The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-25
From the ~ Y. Journal of Commerce.
OUR TRADE WITH THE BRITISH WEST
INDIA COLONIES.

Several memorials have been presented 10 Coh-
gress from the New England States, representing 'ha'
the existing arrangements with Great Britain IN re-
gard to the Colonial Trade, are uniayoraDe 70 ue
interests Of commerce, and praying ior such mo
dlcations of the shall place that trade upon
more just and equitable iootns oonie y ,i ue
grounds Of complaint set iorth Dy u'e nie"oiaiiss
are as follows;
That while under the present arrangement all the
ports of the United States without exception are
omen 10 the vessels of Great Britain, only selected
ports In the British Colonies called free ports, are
open TO the commerce of the United States.
That by reason of the particular locality OF some
of the selected ports peculiar advantages are secured
British vessels which not enjoyed by those OF
the United States Under this head it is stated that
gypsum, grindstones and wool, which constitute the
principal trade TO the United States from the Bay Of
Fundy not shipped directly from any of the free
ports but from the banks Of rivers and nlets into
which British vessels alone allowed to penetrate;
and that American vessels seeking the same articles,
are obliged TO obtain them al free port where they
already subject to freight and other charges, and
that thus the trade is in great measure monopolized
by British vessels.
That in some Of the Colonies discriminating duties
are levied upon American vessels, contrary 10 the
conditions of the Act of Congress upon which the ar
rangementis based Thus ii is stated that on coal eN-
ported from Nova Scotia to the United States, Anne
rcan vessels pay export duty OF four shlngs ser-
ling per ton, while the same coal, II exported In
British vessels is free of duty.
That articles produced in the United States are
shipped in British vessels to the North American
Provinces, and after being nauralzed there, without
unloading, conveyed to the West Indies or to the
United Kingdom, and thus avoid the foreign lmpost
duty and that, American vessels are not allowed
to perform this voyage, the trade is gradually passing
into the hands of our commercial rivals.
That British pesses enjoy the advantages OF the tr-
angular voyage, while ours do not.
That sundry articles are forbidden to be imported
into the British Colonies from the United States
though similar articles received into the United
States from the Colonies by which means they can
compete with us in our markets, while we cannot
compete with them in theirs
The different memorials on the subject having been
referred to the Committee of Foreign Relations in
the House of Representatives that Committee where-
of Mr.. Gushing, of Mass Chairman) submitted
the 14th ult elaborate Report, extending, with
the Appendix to 25S pages large 8vo The result of
their deliberations and inquiries is imbodied in the
following propositions:
lst That ii is the policy and the desire of the Uni
ted States'to observe in the regulation of the
mercial intercourse between the United States and
other countries, principles OF equity, reciprocity
fair competition, and mutual advantage to both par
ties.
3D. That the existing arrangements regulating the
commerce between the United States and the British
Colonies in the West Indies and on the continent of
America, unequal unjust and injurious to the in
terests of the United States.
Sd. That so long Great Britain persists to apply
to the vessels and productions of the United States,
in the ports of the British Colonies in America, pecu
liar regulations of commerce, other than such as re-
gulate the commerce between the United States and
the British territories in Europe it is the right Of the
United States and the necessary consequence, to APP
ply peculiar regulations of commerce to British YES
sells and their cargoes in the ports of the U nited
States entered from or proceeding to the British
colonies in America.
4th. That the continued imposition by Great Br-
tain of discriminating duties upon the productions
of the United States imported into the British colo
MES in American vessels of the United States, will
Justify the imposition by the United States of dis
eliminating duties upon the productions of the Br
fish colonies in America imported into the United
States in vessels of Great Britain or her colonies
5th. That the continued prohibition to the vessels
of the United States by Great Britain Of the indirect
voyage between the United States, the British colo
MES in America and the British territories in Eu-
rope, or between the United States and and ano
Their British colony in America, will justify the pro
hibton by the United States of such voyage to the
vessels of Great Britain or her colonies in America
9th. That if Great Britain fit to adopt and
pursue system Of prohibitions and restrictions
against the United States it behooves the United
States to protect our citizens, their commerce and
navigation, by counter prohibitions, duties, and regu
lations and to decline to give free commerce and
navigation in exchange for restrictions and vexa-
tions.
It'll. But that, before having recourse to measures
Of legislative estriction, the certain of eff
fectually guarding and securing the rights of the
United States In our commerce with British colo
MES, II is due to national comfy to rectir for that
purpose to friendly negotiation with Great Britain.
The committee therefore recommend, that the
President of the United States be requested to enter
into negotiations with the British Government for the
purpose OF efectng permanent equitable, and just
conventional arrangement, in relation to the trade
under consideration
Similar views expressed in document from
the Secretary of State Mr.. Webster prepared in
compliance with resolution Of the Senate requiring
him to submit to that body statement of the priv-
leges and restrictions OF the commercial intercourse
Of the United States with all foreign nations. This
document presented to the Senate the 3lst Of
March last, and makes a pamphlet of liz pages,
large 8vo In treating of the privileges and restric
tions pertaining to trade with the British colo
NAL possessions the honorable Secretary speaks of
the warehousing system established at the free ports
in the colonies, as operating much to the advantage
of British commerce, and to the disadvantage of
own. He remarks:
The advantage it secures to British commerce un-
der the protection in addition thereto extended to
their own vessels engaged in the carrying trade be-
tween the colonies, is that all goods admitted to
warehouse in either of the colonies, may be
veyed thence in British vessels lsively, to other
British colonies, at lower rate of duty than similar
goods imported in our own vessels to such colonies
direct from the United States.
As part of the commercial system Of Great Br-
tain, her navigation act I'D and 4th William w.
provides that no article, the produce of any other
country, shall be allowed to be brought into the Uni
ted Kingdom, to be used therein, except in British
ships or those Of the producing country
1t further provides, that so much of the produce
tons of the sea might be wanted for the consump-
ton of Great Britain, should be exclusively procured
by British industry and imported in British ships
both in regard to England and her colonies.
There several acts of Parliament regulating
the trade of British possessions abroad the main OBJ
jec of all which is to con6ne Them far practi-
CABLE in all matters of trade to direct intercourse
with the mother country. Hence the prohibition of
all articles necessary for their consumption from the
United Kingdom, except in British bottoms and no
article from foreign country can be imported into
the colonies, any than into England herself I'M
less in British ships those Of the producing coun-
try.
A Iarge nutnher of articles tho orou,th ,,.a1....