The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-17
THE PRINCIPLE or RECIPRocITr
Nv no Means a Novel Proposifion-n
pI,ed as far Back as the hevoi"'''"'


ufyed as far BACK ~ t''o Nv
To the Editor of The Times; GIL,
As the policy of reciprocity with 'no o 49,
American States seems to receive the sahc'ion
~ n,en Of all parties. il may be worth wni,e ~
,n',,;ra INTO the origin of the idea as nii.'o.
IS b;storv Expressed in homeiy ianguafe :,
means lone good turn deserves ;,n,nia
Between individuals. believe, 'a's a inst ane
" - o. 49, ;,menorial Between nations IL IL
no" iatar orioin but it is still by no means
novel proposition.
TREATY BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND fhAN0N'
When the Union was in the throes OF revo-
lr,;on LONG before Mr.. Blaine or Mr. harrl-
con vas born. the principle or RECIPROCITY
roos;vsd a distinct recognition IN the pre-
amble and first four articles or the ilrst treaty
az amity and commerce between the onitea
States and France. concluded on the 6tn OF
FshrrIary. 177s. That treaty was to the foun-
dation of our commercial intercourse Win
the rest of mankind what he
declaration of Indepenence was 10 thaS
Of our internal government. The two instru-
ments were, in fact. parts OF one ana tne salilo
system. and as the Declaration OF lnuePenu-
ence was the fountain OF all our muIlclPa, LII
stitutions the preamble Of the. treaty VIII WIZ.
France laid the cornerstone OF all suosequen'
transactions for many years with lofelen -" 20
tions. Mr. J. O. Adams went so tar % ~
state that the preamble TO the treaty WIZ
France was the first instance IN tne u! .1,'a
matte record of nations upon wnlch tno ;Iuo
PRINCIPLES Of all fair commercial negotiations
between independent States were Iaio uo"N
and proclaimed to the world.
THE OLD ENGLISH NAVIGATION LAWS.
But even if the United States were not the
first to propose the principle OF reclprocity
ne the basis of commercial conventions. winch
indeed may be traced back 90 the congress OF
Utrecht an era remarkable in the commercial
history of the world for the excellence anu
Iberaiity of the maritime principles ana reguIa-
tions there consecrated by treaty stlpuIia..onos
thew ore Certainly entitled to the applause OF
having first resisted the arbitrary features Oh
the old English navigation laws, containing
once the essence of exclusiveness ana prOnlDl-
tion. The War Of the Revolution" says
Elliot in his Diplomatic Code, was IN some
degree connected with commerce. ana the mi
after the establishment of the Federal Govern
mept declared their determination OF trading
only on equal telms."
FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN TREATY.
II was during the administration of Viz
pinia President Games Monroe) that the hrst
treaty with South American State was con-
cluded. The instructions were drawn by MI
J. q. Adams, the Secretary OF State, and are
important as containing review of the prln-
ciples upon which the United States we're
governed The only object" says the Sec
retary of State to BIr. Richard q.
Anderson, the first Minister Plenlpotentlary
to Colombia, which we shall nave
much at heart in the negotiation VIII
be the sanction by solemn compact OF the
broad and liberal principles OF independence,
equal fayoTs, reciprocity" Ana WIN SllS
view Mr.. Adams recommended to Mr.. Ahder,
sons particular attention" the preamble ana
first four articles of the treaty with France
already mentioned, declaring that It's prlnci-
pies should be deeply impressed upon the
mind of every statesman and negotlator Oh
this Union 10 serve as models for insertion Ill
the projected treaty or in any other that we
NAV hereafter negotiate with any OF the rising
republics of the South"
VIRGINIA TAKES THE LEAD.
It is we'll known that our State took the
lead when the present Constitution was formed
in 1887 in arrning the Federal Government
with the power TO levy duties, but 1t had no
thought of aught beyond enabling 1t TO raise
by this means O sufficient revenue and TO
counteryail the restrictive policy of other
nations. The universal idea had been that
retaliation would break down foreign restrlc
tons and compel the nations OF the earth
into a system of free trade. The system
wrote jefferson Into which the United States
wished to 60 was that OF freeing commerce
from every shackle."
WHY LIMITED TO SOUTH AMERICA.
In the application of the policy Of recipro-
city at the present juncture OF affairs II IS
indeed hard 10 understand why the benefit
should be limited to the South American re-
publics. or why few specified articles like
hides and sugar should alone be put on the
favored list. or why when one of the greatest
nations of the world has voluntarily thrown
open its ports TO the free and unrestricted
importation of American goods the vigorous
system of exclusion should be continued by
our Government. However, it is good sign
10 see the old landmarks of the Government
appearing once more over the horizon Of af-
fairs LYON G.. IYLEB.