Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-20


prove the prac' ice - Each, az have said well
pleased to appropriate to itself much Of the
venue, TO be derived from the trade carried on
with the British Colonial possessions, as it could
possibly acquire; and very few were disposed to
impair their agricultural and commercial interests,
by giving encouragement, at their expense. to the
particular interest OF navigation, of which they
possessed so little.
This state of things con inued from the peace OF
1888, 10 the adoption of the present Constitution
of the u. S in 1888, and IN the commencement
OF the operation of the present Federal Govern
ment under it, in 1889. A era then began,
the causes and the history of which shall be The
subject OF my next number. SEMEN.
No. IL.
The present Constitution of the United States
wen, into operation the fourth day OF March.
i 1889. ly its provisions, the different States
were expressly deprived of the authority they
formerly had, to lay iwposts, or duties on I'M
ports or exports, any duty of tonnage; and the
whole power OF regulating commerce with foreign
nations, was vested IN the Federal Government
exclusively. Endowed with such rienary and.
exclusive authority over the subject, the business
OF Navigation and Commerce claimed and re-
cevei the earliest attention OF the first Congress,
assembled under the new Constitution.
Two causes combined, to obtain such prompt
attention TO the.c subjects from the govern
ineut, anu 10 dHect the course OF It's legislation
concerning them. The first of these causes, was
the state of the finances os the United States
at that time Without funds, and already bur
\ thened with heavy debt, TO redeem the plighted
Faith of the nation, and to meet the expenses
OF their newly established government, il was
under the necessity of providing revenue, prompt
~ and certainly, IN some mode or other. BE
fore its formation, the different States compo-
sing the Union bad been in the constant habit. of
raising the greater portion OF their revenues, by
i,npositions on Commerce and Navigation. The
people of the United States we're tlris already ac-
cilsiomei to this mode of indirect taxation; and
the ironpt'tule and facility of collecting revenue
by such means, recommended them e-pe ciaily 10
The attention at Congress. Commerce and Ma
yigation, therefore, present ed themselves atsonce
20 the new government, the fit -ubie cts
of,aXation; and the sites OF the State re0uir>
ed prompt attention, to these prominent sour
of supply.
To coisc' a much needed revenue no s eyer was
not the only cause, which induced the course of
legislation thcn adopted, In relation these sub
lects. Different interests already existed, in diff
isfpi.i sections of the United States. Some OF the
States were exclusively agricultural, while others
engaged in Commerce and Navigation. To
iostrr these interests, aud particularly the latter,
OF course the policy oil the nayg ating States
and The decided superiority, which the Cons,iiu-
lon had secured to these States in the new Con-
:.ress, and until census could be taken, insured
this policy. The legislation required
by the public ,sities, was so directed by this
tcau-e.
Almost the first act of the new Congress, was
Act passed on the 2cth July, 1859, entitled,
- An Act imposing duties on tonnage" BY
this Act duty OF SIX cents per ton, was imposed
upon all vessels of the United States, enter
iag any OF ports from a foreign voyage,
~XhIe duty oil fifty cents per ton, levied
upon all foreign vessels, under the like crcum-
= stances. This discriminating duty in favor %
American navg cation, was soon after wards further
Augmented, by the passed by the same Con-
yress, the i0ih August, 1890, entitled, :" An
Act making further provision Tor he payment OF
,he debts of the United States" BY this last
act. an addition of ten per cent. was made, to
the rate OF duties imposed on merchandise import
~ IN all cases where such Importation was
in foreign vessel,
not my purpose TO enter now, into any
isson, as to the pole that dictated these
laws. Under their operation, it is obvious,
ipports;ions could not be made into the u.
Lsa~a foreign vessels, except price grea-
n than in vessei of the u States by the d fer
eace In the amount OF the duties imposed in tine
Two cases, that is TO say, forty four cents per
the whole tonnage of The foreign vessel
and Ten per cent. on the aggregate amount of all
the duties, levied on the merchandise, which
constituted her cargo. In all cases, therefore,
where imper;atioGs still made in fo-
reign vessels, the only effect OF this discriln-
ihation was, bnrtben the American con
simer, with all additional cost upon ,he goods 50
imported, equal to the additional duties impo
sea- Such the OF the tfsde 18th the Co
Z l0nies of Great Britain, which was s,I carried
~, Il had been before the passage o. either OF
ksse sc's, ia British vessels exclusively, except
NJ tina occasional relaxations of their Coloni-
item, caused and effected as has been before
lcn71inencement OF The French Revolution,
event that occurred about this period, cau.ed
much more important change in the condition OF
ihe u. States, and especially in this particular
trade, tlian was effected by the laws 10 which
-~h,ve referred. In the wars growing out OF that
Revolution all Europe involved and
during the continuance of these long and sansuina-
~ conflicts. the " States were so fortunate, as
10 preserve their neutrality generally.
Gyieat Eritsin actively engaged in all those
wars. The necessities they produced upon her
induced her TO relax her Colonial system, for the
benefit OF her suffering Colonies, to a much grea-
ter extent, than she had ever done before. nd
slmoet every other civilized nstion, was also
oekserent, the u. ). acquired, what was in
-A equsf very nearly, TO the entire monopoly of
tae who'll Colonial trade. They bad no competi-
ior in this trade, but Great Britain herself, whose
vessels being exposed TO much greater risk, owing
10 their beliigerent character, than ours, which
were neutral; and being moreover burthenej upon
their arrival IN our ports, with The additional a.
I.s,.. !. 4. 3. a