Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-15
Neg York, august 10
FROM FRANCE.

" he violent step taken Dy your congress
in relation to the tonnage duty, has, as you
expected, made here the greatest sensation,
and will necessarily produce total change
in the direction of trade. There appears
no doubt but that duty of 100 francs per
ton will be laid on American vessels by way
of reprisals and as it is conceived that
this measure would be illusory if coItons
brought to Antwerp, Liverpool, &c. by A.
merCan vessels we're allowed free entrance
here il is asked for prohibition against the
importation in France of American cotton
from every country in Europe. even by
French vessels. 1t is possible that other
additional measures will be adopted such
as the enforcement in some respects of
the navigation act, by which the Importation
OF your produce would be prohibited except
by French and American vessels, allowing
sufficient time for the law to be known; or
such as an uniform duty on cotton, without
distinction Of long and short staple; which
is highly solicited by the people Of Brazils,
and would shift our consumption from Anne
rican to Brazil cotton We must all agree
il it be true, as has been alledged, that all
this noise is created with the sole view OF
forcing US into a negotiation, that the cor
rect measure bias been overrun, and that the
effect given to it by It's application to vessels
which could know nothing of it before their
departure from France, is such palpable
injustice that none on either side, has under
taken its defence. The owners of vessels
who will have to pay duty higher than
their value, Insisted, in the first moment,
upon the immediate seizure of all American
vessels, and it was with gre at deal of pain
that those, who, being not exposed to suffer
so much were able to keep their blood cool
er, could prevail on them to look for their
indemnity to the counteryaling duty which
will be resorted to- We are now waiting to
see what government will decide on this
subject"
Upland Cotton, brisk at 80 to IS; Sea ISL
and, 81: Louisiana, 80; rice 35 a Sc.
Translated for the New York EUening Post.
Extract from the Constitutional, June "A.
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
Mr.. Casimer PeIler-ln addressing you
now, gentlemen, my intention IS not Tor the
present to support or oppose the proposals
tor the budget OF The navy, but merely 10
awaken tn. attention OF the chamber and OF
the government 10 all event which Is init
mateiy connected with the question now I'M
der consideration. Profound siltnce.l An
important decision OF the government OF the
United States has just been made known
Should tins decision, which consider as au-
thentlc, oe connimed, 1t doubtless Will have
a most serious influence on our commercial
relations, and w.ii prove highly pre]udIcIal
to the interest Ut The merchants ana shippers
Of our seaport towns. Ii appears certain
that The American government has land
tonnage duty oil IL DOS. On French vessels
entering its ports. Tins duty amount, to
aboul lUU francs per ton. such asduty: gen
tleuen, is equivalent 10 real prohibition
it is not only destructive OF all luture means
OF commercial intercourse with the United
States, but, also, II exposes iOmevitabie ruin
the owners Ut shipments commenced, made,
or ON their Nay TO the United States. The
losses which may result from this measure
ought to be attributed to those who have not
made all their exertions 10 avert STORM
which was necessarily to burst upon US, ow
ing 10 the want OF foresight that presided IN
the establishment OF our relations with the
several maritime trading powers, and to
those who have not delgnea 10 initiate The
example of England, who has just adopted
the system OF reciprocity in most OF her re-
latlons with the United States. Tue Amer-
cans have long since demonstrated agains.
the great disparity OF our custom house sys-
TEN towards them, and against the charges of
every description to which their vessels are
subjected IN our ports. 1t is asserted that
the American government, to prove lis de-
sire OF preserving profitable and amlcabie
relations with France, has uade the most
conciilatory proposals, and endeavored lo
establish reciprocal conditions Tor the com
merce anu navigation of both nations, re
presenting twas impossible that free anu
enlightened government should submit any
longer to see Its interests suffer by series