1925, was again communicated by Mr..
Gslla'in TO the British Government, by note to Lord
Dudley Of the 18th August, 1897 in which he quest
ed be informed whether, II Congress complied with
the tons which the President was willing
10 make the United States would be admitted TO the
trade and intercourse allowed by the act of Parliament
| OF the 5;h Of July, 1875.
Mr.. Husk.son, in a subse qusnt couere nee, In form.
cd Mr.. Gaatin that Great Biitan cons dered the c.
IouiAl intercourse as exclusively under her CONTROL
and that whatever terms nigh be granted to foreign
ers would he con ids red as indulgence; hat he
not prepared 10 cay whether. ia any way. il il all on
what terms, l, would be opened to the United States,
in case Of their repeating their restrictive acts.
I.ordD in 10 all aft.r tbA
4th Of June and 18th OF August, after reviewing the
grounds urged by the Uni,ed States to justi'y them
ssvs, in ng TO accept the term. of the act OF Par
lament Of July, 1925. declined committing the Bri,h
Government as to their course in the event of The u.
States adopting the aeures proposed, the follow
Ing groun,s viz: Let, that much Of necessity de-
pend uron the details OF the aet which Congress,
might pass; Bodily, the condition Of the coun-
try nj the time OF the and the views which the
British GoverDu ent might then have OF their interest
in the matter; aud, 3d!y, that any stipulaons the
subject, would be virtual departure from The ground
taken by his Government to regulate the trade by
law, aud 10 decline all further gotta ion IT,
The last informant in the possession Of this govern.
men In relation TO the views Of the present British
ministry upon this subject lie derived from Mr.. Bar
bour in January last. He states that, In communica
u"n held with Lord Aberdeen, in the presence Of the
Duke Of Wellington, the former expressed his desire
Of having the colonial trade question judiciousy ad-
used, and bis conviction that the interdct iniu-
rious to the colonies without proporonae bene 6 to
any other section Of the empire But from subse N,
conversation with his L'rdsbp, and from
TO believe that the British government does not con.
template any relaxation of it's colonial system in favor
Of this country; that our late tariff, tog.ther with
s'rsng conviction OF their iDcspicy to compete upon
equal terms with contributes to this dis
position; and that that mt would willingly with
draw the privileges Of ira ling with its colonies which
il has granted TO other nations IL that could
ly be done.
Such is tho present state Of our commercial reIatcn
with The British colonies; and such the steps by which
we have arrived at it,
In review wing the events which have preceded and
more or less contributed to, aresu so much to b,
retted, there will be found three grounds upon which
We most ssssabie; ls in too long and 10, to.
naciously resisting the right Of Great Bitan impose
protecting duties In her colones 2iy, in relieving
her vessels from the restriction of returning direct
from the United States to the Colonies, after perks.
sion had been given by Great Britain to our vessels
to clear out from the colonies TO any other than Bri-
fish por and, 3dly, in emitting ept the terms ef-
fered by the act OF Parliament of july 1925 after the
subject had been brought before Congress, and dete
ratey acted upon by our government. 1t is without
doubt, to the combined operation Of these causes
we are to attribute the British interdc,. You WILL
fore, the propriety of possessing yourself full
OF all the explanatory and mitiga log con-
nected with them, that you may be enabled 10 obviate
as TAR as practicable the impr ssion which
they have produced.
The trade, although not wholly suppressed, is Alto
sc her charged in its character. Instead OF being di-
rect active and prof able, it was, it is Circuit
tous, burtben.o me and comparatively prohtless. Tho
importation Of the produce OF the British West India
coone, into the United States may be said 10 have
santially ceased. II is wholly prohibited in British
vessels, ard allowed only direct from the producing
colony. By the orders in council, the admission OF
American vessels is prohibited Conse qpently what
ever OF the British w est India produce lie brougbt ia 20
this country, with the exception of what has been re-
Gently allowed to be imported from the Bahama islands,
and the Island Of Angua, either be brou gh BY
the vessels Of other nations which permitted,
der the act Of Parliament Of July, 1925 to clear from
the colonies for any other ports, except 10 Great Bril-
tain and her poss ssoDs, il must be imported the
growth produce OF other colon's. which the
sells Of the United States admitted, sud thus intro
duced in evasion OF our law.
The export trade has bee more considerable though
greatly and rjurously reduced Tho decrss OF nature
by which the Briiish West Indies made nj
on the United States for great portion of their
sary supplies, though enormously resisted, have
been altogeth frustrated by the retaa'ory and inn
provident legislation Of the two countries. Large
guam lilies of American productions still fnd IN .ir way
produce is used in the ports to which the exporta
tons are nomnaly made, renders ii impossible TO |
speak with accuracy AZ TO the amount actually
ed 10 the Briii-h West India colonies since the ports
were c'osed In the opinion OF intelligent merchants il
Is about hall as much Immediately b. fora tho inter
Dict Ii is carried in Anne rcdn vessels TO the ands Of
ST. Thomas and St Bartholomew The one hand and
10 the open ports 10 The British North American posses
soDs the oiher. From those ports il hDdss way TO
the itish West IDdia colonies, under different regua-
tons in b ish vessels This trade IL burhe Ded wi b
double freight and insurance, the charges of landing
and resbippipg and also commissions and duiss in The
ens al ports for that portion which goes by tho way
OF 81. Thomas and s.. Bartholomew. The extra ex
penses thus produced have been estimated Fl w per
centum the fret cost OF lumber, aud at from 6f cen
10 eny centum provisions great reduction OF
the quantity OF ADD he entire exclusion from
the trade OF many articles Of porshabl0 natu which
cannot now be sent 10 coussquenee Of the iocre seed
4