Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-12

of Mr.. MALLARY, reviewed ut consd .rable
length the political and commercial relations,
w'ssch for a long period, have sul,sistcd be-
tween this country and Portugal. We had
long exported, he said, vas: quantities of -four
I" that country but at length the government
laid duty Of 81 per barrel on all the flour inn
ported into that Kingdom, from this country,
and gave privileges and held out Inducements
TO the nobility to erect mills, which was done,
and they were in great measure supplied
with wheat from Poland. Ourpeopleexported
no wheat. They manufactured il themselves !;
hut the duty which was intended us prohibit
ton, was severely felt, and our government
sent minister To that court TO obtain repeal
of the duty. Ministers, however, are not
always the best negucators in mercantile con-
Germs and the object was not effected. But
1t was afterwards accomplished by Consul
General who was thoroughly acquainted with
commercial subjects, and the duty was taken
oil. Subsequently, the court was removed
to Brazis, from which it has recently returned
To Europe. But the duty Of 81 per barrel
has been renewed for the purpose of encourag-
ing agriculture, and Of giving il new direc-
ton, instead OF cultivating almost exclusively
the wine. The government of that country
has thought us to be hostile-partcularly
from the greater duties we imposed upon the
wines of Madeira and Fayal, than upon the
wines Of other countries. Large quantities of
corn are sent from this cOuntry to Ma
deira and they are, understood to he
about pctitioninS the Cortes to impose res
trlctons upon the importation Of our corn !;
and the consequence may be, that we may
be wholly deprived of the benefits uf that
trade. Atlattempts to reduce our enormous
duties upon thesc wines have hitherto been
Intellectual, because they are drank by the
rich, without seemingto regard theimportance
of the trade. Mr.. S. further observed that he
thought IL expcdient not to withhold the APP
preparation, inasmuch as the President had
recommended the measure; and, should we
refuse, the consequences and the responsible
ty Of that refusal will rest upon us.
Mr.. MALLARY remarked that the Object of
sending Ministers abroad was for the purposes,
either Of policy or commerce. In relation 10
policy, he thoughta Minister was not necess,-
ry. The government Of Portugal was not
formidable, either at sea or on land. With
respect to commerce it was evident from the
statement of the gentleman from Maryland
Mr.. Smith, that commercial object, which
Minister could not effect, Consul General
was competent to accomplish. Mr.. NJ. there
fore thought Charge dcs AlYares was ade-
quate to the object. There were twenty
places in Europe where we send no Minister,
of more commercial Importance To this coun-
try than Lisbon. Mr.. NJ. adverted 10 sta
tlsfio report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury,
TO shew the superiority OF the trade of either
countries and he particularly referred TO
Holland, Denmark. and Sweden The latter
nation was certainly at least equal in dignity,
and Superior in strength, to Portugal, and
was as well entitled to expect a Minister from
US as the latter government and with res
pect to the BraZils, he believed they would
emancipate themselves from the control of
the parent country, whenever they thought
proper To dissolve the conncXion, and assume
their independence. Mr.. Maary concluded
by moving to transpose the word Lisbon, so
as to provide for Charge des AlTaires in that
country, instead ola Minister.
Mr.. SMITH replied, by referring to the Mes
sag" of the President of the United States d.
the opening of the session. He observed that
Portugal had expressed sincere desire to
renew friendly intercourse, and, he under
stood, had actually appointed Minister to
tins country. The gentleman from Vermont,
Mr.. MalIary,l had said that the trade with
Portugal was unimportant. He (Mr. ST. adj
mItted IT, and it was to restore it to import
ance that the mission was proposed. A charge
des aiialres might he adequate if, as in the case
oil Sweden, treaty was already subsisting (;
hut we want Il Minister TO make treaty, and
Charges DIES AGaires may afterwards be
sufficient.
The motion of Mr. .lfaila,y was further sup
ported by Mr.. Gilmer, Mr.. Hardin, and MIR.
Ross, and opposed by Mr.. Wright, Mr.. Poin.
sell, Mr. Bdldpin, Mr.. Wood, Mr.. Rhea, Mr..
.1reher, Mr.. Farelly, Mr.. Woodson, Mr.. .Mercer,
and MIR. Smith when the question was taken,
and the motion was negatived--yeas 81.
The question for expenses of carrying into
. he r
the Treaty of Client, being under considera-
Mr.. Cooke Observed that ne should be op-
posed to making any further appropriation
Tor that object, until he was informed that
those Commissioners had settled their ac-
counts. They had heretofore been called on,
but only one class OF them, TO his knowledge,
had obeyed the call and, among the charges
It included, was to be found expenses incurred
for fish-hooks, and fishing nets. and bacon
hams, and other like items, that did not seem
to be a proper expenditure for the nation
The business had heen already protracted 8
years, almost as long as it took to destroy
Troy; and If we go on, said he, appropriating
kom session to session, it will become a life
estate to those concerned. He was averse to
placing any more money in their hands, until
they had accounted for what they had already
received and he moved to- I'll the blank with
the sum of twelve thousand Eve hundred dol
lars.
MIR. F. JOHNSON advcrted to the law ofthe
last session that limits their allowance 10 a
specific salary, in lien of all other expenses.
Mr.. BALDWIN believed there had been too
lavish an expenditure of the public money ;
nor would he now vote for the appropriation,
did ne not fear the public service might suffer
from the delay refusal Of il might occasion.
II was business connected with foreign
power, and he wished the concern might BE-
closed.
Mr.. Cooke said we were told that the line