DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 681 



into the United States from any of the foregoing British dependen- 

 cies, of any articles not produced therein. We excluded the importa- 

 tion by anybody of all articles excepting the produce of each colony 

 respectively imported by itself. 



In 1823 Congress suspended the provisions of the laws of 1818 and 

 1820 in respect to certain British colonial ports, and authorized im- 

 portation of colonial produce in certain British vessels coming 

 directly therefrom, but only on the one condition that similar produce 

 might be imported in our vessels to our country on equal terms, and 

 that the British vessels thus admitted into our ports be navigated 

 by a master and at least three-fourths of the mariners British subjects. 

 The law of 1818 said not a word about American vessels, or any other 

 vessel excepting British vessels, but, as I have noted, the la\v of 1820 

 prohibited the importation of any merchandise from a British colony 

 on this continent unless it Avas the growth of the colony where laden y 

 and was brought directly to us. Nothing is said therein of exporta- 

 tion from us of merchandise in vessels not British. 



The reason of the change in 1823 in our policy was that in 1822 

 England changed her policy, and permitted American-built vessels, 

 lawfully navigated, to import certain goods directly to the West 

 Indies. Hence we declared that the law of 1823 should remain in 

 force so long only as the enumerated British colonial ports were 

 open to our vessels by the British law of June 24, 1822, but if closed 

 the President was empowered to revive our laws of 1818 and 

 406 1820. The British ports were closed to us by an act of Parlia- 

 ment on July 5, 1825, and the President thereupon, on March 

 17. 1827. proclaimed ours closed as before. 



My distinguished predecessor in this Department, Mr. Gallatin. 

 was in that year the American Minister at London, and the following 

 extract from his note to our Department of State, dated September 

 11, 1827, exhibits the situation as seen by him : 



Mr. Lluskisson said it was the intention of the British Government to con- 

 sider the intercourse of the British colonies as being exclusively under its con- 

 trol, and any relaxation from the colonial system as an indulgence, to be granted 

 on such terms as might suit the policy of Great Britain at the time it was 

 granted. I said every question of RIGHT had on this occasion been waived 

 on the part of the United States, the only object of the present inquiry being to 

 ascertain whether, as a matter of mutual convenience, the intercourse might 

 not be opened in a manner satisfactory to both countries. He (Mr. H.) said 

 that it had appeared as if America had entertained the opinion that the British 

 West Indies could not exist without her supplies, and that she might, therefore, 

 compel Great Britain to oi>en the intercourse on any terms she pleased. I dis- 

 claimed any such belief or intention on the part of the United States. But it 

 appeared to me, and I intimated it, indeed, to Mr. Huskisson, that he was 

 acting rather under the influence of irritated feelings on account of past events, 

 than with a view to the mutual interests of both parties. 



The irritation in England appears to have resulted from the inser- 

 tion in our law of 1823 of the word " elsewhere " in the second sec- 

 tion, and the incident is so suggestive of watchfulness at present 

 that I add herewith a statement of the history of that legislation 

 made in the Senate by Senator Smith, of Maryland, a few years 

 afaterwards: 



During the Session of 1822 Congress was informed that an act was pending 

 in Parliament for the opening of the colonial ports to the commerce of the 

 United States. In consequence, an act was passed authorizing the President 

 (then Mr. Monroe), in oase the act of Parliament was satisfactory to him, to 

 open the ports of the United States to British vessels by his proclamation. The 



