The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to correct an error into which her Majesty's Government seems to have fallen with reference to the request made by the undersigned, on behalf of the Government of the United States on the subject.
The Government of the United States is not unaware of the difference between the system on which coast lights are maintained in the United States, and the system on which such lights are maintained in the United Kingdom. On the contrary, the undersigned alluded to that difference in the former communication he had the honor to make to Viscount Palmerston with reference to them. That fact does not, however, diminish the pressure of this tax upon the shipping of the United States. And while the undersigned disclaims all intention of discussing the particular mode by which the lights of the United Kingdom are maintained, he still cherishes the hope that there is nothing in that system to prevent the changes for which his Government have asked.
The Federal Government does not rest this request on the provisions of the convention of 1815. Lord Palmerston justly says, that "it is no part of the engagements of that treaty, that the internal system and local arrangements of the two countries upon commercial matters shall be the same."
Neither does it seek to view the present Navigation Law of the United Kingdom as liberating the commerce of the United States from this tax. Were that the case, there would have been no occasion to instruct the undersigned to make the communication of the 31st Dec. last.
The Federal Government rests this request solely on the fact that the commerce of Great Britain enjoys without charge, the lights, beacons, and buoys maintained by the United States on a coast several thousand miles in extent; while the commerce of the United States is heavily taxed for the support of similar lights, beacons, and buoys in the United Kingdom. In view of this fact it asks her Majesty's Government to meet the liberality of the United States with reciprocal liberality. And as an additional reason for granting a request, it points to the present commercial policy of the two nations, founded professedly on the principle of reciprocity; and it invites her Majesty's Government to extend the principle still farther, and treat the commerce of the United States as liberally as the United States treat the commerce of the United Kingdom.
The undersigned trusts that no question will arise in regard to any supposed incompleteness in the mutual application of that principle of reciprocity in matters of navigation contained in the act 12 and 13 Victoria, cap. 29, to render necessary the discussion for which Viscount Palmerston expresses the readiness of her Majesty's Government.
The undersigned has great pleasure in learning that the expediency of adopting such a course as that of the United States, has been from time to time suggested, and renews the expression of the hope that her Majesty's Government may devise some way to remove or to lighten this burden, which now falls so heavily on the commerce of the United States, The undersigned, &c. (Signed)Abbott Lawrence.
