The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-08

to persuade lie English MINISTRY, an" the
Euglls Monarch, that they had an interest
in maintaining, in the United States, the as
tendency of the Party to which the writer
belonged. Thinking thus of the purpose
and object of these instructions. | cannot he
Of opinion that their author IA proper Rep
resentalive of the United States at that
Court. Therefore it is, that | propose to
vo:e against his nomination. 1t liz the first
time, believe, in modern Diplomacy. II is
certainly the first time in our history, in
| which a minister to foreign court has
| sought TO make favor for enc party at home,
against another or has stopped, from be-
| ing the Representative of the whole roun-
try. TO he the. Representative Of Party.
And as this is the first instance in our his
tory Of any snch transaction, SO ! intend 80
! do al in my power to make il the last For
once, set my mark Of disapprohation upon
it; | contribute my voice and my vote,
TO make it Il negative example to be shun-
ned and avoided 10y all inture Ministers of
the United States. II, in deliberate and
formal letter of Instructions, ntlmonitons
and directions are given to a minister, and
repeated, onre and again. to urge these
! mere party considerations os the foreign
government, To what extent, is il probable,
= the writer himself will be disposed to urge
them, in his one thousand opportunities of
, informal intercourse with the agents OF that
Government?
n propose, sir, to refer TO some particular
IS parts Of these instructions; but before do
that, allow me TO state, very generally, the
posture of that subject to which those par
), uculars relate. That subject was the state
. of our trade with the British West India
~ Colonies. i DO not deem it necessary now
/. to go mlnutely into all the history of that
r. trade. The occasion does not call for it.
r. AL know, that, by the Convention of 1915,
III reciprocity OF intercourse was established
Ne between Us and Great Britain. The ships
90 Of both countries were allowed to pass, to
3 and from each other respectively, with the
'e same cargoes, aud subject to the same du-
70 ties. But this arrangement did not extend
se to the British West Indies. There. cur In
D. terconrse was rut off. Various disrrimin-
10 ating and retaatorv arts were passed, by
tn England and by the United States. Event
Of ually, in the summer of 1925, the English
g. Parliament passed an act, offering reripro-
city, so far as the mere carrying trade was
concerned, TO all nations who might choose,
ai within one year, to accept that offer.
&c Mr.. Adams's Administration did not ac-
!, cept that offer first, because it was never
=" officially communicated to it secondly. be-
N. cause only "a few months before, negotia-
II ton on the very same subject had been sus-
.s- pended, with an understanding that it might
m he resumed and thirdly, because it was
les very desirable to arrange the whole matter,
m if possible, by Treaty, in order to secure, if
ms he could, the admission of our products into
ne the British Islands for consumption. as we'll
!" SIS the admission of our vessels. This oh
Inc ject had been earnestly pursued ever since
,re the peace of 1915. 1t was insisted on, rs
ar every one knows, through the whole of MIR.
| l. 4
The treat at all, without treating of this object.
9th He thought the existing state Of things bet
zen ter than any arrangement, which, while it
md admitted our reSsels into West India Ports,
ION still left our productions subject TO such du-
VIZ ties there, that they could not he carried.
~ Now, sir, Mr. Adamss Administration " rs
ma. not the first to take this ground. 1t only
ain occupied the same position which its pretle-
rn- cessor had taken. 1t saw no important OBJ
I'M jects to be gnned by changing the state OF
things, unless that change was to admit our
the products into the British West Indies, di-
was recty from our ports, and not bnrdened
So with excessive duties. The direct trade,
,or by English enactments and American en-
9TH, INV "c''''e 'io0e": w DIt.sh
Up dies. No American ship went from us to
those places. A circntous trade took place
me- that circntous trade was, IN many respects
'an- not dlsadvantageous to US.
our, In tbjs stote of .binrc CIV M MI o,o
GU was sent to England: and he received his
y;oo instructions from the Secretary of State
,ga In these instructions, and in relation to this
subject of the Colonial Trade, nre found the
sentiments of which we complain. VIVA,
are they? Let us examine, and see.
Mr.. Van Buren, tells Mr. McLane "The
'Die opportunities which you have derived iron
will narticipa,ion in onr nublic corrc;ls a,
ort- well rs other sources of information, will
my enable you to speak with confidence, as fal
, as you may deem it proper and useful to do
nel- of the respective parts taken by those Il
'ty whom the Administration of this Govern
re- ment is now committed, in relation TO the
SEN course heretofore pursued upon the suhiec
the Of the Colonial Trade"
at Now, this is neither more nor less thar
be saying, "you will he able to tell the Brit
real ish Minister, whenever you think proper
III. that you, and |, and the leading persons in
de- this Administration, have opposed the course
: on heretofore pursued by this Government ant
hg the country, on the subject of the Colonia
ore Trade. Be sure 10 let him know that, oil
ma, that subject, ace have held with England
and not with our own Government" Now
lie | ask you, sir, if this he dign;fed diploma
ave cy? Is this Craftsmanship Is it patriot
MS ism, or is it mere party? Is it proof of t
IONS high regard to the honor and renown Of the
uoh whole country, or is it evidence of II dspo
cen sl.ion to mike merit of belonging TO one
i"t- OF It's political divisions
o"s, The Secretary proceeds: "Their views
.. hat is, the views o.! the present adminstra-
'eht tion) upon that point have been submitted
use to the People ofthe United States and the
''u- rounsels by which your conduct is now di
reclcd are the result of the Judgment ex.
sc pressed hy the only earthly tribunal tc
': which the late administration was umena
''ga bic for It's acts"
an" Now, sir, in the irs: place, there is very
'"e little reason IN suppose that the fret part o
"l' this paragraph is true, in point of fact
non, mean that part which intimates that til,
WIN change Of administration was brought abon,
nis' by public dsapprobation of Mr.. Admins:
'Fa- conduct, respecting the subject of the Col
onal Trade. Possibly, so much was Their
lee said, on subject which so few understood
IN some degree Of impression may have been
eg- produced by it. But he assured, sir, anoth.
iter er cause will be found by future historians
uty. for this change and that cause will be the
. 10 popularity CT a successful sndier nni,od