Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-16
WHOLE NO. 9S.

to Mr.. McLane, then going Ia the Court
of England, as American Minister. l
think these instructions derogatory in
high degree, 10 the character ard honor
of the country. think they show
manifest Disposition i'll the writer OF them,
To establish distinction between his
Country and h,- Party; to place that par
" above the county; to make interest,
al II foreign Count, ior that party, rather
than lor the country; to per, uade the En-
gli~h Ministry and the English Monarch,
that H,y had un interest in maintaining,
Ia the nncd States, the ascendancy Of
the Party to which the writer belonged.
1hiniing thus ri the purpose and object
oi these instructions, | cannot be OF Opin-
ION that ihcr author Is proper ltcpre-
sentative of the tnited States at that
Court. Therefore II Is, that l propose
t. vote against hls nomination. 1t is the
G,st time, trI,cve, in modcrn Diploma
cy. it l. certainly the llrst time IN our his
tory, in which IA minister 10 n foreign
count has sought To make favor for one
patty III home, against another; or has
stopped, from being the Representative
oithr whole counry, to be the Hoprc-
sentative of II Party. And as this is the
hr-I instance in "ur history of any such
Transaction, so intend to do all IN my
power tn make il the last. For one,
set NY mark of disapprobation upon 1t;
contribute my voice and my vote, to
make It II negative example, to be shun-
ned aud avoided by all future Ministers
ol the L. States. Ii, in deliberate and
. I,,,..,l l.ttnr ,,I nHtpnnItinnS
and directions are given to n minister,
ana repeated, once and again, to urge
these mere part considerations on the
foreign government, to what extent, Is IT.
,probaHlc, the writer himself will be dis
posed to urge thrm, in his one thousand
4 opportunities Of informal Intercourse with
the agents Of that Government?
II propose, sir, to refer to some partic-
ular pats oi these instructions; but be-
fore / do that, allow me to state, very
i ,acncrally, the posture of that subject, To
which those particulars relate. That
subject was the stale of our trade with
the British " est India Colonies. l do
II deem II necessary now to so minute
Is INTO all the history OF that trade. he
'orcasI II does t call for il. All know,
llIit bk lil,' N'bIiNt1iiltIl III IOIo, lcCt-
.poclty OF intercourse was established
between us and Great Britain. The
ships ut both countries were allowed to
pass, tu and from each other respective
r. liy, with the same cargoes, and subject To
the same duties. But this arrangement,
I did not extend to the British West In
> dies There, our intercourse was cut
oh. Various discriminating and retalla
| tory acts were passed, by England and
- by the tinted States. Eventually, ia
| the summer OF 325, the English Pafia-
II mcnt passed an act, offering reciprocity,
s, far aS III, mere carrying irade was con-
; cDmsd, 10 all nations, who might choose,
h within one year, to accept that offer.
t MIR. Adams Administration did not
= accept that offer; first, because 1t was
never officially communicated to it; sec
V ondy, because, only few months be-
- fore, Il negotiation on the very same SUBJ
g lcct had been suspended, with an under
e standing that 1t might be resumed; and
- tlirdIy, because 1t was very desirable To
= arrange the whole matter, it possible, by
: Treaty, IN order To secure, II We could,
Il the odmiSSion Of Our products into NE Brat
q ish hiGn Is jor consumption, es well as the
admission of our vessels. Th's oGject
+ had been earnestly pursued ever since
If the peace of 1919 1t vas i0s'stcd on,
n as every body knows. through the whole
= OF Mr.. Monroe's Administration. lie
l. would not treat at all, without treating o'
st this object. He thought the existing
N state ol things better than any arrange
W ment, which, while it admitted our cesseLs
" into West india Ports. still left our pro-
dHciions subject to such duties there, that
they could not be carried.
A. Now, sir, Mr.. Adams's administrators
10 was not the first to take this ground. IL
c only occupied the same position which ITS
= predecessor had taken Ii saw no impor-
C tant objects to be gained by changing tho
n state of things, unless that change was to
= admit our products into the British West
y Indies, directly from our ports, and not
Dt burdcrcd with excessive duties. The
&c direct trade, by English enactments and
Y, American enactments, had become clos
Is cd. No British ship came here from the
IN British West Indies. No American shiT
a went from US to those places. A circul
= tous trade took place, through the Island.
y of third Powers; and that circutou'
u trade was, in many respects, not disad
al vantagcous to us
c In this state of things, sir, Mr.. NJ
Is Lane was sent to England; and he re-
~ ceivcd his instructions from the Sccrota
y. ry of State: In these instructions, ant
Q, in relation to this subject of the Colon'a
IL 'r.a.l. ,.o C,,,d tho ,ontitnpnf MIA of WnIcI