6

It was also necessary that the the intercourse with the West undersigned should ask for some India colonies shall be opened by explanation of that section of the Great Britain, the commercial bill which has reference to the intercourse of the United States entry of vessels into the ports of with all other parts of the British the United States from the conti- dominions or possessions shall be nental colonies of Great Britain left on a footing not less favorable in North America. These are to the United States than it now not placed, in the terms of the is.' act, on the same footing as the Although it may be most truly ships coming from the colonies stated that there exists, at this time, of the West Indies.

no intention to make any alteraWith respect to the latter, the tion in the commercial policy of express provision made for the Great Britain, and equally that direct intercourse with those colo- there is no disposition on the part nies, together with the simultane- of His Majesty's Government to ous repeal of the several Ameri- restrict, in any measure, the comcan acts which interdict, at pres- mercial relations between this ent, the carriage of goods from country and the United States, the United States to West Indian yet the positive condition to mainports, in ships having arrived from tain unchanged, or upon any parother ports in the British domin- ticular footing of favor, every part ions, appear fully to warrant the of our system of trade affecting expression before quoted, of Mr. our intercourse with America, McLane, that the act would con- could not, with propriety, be made fer on British vessels all those privi- the subject of any specific enleges, as well in the circuitous as gagement connected with the rein the direct voyage, which Great newal of the colonial intercourse. Britain has at any time demanded. Whether that intercourse be reBut with regard 10 the continen- newed or not, it ought to remain tal colonies, there is merely a at all times as free as it now is, provision for admitting to entry, both to the Government of Great in the ports of the United States, Britain and to that of the United British vessels or their cargoes States, to adopt, from time to time, from the islands, provinces, or such commercial regulations as colonies of Great Britain, on or either State may deem to be exnear the North American conti- pedient for its own interests, connent, and north or east of the sistently with the obligations of United States.' It inust indeed existing treaties. be presumed that vessels from It is due to the candor with these colonies are intended to be which the communications of Mr admitted upon the same terms, in McLane have been made on this all respects, and to be entitled to subject, that the undersigned the same privileges, as British should be thus explicit in noticing ships from any other British colo- the passage in the bill to which he ny:

has now adverted. The act of Congress requires, Mr McLane, in his note of the as a further condition, that, when 12th ultimo, has described and

explained the material diminution His Majesty's Government will which has been made in the duties continue to look with an earnesi payable in the United States on desire to afford them such protecihe importation of certain articles tion by discriminating duties, as of colonial produce. This mea- may appear to be consistent with sure has been viewed by His Ma- the interests of other parts of His jesty's Government with sincere Majesty's dominions, and with a satisfaction, as indicating a dispo- sound policy in the commercial sition to cultivate a commercial relations of this country with all intercourse with His Majesty's other States. colonies upon a footing of greater The undersigned has thought it freedom and reciprocal advantage desirable that this point should than has hitherto existed. But be distinctly understood on both the undersigned must frankly state, sides, in order that no doubt should that, in the general consideration exist of the right of Great Britain of the question now to be deter- to vary those duties from time to mined, no weight ought to be as- time, according to her own views signed to the reduction of those of expediency, unfettered by any duties, as forming any part of the obligation expressed or implied, grounds on which the re-establish- towards the United States or any ment of the intercourse may be other country. acceded to. Those changes are The undersigned adverts again part of the general scheme of with satisfaction to the verbal extaxation which the government of planations which he has received America may, at all times, impose from Mr McLane of those passaor modify, with the same freedom ges in the act of Congress which as that which Great Britain may have not appeared to the underexercise in the regulation of any signed to be literally adapted to part of its system of duties; and the provisions of the act of Parit is the more essential that His liament of 1825. He concurs Majesty's Government should not with Mr McLane in thinking that contract, by implication, any en- these will be found to have been gagement towards that of the merely apparent deviations from United States with respect to such the conditions of that statute, bealterations, because His Majesty's cause the whole of the recent Governmenthave already had proceedings of the American Gorunder their consideration the ex- ernment and Legislature in this pediency of introducing some matter have been manifestly and modifications into the schedule expressly founded upon a deterof duties attached to the act of mination to conform 10 it. Any Parliament of 1825, with a view other view of the subject would more effectually to support the be entirely at variance with the interests of the British North tenor of the several communicaAmerican colonies. To those in- tions from Mr McLane before adterests, fostered, as they have in- verted to, which have all been cidentally been, by the suspension conformable to the explicit propoof the intercourse between the sition contained in his note of the United States and the West Indies, 12th December, 1829, that the

Government of the United States Mr Van Buren to Mr McLane. should now comply with the con

Department of State, ditions of the act of Parliament Washington, Oct. 5, 1630.

} of July 5, 1825, by an express

Sır: Your despatch of the law, opening their ports for the 20th August was, on the 3d inadmission of British vessels, stant, received at this Department, and by allowing their entry with and with its contents laid before the same kind of British colonial the President. produce as may be imported in You will perceive by the inAmerican vessels, the vessels of closed proclamation, and instrucboth countries paying the same tions from the Treasury Departcharges; suspending the alien ment to the collectors of customs, duties on British vessels and car- that the President has adopted goes, and abolishing the restric- without reserve the construction tions in the act of Congress of given to the act of Congress of 1823 to the direct intercourse be- the 29th of May, 1830, by Lord tween the United States and the Aberdeen and yourself, by acBritish colonies; and that such a cepting the assurance of the Britlaw should be immediately follow- ish Government, with the accomed by a revocation of the British panying explanations, as a comorder in Council of the 27th July, pliance with its requisitions, and 1826, the abolition or suspension by doing all that was necessary of all discriminating duties on to carry the proposed arrangeAmerican vessels in the British ment into complete effect on the colonial ports, and the enjoyment, part of the United States. By by the United States, of the ad- virtue of the President's proclamavantages of the act of Parliament tion, and the operation of the act of the 5th July, 1825. It only of Congress above referred to, remains, therefore, for the under- our restrictive acts are repealed, signed to assure Mr McLane that, and the ports of the United States if the President of the United opened to British vessels coming States shall determine to give from any of the British colonial effect to the act of Congress, in possessions mentioned in both conformity with the construction sections of the act upon the terms put upon its provisions both by stated in that act, and in the acMr McLane and by the under- companying instruction. The signed, all difficulty on the part of President does not doubt that, Great Britain, in the way of a having thus given effect to the renewal of the intercourse be- arrangement on the part of this tween the United States and the Government, that of Great BritWest Indies, according to the ain will without delay do what is soregoing proposition made by Mr necessary on its side to remove McLane, will thereby be removed. all existing obstructions to the

The undersigned has the honor renewal of the intercourse beto renew to Mr McLane the as- tween the United States and the surances of his highest consider- British colonial possessions referation.

ABERDEEN. red to, according to the proposiLouis McLANE, Esq. &c, &c, &c.

tion submitted by you and accepted the sphere of his authority, which by that Government. He allows may contribute to confirm the himself also to expect that the good understanding 'so happily circumstance that the ports of the established. United States are forthwith open It is also to me a pleasing duty to British vessels, while the open- to express to you, as I am directing of those of Great Britain ed to do, the entire satisfaction of must await the action of the Brit- the President with your conduct ish Government, thus producing on this important occasion. The temporarily an unequal operation, untiring zeal, patriotic exertions, will iduce his Majesty's Govern- and great ability, which you have ment to give to the matter its displayed in the difficult negotiaearliest attention.

tion thus satisfactorily concluded, The President has derived realize all the anticipations he had great satisfaction from the candor formed from the employment of and liberality wbich have charac- your talents in this important branch terized the conduct of his Ma- of the public service, and entiile jesty's ministers throughout the you to the thanks of your country. negotiation, and particularly in To these sentiments I beg leave not suffering the inadvertencies to add the expression of my own of our legislation, attributable to unqualified approbation of all your the haste and confusion of the acts since the commencement of closing scenes of the session, to your mission near the Governdefeat or delay the adjustment of ment of Great Britain. a question, with respect to the I am, with great respect, your substance of which, and the obedient servant, interests of the two countries, in

M. VAN BUREN. its adjustment, both Governments Louis McLANE, Esq. Entoy Extraare now happily of one opinion. ordinary, &c. &c. He cherishes the most lively anticipations of the solid benefits By the President of the United which will flow from the trade

States of America. that is about to revive, as well as

A PROCLAMATION. of the benign influence which the Whereas, by an act of the Consatisfactory removal of a long gress of the United States, passed standing and vexatious impedi- on the twentyninth day of May, ment to the extension of their one thousand eight hundred and commercial intercourse is calcu- thirty, it is provided, that, whenlated to exercise upon the rela- ever the President of the United tions between the two countries. States shall receive satisfactory It is his wish that you should make evidence that the Government of his Majesty's Government ac- Great Britain will open the ports quainted with these sentiments, in its colonial possessions in the and assure it that he will neglect West Indies, on the continent of no opportunity which may pre- South America, the Bahama sent itself, to prove his sincere islands, the Caicos, and the Berdesire to strengthen and improve muda or Somer islands, to the those relations by every act within vessels of the United States, for

量

a

an indefinite or for a limited term; higher duty of tonnage or impost, that the vessels of the United or charge of any description whatStates, and their cargoes, on en- ever, than would be levied on the tering the colonial ports aforesaid, vessels of the United States, or shall not be subject to other or their cargoes, arriving from the higher duties of tonnage or impost, said British possessions, and that or charges of any other description, it shall be lawful for the said Britthan would be imposed on British ish vessels to import into the vessels, or their cargoes, arriving United States, and to export in the said colonial possessions therefrom, any article or articles from the United States; that the which may be imported or exportvessels of the United States may ed in vessels of the United States; import into the said colonial pos- and that the act, entitled “An act sessions, from the United States, concerning navigation,' passed on any article or articles which could the eighteenth day of April, one be imported in a British vessel in- thousand eight hundred and eigh10 the said possessions from the teen, an act supplementary thereto, United States; and that the ves- passed the fifteenth day of May, sels of the United States may ex- one thousand eight hundred and port from the British colonies twenty, and an act, entitled · An afore-mentioned, to any country act to regulate the commercial whatever, other than the dominions intercourse between the United or possessions of Great Britain, States and certain British ports,' any article or articles that can be passed on the first day of March, exported therefrom in a British one thousand eight hundred and vessel, to any country other than twentythree, shall, in such case, the British dominions or posses- be suspended or absolutely repealsions aforesaid

aforesaid — leaving the ed, as the case may require : commercial intercourse of the And whereas, by the said act, United States with all other parts it is further provided, that whenof the British dominions or pos- ever the ports of the United States sessions on a footing not less favor- shall have been opened under the able to the United States than it authority thereby given, British now is — that then, and in such vessels and their cargoes shall be case, the President of the United admitted to an entry in the ports States shall be authorized, at any of the United States, from the time before the next session of islands, provinces, or colonies of Congress, to issue his proclama- Great Britain, on tion, declaring that he has received North American continent, and such evidence; and that, there- north or east of the United States : upon, and from the date of such And whereas, satisfactory eviproclamation, the ports of the dence has been received by the United States shall be opened President of the United States, indefinitely, or for a term fixed, that, whenever he shall give effect as the case may be, to British to the provisions of the act aforevessels coming from the said Brit- said, the Government of Great ish colonial possessions and their Britain will open, for an indefinite cargoes, subject to no other or period, the ports in its colonial

or

near the