Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-17

American Colonies; this gives all advantage 70
the Colonial vessels over those Of the United
States in particular kinds Of lumber But ii is
mistake to suppose thatthe disadvantage falls
on the Eastern States only, sand particularly on
| Maine;" for the fact is, that lumberis exported
in great quantities, from all the Southern States
to the British West Indies, but particularly from
North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and NOR
folk. White pine boards and plank, It is true,
are exported, and in great quantities, from the
Eastern States; but pitch pine, In planks ana
boards, shingles and slaves, are exported chief
| ly from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, &
| Norfolk. Large quantities of slaves were Tor
merly exported from Maryland, and other
States. and many are still exported. The duty
| (Mr. Adams says is 10 per cent on the cost
| cannot think that so small duty would OPP
| crate very powerfully; we could not be worse Oft
| for we have now, NOT only TO pay that duty, but
| 10 per cent. thereon, and what Is more onerous,
the "a cents Of tonnage duty
| Flour and lumber, are, believe, the articles
on which we bottom our complaints; Indian
corn may be another; ii is free Of duty from No
va Scotia; none, however, has ever been import
ed from thence INFO Jamaica; indeed, | am in
formed that the corn of tho United States, is
imported into that Colony for its own consump-
ton. Our corn pays the heavy duty OF twelve
and an half cents per bushel, being twenty-five
per cent. on its average cost, and may have been
imposed to induce the Planters TO continue its
cultivation.
There arc several valuable articles necessary
to the West Indies, which can only be drawn
from the United States: the retaliation duties on
which fall heavily on the merchants and culiva-
tor. / am surprized that they are not carried
by British ships alone. If, however. they are
carried Gas am told they are, principally in
our vessels, they are subjected to the heavy
charge of alien duties, which nigh, have been
avoided The articles are Rice, Indian Corn,
Corn Meal, (kiln.dried) Tar, Pitch, Turpen-
tine, Tobacco, Peas, Ship Bread, Piot-Bread,
Crackers, Livestock, and Pitch Pine Boards,
Plank, and Timber; those articles are, with few
exceptions, from the South and Middle States.
Mr.. Adams Gin his letter to Mr. Rush, of Esd
June, 1922 mentions an export duty in the
West Indies, payable on articles permitted to
be exported 20 the United States, of four to
five per cent. no: imposed on the same when
imported to the North American Colonies
He Justly considered it as an additional injury
10 fair intercourse. But, is such duty really
charged? 1t certainly is not on the exports
from Jamaica. / have before me an invoice Of
Coffee, dated 18th November, 1928, for account
of Mr. McKim, and one of Coffee, Sugar, and
other articles, for Mr. Patterson, Of December,
1928, in which no such charge has been made
nor is any such duty in Jamaica known to any
of our merchants. | have conversed with two
agents from Commercial houses in Jamaica. &
they Say they know Of no export duty except
on Cocoa & Ginger, which is paid by all par
ties One of them supposes that the idea such
a duty may have arisen from the following TACT:
In the year, Parliament passed an act,
imposing tax on the Planters offour per cent.
OH ali the exports from their estates. The tax
was resisted by the Islands, as being viola
ton of their charters; after much controversy,
Jamaica offered, in lieu thereof, that the Colony
would pay the white troops employed for It's de-
fence-the offer was accepted. The other l.
stands being unable to adopt the compromise.
have paid the four per cent If on export, II
must have been paid by the North American
Colonies and Great Britain: for the ships OF no
foreign nation were admitted
The port charges, and pilotage OF vessels
from the United States, are the same in Jamai-
ca, whether they be British or American, Tex
cept on the retalatory du,ies) British vessels
from the North American Provinces, pay pre-
cisely the same port charges and pilotage as
those from the United St"tes.
II is idle for US 10 complain that British ships
only are permitted to carry from one Colony to
another; tina, is, to ali intents, the same as our
coastng trade.
Again: if Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland
were able to supply the West Indies with their
own flour, on which no duty would be payable,
whilst ours paid duty, then our trade with the
Islands would be less useful, but we would have
no just cause of complaint, the same principle
exists now: for the grain and flour Of Canada
are admitted into Great Britain, when the aver
age price in the market is less than that at
which the same may be imported from the U.
States, still we should have the supply Of the
Islands with many articles, as already stated,
which cannot be supplied from Great Britain,
or any Of her possessions. cannot perceive
any cause we have to fear competition in the
article Of FOUR or in any other article, which
we are permitted to import into the Colonies
on the terms proposed by the act Of Parliament
Let the alien duties be repealed on both sides,
and our enterprise, our proximity, and our ar
ficles essential 10 the Islands, will do the rest
The profit 10 the merchant in the West INDIA
trade, is triAing, in general, it scarcely pays
moderate freight; but the trade gives employ to
our vessels and seamen, and demands much OF