Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-26
CONGR ESS!
TUESDAY, December 90, 1881.
IN SENATE.
WEST INDIA TRADl

WEST NDIA TRADE.
Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, rose to call the attention
OF the Senate to passage of the Presidents Mes
sage, III which the arrangement with G. Britain in
regard to the Colonial Trade referred to- 81 the
beneficial effect of that arrangement on American
navigation in the increase Of American tonnage as.
serted; and Mr. IT, proceeded, by series of remarks
and reference to the public documents, TO show
That American tonnage engaged in the British
colonial trade had greatly fallen Off and
the british tonnage admitted into our ports
greatly increased since the arrangement went into
effect. He concluded by moving the following
resolutions, which read, laid on the table and
ordered to be printed viz
ReS0tred, That the President be requested TO
cause to be communicated to the Senate the num-
Der OF vessels and their tonnage and cargoes which
nave cleared from any ports in the United States
to any port or place in the British American Colo
MES since the Presidents proclamation of 5th Oct
'ooo Distinguishing those, ifany, which cleared for
suChFports and place, and market, or for a Bri-
tIsh port or place, other port or place; dis
iIhgushIng also American from foreign tonnage
and al so the entries Of all vessels from any Britt
colonial port, with their cargoes, since the above
ProcIamatloni distinguishing the tonnage as above
and designating the British port or place from
whence the cargocs were imported.
heS0yred, That the President be requested to in
FORM the Senate what amount of American and
foreign tonnage distinguishing them) has been
cleared for, and entered from the Swedish g. Danish
west Indies since the Presidents proclamation of
the 9Th October, 1880, with the kind and amount
of the cargoes.
Resolved, That the President be requested TO
MORN the Senate whether, since his proclamation
OF the 9th October, 1880, British vessels have
cleared from the United States for any port in
ihc British continental colonies in America and
nave sailed directly to the British West Indies by
virtue OF clcarances previously obtained from Gus
tom houses in those continental colonies, thus
performing voyages circuitous on paper, but in
fact direct.
Hesofred, That the President be requested to in
so afp hat a -
tiSh American vessels and their caroocs respective
~, IN British ports in the West Indies and the
other British American colonies, distinguishing
between the West Indies and the other colonies.
ana between American and British vessels and the
produce OF the United States and of the colonies.
THE DUTY ON TEAS
The Senate took up for consideration the report
o. 'he Committee on Finance, on the memorials Of
enc 'lerchants OF New York, Philadelphia &c. in
t"For OF Il iurtLer reduction of duty on Teas to
take eject on The first of January-thc report being
ADVERSE to the prayer ofthe petitioners.
r "r' :" EHsTFR stated his reasons for dissenting
rom tho conclusion to which the Committee had
Co""c, ana Tor iavOrlng further reduction of the
uu'y, and why 1t would have been expedicnt to
make that further reduction take effect on the first
OF January, when the act of last session reducing
INC Hnty on Teas will go into operation.
VT smith explained the views of the Committee
and went into some explanation of his own parti
cuiar views on the subject, which were in favor of
very large reduction of the duty after the uub,c
debt was paid of. f'''0
Mr' CLAY delivered his opinions in REGARD TO the
immediate subject before the Senate. in 5ccordoncc
WIN those OF Ar. Webster. lie then proceeded of
some cngth' TO express his views in regard TO the
100 PcuISn'y OF taking up isolated article of i'm
= ~ "'u ~ FAVOR OF general revision of the tariff
- oullcS' whenever the duty on Teas should be con.
Tic also stated succinctly his reasons for
,onsloering 1t more important to relieve the conn
~ " reduction Of the taxes imposed by the Ia
Irn,yfi,, 80; Ss could be done without violating or
'op') than the cxtinguishment Of the public debt
y gwen day. especially whom this latter object