Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-11

lis however due TO candor to state exPh'
city all the circumstances OF the case, as
far as they are known, in order that the pub
lie may BE- able to form dehnitive opinion
on the subject.
Itis matter OF general notoriety that the
duties now levied upon foreign merchandise
in the ports Of Florida, are much lower than
those imposed in the ports OF the unisea
States. 1t has been reported at the Havana
and Pensacola, that commercial speculatlons
are in train of execution, by which I'M
mense quantities of foreign merchandise are
intended to be introduced into those places,
before they are transferred to the on"eo
States. It is even rumored in some OF the
commercial cities Of this country that expoi.
.ation of merchandise Tor the benefit OF
draw back is contemplated. to large amount
with the intention Of importing them af'ef-
wards into Pensacola. and 81. Augustine
before their transfer to the United States
These specula,ions are founded upon Inc
idea, that merchandise found in those pia'
ces, at the time they are transferred TO The
United States, may be lawfully introduced
into the states, without payment OF the ou'
ties of Importation. The correctness OF this
idea, may well be questioned II true
that the act, authorizing the President to
take possession Of the Floridas, extends to
them the revenue laws ofthe United States,
so far as relates to the collection OF the re-
venue. By the operation OF these laws the
merchandise imported into the Floridas, ale
ter possession is delivered, and consequent
~ after the revenue laws begin TO operate,
may be lawfully imported into the United
States. By the treaty, the inhabitants are
to be protected in their persons, property y
religion, until they are Incorporated into the
Union. Under these provisions 1t by no
means follows, that merchandise imported
for the consumption of the inhabitants OF
the territory, can be introduced into the ge-
neral consumption Of the United States,
without paying the duties OF importation ex'
acted by the laws Of the Union. Before the
transfer, these duties would have been ex-
acted upon all merchandise imported into the
United States from the Floridas.
There is nc reason for relaxing this rule,
in favor Of merchandise imported into them
before the transfer. The duties imposed by
the u. States have not been paid upon them,
and in Justice to the fair American importer,
they ought not TO be permitted to enter into
the general consumption of the Union With
out paying those duties 1t is 10 be Presun-
ed, then, that measures will be taken by the
government to prevent an abuse ct this ma
ture, and that the merchandise found there
at the time that possession is taken OF the
Floridas, will not be permitted to be intro
duced into the United States. This APP
pears to US to be the most favorable view
of the subjec, that can be taken.
There can be no difficulty in assuming
that all importations made previous to the
transfer, with view TO the supply OF the
United States, without paying the duties OF
importation required BY the revenue laws,
are fraudulent as to the United States. IT,,
therefore, appears to be reasonable, that
the government should consi Ter such impor-
tations unlawful s. subj ect the merchandise
TO conde mnation. Ii instead Of seizing and
prosecuting such merchandise to condemna'
tion. the government should he content to SUBJ
ice, it to the duties imposed by the revenue
laws, the parties ought to telicitate them
selves upon the extension OF degree CT
clen,ency on the part Of the government, to
which their conduct presented no well fouG-
ded claims
We are not aware OF the particular views
of the government in relation to this sub
iect. We have ventuled upon the express
sion of such as appeared to US likely to be
entertained by it. We shall rejoice if the
an,icipations here presented should not be
realized, as we shall take more pleasure in
coumenda,io than in blame.
Nep York, June s.
LATEST FROM ENGLAND.
By the arrival of the ship Governor
Griswold. capt Meader, in SO days from
Liverpool. the editors of the New York
Daily Advertiser have received the Liver
pool Advertiser of Saturday, April a.
AS ca pt. Meader, sailed on the following
day, viz. Sunday, this was the latest pa
per that he could bring. We have select