180 
Indiana University Studies 
Aberdeen and McLane’'/^ issued his proclamation on October 
5. In it he announced the admission to an entry in the ports 
of the United States of British vessels and their cargoes “from 
the islands, provinces, and colonies of Great Britain on or 
near the North American continent and north or east of the 
United States’’. He also declared the American acts of 1818, 
1820, and 1823 absolutely repealed.®^ The same day a note 
was hurried on its way to the American minister in London, 
in order that the period during which the American ports 
would be open to British vessels from the colonies without a 
similar right to American vessels in the colonial ports might 
be closed as quickly as possible. In thus conceding a tempo- 
rary advantage to British shipping by its prospective legisla- 
tion, the United States, as Jackson later pointed out, pursued 
a course similar to that adopted by Great Britain in abolishing 
by her act of 1825 a restriction then existing and permitting 
American vessels to clear from her colonies on their return 
voyages for any foreign country whatever, before British 
vessels had been relieved from the restriction of returning 
directly from the United States to the colonies, a restriction 
which she required and expected the United States to abolish.®® 
The appearance of the President’s proclamation was fol- 
lowed by a flood of articles in the press commending or con- 
demning the accomplishment of the Administration. On the 
one hand it was “hailed as the sign of a restoration of a good 
understanding between the two nations, an understanding 
which had unfortunately been interrupted by the manner 
in which the former negotiations were conducted”.®^ It was 
proclaimed as “one of the most important acquisitions to the 
Commerce of the United States” which had taken place “these 
last twenty years”, as “additional evidence of the good sense, 
patriotism, and wisdom of the Administration of Andrew 
Jackson”.®^ McLane likewise came in for his share of the 
glory. It had been “no light responsibility for Mr. McLane 
to undertake a mission which his predecessor had failed to ac- 
complish”; it was “no perishable honor to have succeeded 
where that able and veteran diplomatist, Mr. Gallatin, 
Senate Docs., 21 Cong,, 2 Sess., I, No. 20, p. 54, 
Richardson, Messages and Papers, II, 497-499. 
II, 503, 504. 
Philadelphia Gazette, Oct. 5, 1830. 
New York Courier and Enquirer in Natumal Intelligencer, Oct. 6, 1830. 
