Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-17
ANOTHER PROTOCOL"

The Wing press have made terrible clamoi
against The late administration and Mr.. Bancroft,
for having, in violation of Constitution and law,
pledged this country to G!ea, Britain, by sac
rifice oil our great navigation interests. The dis
cussion OF The navigation laws in the British
Parliament has elected some official papers
which show 10 what extent this imputed high
handed measure on The part OF our government
really goes From Mr. Buchanan's letter 10 Mr..
Champion il appears that the United States de-
signed TO reserve 10 herself The exclusive posses
sion Of The eoastng trade and that the reciprocity
Stipulated for was fully authorized by existing
laws. Mr. Buchanan's letter is published in the
English journals; the following is an extract:
aTh- United States so far from having waited TO
cept advances made The part Of Great Britain for
placing the ships III The twn Countries on footing Of
eu.iaty with lie su.ia reservation of the coastng
trade had than twenty years ago nv
an act Of Congress made advances for this very pur
pose 10 Great Britain and all other nations. might
add that the President accordance with the spirit of
thus act has already made SPECIFIC proposal 10 Great
BRIAN Nv note from Mr.. Bancroft, our minister NJ
Tendon TO lord PaImers,on dated Sd November lsi7,
to conc Jude treaty providing that British ships may
rida from any port In the world To any port in the nj
ted states aud be received protected, and in respect
10 charges aud duties treated Ike American ships, u
r-cprocalIy American ships may In like trade
from any pant The world 10 any port under che do,
mlnlon Of her Britannia majesty Of course this pro
posal was not intended 10 embrace the cuasling trade
of either country"
Mr. Cramp,on. liz BRUSH minister al VAST
inston, writes % Lor PalmerstoD, as follows
San ths alterations IN The British navigation laws
enumerated In the printed memorandum which ac
companies yonr i"rd>hp's despatch or the 22i Deem
bra last be cntir. reciprocity nv the Uni
t.dS as If HE
and without h,iRg had Congress- with the
exception o The last point utonei in the memoran-
dunn which relates the proposed change in the def.
milton and qualification of British and foreign vessels
The y -srnt administration II the United States, as
yonr hardship VIII perceive from the Concluding pai OF
Mr. Walkers report, Is decidedly In favor Of meeting
this change also ny reciprocal legislation. Mr. Bucha
nan, however has informed me that II is probable that
some difference ii opinion would manifest itself in Con-
eress This question from the unwillingness felt
in some quarters 10 throw open the ship building hGs
ness in the United states 10 the formidable comprttlo
of British ship builders, and particularly To that
Of the ship builders Of the British North American
lones."
Thus, as matters stand, says the Boston Post
we have an ihoriiative statement Of The ex-
tent 10 winch or government las gone in rela-
ton to the principle OF extending the reciprocity
principle. II is no new thing Tor the Uniled
States 10 offer to other nations liberal CONNER
cal principles and n equal trade When we
began, rs a nation, We saw our tonnage in for
eisn pors hampered BY ruinous discriminating
duties. The imposition OF similar duties brought
other nations TO terms An &C, was passed by
Congress, March 3, 1878, repeating these duties;
hui 10 apply only 10 those nations which were
disposed 10 reciprocate the favor. This act ey.
cited bui lille attention; il was regarded as en-
bracing an ABSTRACT proposition, but in July, 1915
Gtea, Britain accepted the terms, and the ships
OF the Two nalioas were pul on basis Of equality
Then our American shp.owners and pavisators
were alarmaI, but the rcsnll proved that, with
an open hrl' and tar play, our enterprise was
able, wiIhcu. discriminating duties, 10 compete
successfully with any nation 90 The face ot the
globe. Another act OF January I, 1924, furibeg
ex,ended The liberal principle OF Tree com.
merce, and with renewed success Another law
followed in le2s; and now the British Govern
meni are informed that the existing laws will
enable the American Government TO meet /, on
almost any point OF liberal commercial system
-saring only The openirg Of he coaa,ng trads.
Almo.I every article In the British press, and
every speech in The British Parliament. paws
noble tribute 10 the success and enterprise Of our
merchants and sailors. and jus,fes The wisdom Of
our liberal system. Our space will permit only
one quotation. Mr.. Robinson said in the House
of Commons be
"Found !ha, the Americans, while they were
proposing to surrender their in:ercolonal trade
had tonnage Of $4,000 tons engaged in the
British American colonies; while all the other
nations, including The British, had only ton.
mage of 500,94l ions. so that The Americans had
tonnage CT 10000 IONS more than all The other