The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-26

Power the u United States enjoyed principal share In
tho carrying trade, which Il now almost monopolzed
| by British vessels. In regard to the plaster trade
alone 1t has been recently set forth in memorial TO
Congress- that there is probably imported INTO the
nlted States from seventyve to one hundred thou
sand tons annually, employing large fleet OF vessels
L his IL now almost entirely imported IN British ves-
ses the annual freight W hch is estimated at one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Ii is only from
certain Stree ports" and at an advanced price, thai
American vessels are allowed to freight with the ar
Gle; whilst British vessels privileged TO take It d.
rect from the quarries and at diminished price
equal at least the amount of freight from the
quarries the place of expectation As an act OF
just reciprocity in order to render equal to both parties
he operations of trade If has been suggested that
British vessels should not be permitted to enter the
ports of the United States carrying cargoes taken IN
any port or place other lfan those in which Anne
rcan vessels may go and discharge and take board
a cargo.
The discriminating duty imposed by Great Britain
in favor of the inter colonial trade in her vessels,
rather than direct from the United States in American
vessels presents vast field for the employment of her
commercial marine, to the exclusion of own, in
the transportation OF our own products The ope'
ration OF this system Is apparent with regard to the
arhces-ot flour, beef pork, and lumber TO which the
attention of Congress called IN another memo
rial, on this subject presented to the last Con-
gress These products of the United States ale ad-
mltted from this country into Canada free but are
liable to duty on importation into the British w est
India possessions of 81 20 per barrel flour pork,
81 IS per cwt., and on lumber, s. GA per 1000 feet.
The amount of these articles imported INTO the said
dependencies of Great Britain by sea- and coming
der the operation of these duties large, but nSlgn
hcant in comparison with that carried into the pro
vlnces over the Canadian frontiers by land, and thus
distributed through her North American possessions
In her own vessels.
Previous to the opening of these colonial ports 10
the commerce OF the United States, we supplied the
British colonies through the neural islands, they
were called, with the productions of this country
Joyng the entire carrying trade to the neutral islands
AT present. American vessels pIecluded from the
possibility of entering into competition with those of
Great Britain, from the superior advantages possessed
by the latter because British vessels have the power
of trading between the ports of the United States and
any number of British colonial ports on the same yoy
age, while American vessels limited TO single
colonial port IN one voyage. Under existing arrange
ments British vessels enter the ports OF the nj
ted States with their colonial productions dispose of
them, then take full or partial reights for the West
Indies. and thence, again, full freghts of molasses,
sugar, Coffee &c, for England Thus employed they
possess decided advantage over American vessels
even in direct ireights to and from our own ports.
British vessels often make their first freight out
from England TO the West Indies: having discharged
their cargoes, few days they are found in one of
our Southern ports with colonial produce, and ready
for freight to Europe back to the colonies they
find best; while the profits already realized frem the
voyage to the British North American possessions
able them to take freight for Europe the West In
dies at less rate than is possible for the vessels of the
United States
The gradual extinction Of our direct trade with the
British West Indies, at least in our vessels,
seems an inevitable result from the present arrange
ment; the discrimination between duties articles
imported into their colonies directly from the United
States, and on the same articles when imported cir
cautiously through the provinces, will eventually turn
the whole course of trade in that direction The du
ty on -four beef pork, lumber staves and shingles,
from the ned States must of course, take this cir
cuitous mode of nportation as they are all admitted
free OF duty from the provinces and whatever Of d.
rect trade between the United States and the CONT
mental provinces does exist must be enjoyed by Bril-
fish vessels in very great measure, in consequence of
their superior facilities at the ports in those colonies
for transportation to the West Indies
The above outline and extracts are sufficient to
show that the attention of seriously
turned to the subject and that the present arrange
NJ ent is far from satisfactory Mr. Webster seems
even to prefer entire suspension of the direct trade
with the Br West Indies to the state of things which
now exists. We can't say but he is rght,-yet we
doubt it. We well remember that while the direct
trade was suspended, there mucn grumbling and
complaining about it much more, in fact than there
is at present Nothing can be palmer than that we
do not, under the present SYSTEM enjoy, in all res
poets, strict reciprocity of trade with the British
Colonies BUT the question is, we expect to enjoy
strict reciprocity with Colonies that continual
source of expense to the mother country-which ex-
pense only be reimbursed to her by the employment
they give to her vessels, and the profits she derives
| from their commerce. We have tried counervailing
measures even to entire suspension of the trade,
but the results not, the whole, such could
be desired. In future number will present
some statistics showing the effect of the different sys
TENS upon our commerce