Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-17

colonies q tonnage duty OF 81 cents, and 10 per
cent. in addition 10 the duties; charges never made
before. Both our and their alien duties operate
solely as revenue; under which we pay ten where
they pay one. The proclamation did not direct
the alien duties 10 be charged; and the collector at
Passport did not charge them, (being advised by
counsel that he could not,) until he received the
Treasury circular. The Treasury charged his ac-
count herewith; and congress relieved him at the
last session.
On the LIST March 1928, Congress passed an act,
recirrocating the act of Parliament, on condition
that no higher greater duties OF mposts or ton
mage were imposed vessels Of the United States,
than vessels of their their cargoes; and
no other charges of any kind on the one. than on
the other; giving full authority to the President to
issue proclamation conformably thereto" No
proclamation, however, has been Issued; nor any
step taken, except in a circular from the Treasury
to the collectors, dated 25th Aug. 1928, which sim
| ply confirms the payment of the alien duties on
British vessels entering from any of the colonies
aforesaid! An open trade has continued ever since;
and British vessels from these colonies admitted
into the ports of the United States under the pro-
clamation of August 1922, notwithstanding that
the vessels of the United States subjected to
| higher duties of imposts and tonnage, than any
payable by British vessels.
| Permit me TO take view of the act OF Psrla-
nen, 10 whether its operation is such as TO
carrying trade betw cen the United States and the
colonies alluded to in the act
| That act opens to The vessels OF the u. States
certain ports in which certain specified duties are
charged on articles of the United States, SO whe
ther the same be imported direct from the United
States in British American vessels, or circuit
( ously, In British vessels, from the European pos
sessions OF Great Briisin'' But duty whatever
is imposed on similar articles. the produce SC.
SC. OF Grea, Britain or Ireland or of The North
American colonies. Thus the -four OF Canada,
Crest Britain and Ireland, and the lumber OF the
colonies may be imported free of duty. The duty
on barrel of -four in Jamaica Is 81 O5, which
is equal to the freight and insurance from any port
in the United States. II is probable, however,
that the freight from MONT cal and Quebec may
cost more IN addition 20 this difference, our yes
sells pay the alien tonnage of 81 cts; charge Of
about 10 cents per barrel which with the 10 per
cent additional duty, makes a charge OF 10 I-2
cents Per barrel on flour, when imported in an
! American vessel, more than would be payable it
imported in British vessel from the United States.
II we h'd not charged the alien duties, they would
not have inn oseI their retaliation; and the only
thing we could have complained OF a 10 that article,
would have been, that the -four of Great Britain
and of Canada is admitted duty free, while ours
paid 81 o. per barrel. Great 3 itsin, il is known
exports little Of her -four 20 the West Indies,
but actually supple. them with our llour, which is
imported into Liverpool and warehoused for ex
porta,ion. The Cansdas only export during
six months in the year. They actually export
none TO Jsmaic, The islands are generally sup
piled from the United Siate- either direct or with
our flour from Nova Scotia or Great Britain, all
paying The same duties II, then, were re-
lieyed from the alien duties OF impos,s and tonnage,
there De little doubt tina; our -four would go
direct; and that 3d. at least, perhaps 34hs there
OF, wouId be carried in American vessels Even
under all these Disadvantages, il is certain that
more than ten barrels of -four are exported TO the
colonies, in American vessels, for one British.
Lumber is charged with duties when from the
United States, and pays duty when Imported
into the British West Indies when from her Anne,
ricsn Colonies; this gives advantage 10 the
Colonial vessels over these OF the Uni.ed States
in particular kinds OF lumber. But it is Inistak
70 suppose tie disadvantage falls on the Eastern
States only, and particularly on Maine:'' for the
act IL, that lumber is exported in great quantities.
il ON all the Southern States 10 The British West
Indies but particularly from North Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama. and Norfolk. White pine boards
and plank it i true, exported in great quanti-
ties from the Eastern State; but pitch pine, in
planks and boards, shingles and slaves, exported
chiefly from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and
Norfolk. Large quantities OF saves were former
ly exported from Mar yand, and other states, and
many are still exported. The duty. (NIr. Adams
says,) is ten per cent. on the cost cannot think
that 20 small duty weulI operate very power
fully: we could not be worse oil: for we have now
not only to pay that duty, but 10 per cent there
on; and what IS more onerois the 81 cents Of ton
mage duty.
Flour and lumber, are, believe, the articles on
which we bottom oar complaints; Indian corn may
be another; it is free OF duty from Nova Scotia:
none, however, has ever been imported from theace
i"to Jamaica; indeed, am informed that The corn
4 the United States is imported into that colony
for It's consumption. Or IN pays the heavy
duty OF twelve and half cents per bushel, being
% per cent. on its average cost, ard may have
been imposed 10 induce the Planters to continue
its cultivation
There are several valuable articles necessary TO
the West Indies, which can only be drawn from
the United States; the retaliation duties on which
TAIL heavily on the merchants an5 cuItiva,or | am
-urprized that they not carried by British ships
alone. II, however, they carried (as am
told they are principally in our vessels, they are
subjected 20 the heavy charge of alien duties which
might have been avoided. The articles are Rec
l0dian Corn, Corn Mesl, (l,iln-drie) Tar Pitch.
furpentlme, Tobacco, Peas, Ship Bead, Pilot
Bread, trackers, Live stock, and Pitch Pine
Boards, Plank, and Timber; those articles are,
with few exceptions, from The South and Middle
States.
Mr.. Adams On MS letter 10 MIR. Rush. OF 25fh
June, 1920 mentions an export duty in the ".
Indies, payable on articles permitted 10 be expor-
ted 10 the United Staie, cf four to five rer cent
not imposed ON III" same when imported 10 the
North American Col0nie. He Justly considered
il Is an additional injury to a fir in'erconr.e-
But, u such duty really charged; II certainly i.
not on the exports from Jamaica. | have before
me an invoice of Coffee dated 2Stb Noveuber
Zee, Sugar, ard other articles, for Mr.. Patterson.
of December, 1923 in which mo such cb,-.. H.