The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-31
From the ~. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
AMERICAN TRADE WITH THE BRITISH
COLONIES.


more frequent discussions between the governments
of the United States and Great Britain than 'ns' OF
our trade with the British Colonies Parcuaiy rose
IN the Western hemisphere From me very olgll s'ou
Republic and even before, disposition mas peeh maui
esed on the part of the British government to deny
the enjoyment of that trade upon reciprocal terms
fact whica is not SO much to be wondered AZ, "neh
II is considered that her Colonies are continual source
of expense TO her. and that the advantages she Is able
to derive from their commerce, about the only re-
turn she receives is likely to receive for the ex-
pense thus Incurred So far respects the trade be-
tween e Colonies and the mother country, we can
not perhaps complain of the monopoly which she
81 inns and exercises bat the trade between the Co
onIes OF the United States is another matter In re-
gard to which We have avoice well as herself we
cannot indeed insist that her Colonies shall be per-
United TO trade with us-because every nation mas
night to determine whether will trade with Its neigh
bors not-but on the other hand is for US TO de-
eide whether We will submit to traffic on unequal
terms.
The products of the British West Indies being for
the part entirely dissmllar own, The trade
between them and the United States if unrestricted,
would be large, and mutually advantageous II would
seem therefore, that the interests Of both countries
would be promoted by establishing liberal basis
The sagacious William Pitt thought SO when at the
head of the British Ministry la 1888, and brought
into Parliament bill to admit American vessels into
the ports Of the West Indies, with goods and mer-
ehandise of American growth produce, and to ex-
port from the Colonies any goods or merchandise
whatever, subject only to the duties and charges
IT they had been the property of British subjects,
and had been imported exported in British vessels
This bill, however, failed to become law the Minis
try itself dissolved and the regulation of inter
course between the two countries was left to the dis
erection Of the King and Council, who soon after Is
sued orders excluding American vessels entirely from
the British West Indies, and prohibiting several OF
the staple articles of the United States from being
carried thither in British bottoms. On the adoP
ton of the American Constitution in 1887 the Con-
Of thoV ta1 otoc Ctc impns
eliminating tonnage and other duties upon British
vessels. These, in connexon with the European war
which commenced etter, and which rendered
supplies from the United States indlspensably neces-
sary TO the Colonies, induced Great Britain to mode
rate her pretensions and accordingly in l794 Treaty
of commerce. was concluded which in many respects
placed cur trade upon more favorable footing but
the article in regard to trade with the West In
dies was stricken out by the American Senate as be-
ing unequal and unjust, and the Treaty was ratified
by both govern without that article, thus eav-
ing trade with the West Indies dependent, be-
fore, upon the caprice of the British King and Coun-
Gil in which condition it continued until after the war
of l8l2-15 The necessities Of the Colonies, how
ever accomplished for us what we might in vain have
sought on other grounds, and accordingly from l795
to 1907, both inclusive trade with those Colonies
was immensely large; amounting, on an average, to
five or six millions per annum, each way For parti-
culars the reader referred to the first of the annexed
tables, which we have compiled from the annual state
ments of the Treasury Department, Pitkins Stats
tics, Seyberl's Statistical Annals and other docu-
ments
In 1907, events occurred which greatly crippled our
commerce. nsomuch that total exports in the year
ending Both September, l8O8 only 49,, 43O $780,
whereas in the three preceding years they had ave-
ragged more than $l0O,O00,OOO per annum. Among
these events was the attack by the British ship Leo
pard, of so guns, upon the American frgate Chesa-
peake in the American waters, June ~ 1907 in con-
sequence of which, on the I'd of July following, all
British vessels ordered to leave the ports of the
United States Then came the British Orders in
Council, November llth, 1907, and subsequently I'M
posing severe restrictions upon trade while at the
same time the famous Berlin Decree, issued by Napo-
leon November 81, 1906 was in operation, declaring
the British Islands in state of blockade, and prohl-
biting the whole world from any communication with
them Last of all was our own embargo, laid on the
22d of December, 1907 upon all the vessels IN the
ports of the United States. That Act continued IN
force until the LIST of March, 1909. During this pc
ROD will be from the table, trade with the
West Indies was reduced in about the same proper.
ton commerce generally, say IS per cent MOI
has it, at any subsequent period, reached the magn
tude which it attained prior 10 1908. In 1913 anc
lSi4it was totally suspended by the war
In the Commercial Convention between the two
countries July g. 1876 the United States agreed tc
the equalization of tonnage duties in their intercourse
with the British European nations, while that with
the British West Indies and North American Colo
MES left entirely in the hands OF the British gov
eminent Accordingly, by that government, the
Americans were in great measure excluded iron
participating in the West India trade (which, not
withstandng, regained, by means of British vessels,
portion Of its former Importance Inc effect wa
disastrous to our shipping interests, while great.
benefited those of Great Britain A memorial pre-
sented to Congress in 1877 from ship owners In New
York thus states the operation of the system As
are situated, foreign ships may load cargoes IN
Europe and proceed with them to the United States
on the same terms vessels; after which, they
may take on board articles of American produce
carry them to their colonies and there lade cargoes
colonial goods, and return with them, either TO I'M
United States or Europe thus enabling them, by coup
ling the two voyages to carry three cargoes al ral
much Loac to defray the ordinary expenses OF GU
vessels, while confined to participation OF the sngt
voyage. We are, therefore, not only deprived OF tn
half of foreign. commerce, but the other ha rs rem
dered of little value."
A reference to the table will show the amount o
American and British tonnage, respectively, which en-
tered the ports of the United States from the Births
West Indies in 1876 the former being to the latter
about as to three 10 counterfeit tins state o
things, Congress in 1917 laid duty OF two cents
ton upon all British vessels arriving IN Unite
States from the West Indes and in April, 1915 pass
ed an Act closing the ports of the United State
against British vessels coming from any British colon
or territory which was closed against American yes
sells. Thus trade with the British west In
dies again suspended, or nearly So 1t beng supse
quently found that West India produce was brough
into the United States by way of Nova Scotia, &c.
Congress in May 1920, passed Act prohibiting al
intercourse from the United States, in British yes
sels with any colony, and also the importation of al
colonial productions except such as were wholly pro
duced in the colony from which they were direct
imported. This created distress in the West lndi
Colonies, to remedy which, Parliament IN June lo2
opened certain specified ports in the West Indies AM
North American Colonies for the importation of Ger
tain enumerated articles, either British vessels o
in vessels Of the producing nation, provided only tina
the voyage should be direct and also for the exporta
ton of the produce of said Colonies direct to tn
country to which the vessel might belong The priv
eges of the Act confined to the vessels of sucl
countries should grant like privileges to British
ses in their ports. On the receipt of this Act ths