The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-25

Power the United States enjoyed principal share in
the carrying trade which IL now almost monopolized
lby British vessels. In regard TO the plaster trade
alone il has been recently set forth in memorial to
Congress, that there is probably imported into the
United States from seventy-hve TO one hundred thou
sand tons annually, employing large fleet Of vessels
/ This ID now almost entirely imported in British ves-
sells the annual freight which is estimated at one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Ii is only from
certain free ports, and at advanced price, that
American vessels allowed to freight with the ar,l-
Gle whilst British vessels privileged TO take It d.
rect from the quarres, and at a diminished PRICE
equal, at least, 10 the amount OF freight from tue
quarrles to the place of expectation As an act OF
reciprocity in order to render equal to oo' parties
he operations OF trade, il has been suggested that
British vessels should not be permitted TO enter the
ports of the United States carrying cargoes taken IN
at any port or place other than those in which Anne
rcan vessels may 20 and discharge and take on board
| a cargo.
| The discriminating duty imposed by Great Britain
i in favor Of the inter colonial trade in her own 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 our own IN
the transportation OF our own products. The oPe-
ration OF this system apparent with regard 10 the
artlces-of flour, beet, pork, and lumber TO which The
attention OF Congress was called IN another memo
rial, ON this same subject presented TO the last Con
gress These products of the United States ale adj
milted from this country into Canada free, but
liable to duty on importation into the British West
India possessions OF Isl 20 per barrel on flour pork,
" 10 per cwt. and on lumber 10 VA per 1000 ieel
The amount OF these articles imported into the SAID
dependencies of Great Britain by sea, and coming
der the operation OF these duties, is large, but lnsgnl-
ican, in comparison with that carried into the pro
vnces over he Canadian frontiers by land and thus
distributed through her North American possessions
! in her own vessel,.
i Previous TO the opening of these colonial ports to
the commerce OF the United States, supplied the
British colonies through the raj islands, they
were called, with the productions of this country en-
Toying the entire carrying trade to the neutral Islands
Al 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 the same voy-
age while American vessels are limited to one single
colonial port in one voyage. Under existing arrange
ments British vessels enter the ports OF the Uni
ted States with their colonial productions, dispose of
them, then take full partial treights for the West
Indies and thence, again, full Heights of nolasses,
sugar, coffee, &c, for England Thus employed, they
possess decided advantage over American vessels,
even in direct fr, hts to and from our own ports
British vessels often make their first freight out
from England TO the West Indies: having discharged
their cargoes, in few days they found in one of
SOY them ports with colonial produce, and ready
for freight to Europe, back to the colonies sthey
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 possible for the vessels OF the
u nted States
The gradual extinction Of our direct trade with the
British West Indies, at least in our own vessels,
seems an inevitable result from the present arrange
men the discrimination between duties articles
imported into their colonies directly from the United
States, and on the articles when imported cir
cautiously through the PROVINCES, will eventually turn
the whole course of trade in that direction. The du
~ on Hour beef pork lumber slaves, and shingles,
from the United States must of course take this cir.
cutous mode Of Importation, 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 Br-
tlsh vessels IN very great measure in consequence OF
their superior facilities, at the ports in those colonies
fir transportation to the West Indies
The above outline and extracts sufficient to
show that the attention of government is iously
turned to the subject and that the present arrange
nent is far from satisfactory. Mr.. Webster seems
even to prefer an entire suspension of the direct
with the Br West lndies to the state of things which
now exists. We can't say but he is right,-yet we
doubt it. We well remember that while the direct
trade was suspended, there mucn grumbling and
complaining about t-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 questoh is, expect to enjoy
strict reciprocity with Colonies that are continual
source Of expense to the mother country, 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 counteryailing
measures to an entire suspension of the trade,
but The results were not on the whole, such as could
be desired In a future number we will present
some statistics showing the effect of the different sys
TENS upon our commerce