Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-07-02
From tie National htelligencsr.
FRENCH TREATY.

We had in our last the satisfaction
Go lay before our readers the Trea-
~ lately concluded, in this city. be-
tween the Secretary of State and the
Minister of France and we now pro-
pose briefly to examine its contents.
The first and second articles limit
the amount of the discriminating duty
which shall hereafter be imposed, by
the government of either country. on
merchandise imported into the coun-
tries respectively in the vessels of the
other country, viz 90 francs per ton of
merchandise, on American goods i'm.
ported into France by our vessels, and
three dollars and seventy five cents per
ton on French goods imported into this
country by French vessels. The mea-
sure of Limitation, which neither party
is to exceed, being the same, the duty
may be considered equal, and is at least
founded on principle of reciprocity.
AS the produce of the United States is
more bulky than that which is received
from France in return for it, this duty,
though of equal amount, may operate
in favor of France. If any thing be
yielded in this respect, it has lbeen in a
spirit of accommodation, and from a
sincere desire to get rid of the difficult
ties which have lately embarrassed the
intercourse between the two countries,
The Sd article provides that no dis
eliminating duty shall be imposed, in
either country. on goods imported in
vessels of the other for transit or re.ex.
portation. This provision appears to
be perfectly fair and reciprocal, and at
least unexceptionable.
Article defines what shall consti.
tute in each country the ton of mer
chandize, establishing in that respect,
likewise, a perfect equality. This arti-
Gle is of some Importance, because it
defines what was before uncertain and
unequal, and obviates any difficulties
which might arise, in regard to duties,
from varience in the mode of compu-
ting the ton of merchandise.
Article limits the tonnage duty to
an equal amount in each country, viz {:
5 francs per ton of the register of our
vessels, and ga cents on Rthe ton of
the passport of French vessels. This
article stands on precisely the same
footing as articles | and2.
The 9th article provides the manner
in which sailors of each nation shall be
reclaimed when DESERVING their vessels
in the ports of the other. This is to be
done by an appeal to the civil power,
through the Consuls or Vice Consuls :;
by which course the usages and laws of
the government will be observed. At
one period, by our treaty with France,
the Consuls had themselves this power,
without the intervention Of the judicial
authority: more recently there have
been no regulations on the subject. 1t
is in itself right that provision like
this should exist for the reclamation of
seanen. 1t preserves the commerce
between the two countries because,
when the sailors are allowed to abscond
from their vessels in a foreign port
without remedy, the vessels are de-
tanned at great loss, SC. and sometimes
are not able, on that account, to prose-
cute their voyage. At present, in some
OF the states, the state laws authorize
the reclamation of seamen: in others
they do not. This provision places the
matter, as to France, on national
footing, establishing the same rule in
one port as in another; which is in eve
ry respect desirable.
The seventh article limits the dara-
ton OF the treaty to two years, or until
another treaty is made: reserving the
right of either party, to renounce it, by
an express declaration. This reserva-
ton, we presume, may be considered
merely nominal, as we'll as the contin-
gent provision ola de6uitive treaty.
We presume that this treaty will be
ratified by both parties, and NAV be
considered permanent In which case
the remainder of this article will 90 in.
to effect, namely, that, after the expi-
ration oftwo years from October next,
the extra duties described in the first
and sscond articles shall be reduced,
on both sides, one-fonrth each year
Thus we shall happily get rid OF this