Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-12-12

i
With the spanish Go,ernmen,, by which dis
terminating duties Of tonnage were 10 be
aooiished IA the ports Of the United State,
aud Spain, on the vessels Of the two nations
pursuant to that arrangement. which was car
RED into eheei on the part Of Spain, on the
S0th Of Nay, 1882. by royal order dated the
18th April, le32, American vessels in the
ports OF Spain have paid i've cents per ton,
which rate of duty IL also paid In those port,
oy Spanish ships; but, rs American vessel.
pay no tonnage duty in tho ports OF the Chi;ed
States, the duty Of i've cents payable 10 oul
ports by Spanish vessels, under the act above
mentioned, - really n discriminating duty,
operating 10 the disadvantage Of Spain
Though no complaint has yet been made Oh
TOE part OF Spain, We are not the less bound
oy the obligations Of good faith 10 remove
the discrimination; and I recommend tina,
tho act be amended accordingly. As tho
royal order, above alluded TO, includes tho
ports OF tho Balearic and Canary Islands, as
well rs those OF Spain, Il would seem tina,
the provisions OF the act Of Congress should
DC equally extensive; and that for the re pay
meat OF such duties rs may have been i'm
properly received, an addition should be
made to the sum appropriated nj the last
session OF Congress for refunding discr imina-
ting Duties.
As the arrangement referred TO, howe ycr,
did not. embrace the Islands Of Cuba and
rorto kico, discriminating duties, 10 the pre-
Juice OF American shipping, continue TO be
levied there. From the extent OF the com.
mercc carried on between the United States
aud those islands, particularly the former
this discrimination causes serious injury "a
o"" az tho-s srcst national interests which
u has been considered an essential part O,
our policy 20 cherish, aud has given rise 10
complaints on the part Of our merchants
Under instructions given to our Minister nj
Madrid, earnest representations have been
made by him TO the Spanish Government
upon th's subject, and there Is reason TO ex-
Pert, from the friendly disposition which i,
entertained towards this country, that bcne-
hcial change will be produced. The disad-
vantage, however, to which our shipping il
subjected by the operation Of these discrimi-
hating duties, requires that they be met by
suitable countcrvailiny duties during your
present session-Power being nj the same
TIME vested I'm the President to modify or dis
continue them as the discriminating duties on
American vessels ar their cargoes NAV be
modified or discontinued at those Islands
limitations have been given To the Spanish
Governmcni, that the United States may be
Obliged 10 resort TO such measures rs are Of
necessary self defence; and there Is no res-
son to aPprehend that It would be unfavora-
Oily received. The proposed proceeding, II
adopted, would not be permitted, however.
IN any degree TO induce relaxat in the
efforts OF our Minister 10 effect a repeaI Of
this irregularity, by friendly negotiations;
and u might serve TO give force to his repre-
sensations, by showing the dangers 10 which
that valuable trade is exposed By the obstruc-
lions and bur thens which q system OF dis
terminating aud counterva iling duties neces-
sarily produces.
The selection and preparation Of the Flori-
ia archives, for the purpose Of being deliver
ed over TO the United States, in conformity
with the royal order, rs mentioned in my last
annual message, though in progress, has not
yet been completed This delay has been
produced partly by causes which were un-
ayoidabie, particularly the prevalcpcB &C
cbosera nc Havana; but measures have 49,
taken which 10 - believed will expcdf=
delivery Of those important records-
Congress were informed, al the opening u
The last session, that ''ow INK, as was alleged,
to einbarrassments in the finances Of Purtu-
gal, consequent upon the cisil war IL elhieh
that nation was engaged, payment bad hesa
made OF only Que iustalment of the amo11l
which the Portuguese Government had stipu-
lated 10 pay for Indemnify ing our citizens ior
property illegally captured IN the blockade OF
-NsN~Ae- SltHrt tiat Utnte = ROttpOleinent
Tor two years, with interest, OF the two re-
naming instruments, was requested by the
Portuguese Government; and, Us n eonsidcra-
tion, o. offered to stipnIate that rice Of the
United States should be admitted into PoFttl-
gai a. the same dulles as HrsxIlian rice. he
Ms satisfied that NO better arrangement could
be made, NY consent was gwen; aud a royal
order OF the King Of Portugal was according
" issued on the 4th Of February last for the
reduction Of the duty on rice Of the United
States. u would give me great PLEASURE Il,
~ speaking Of that country, in whose pros
PerIIy tie Janed States arc 80 much interest.
ed, and with whom q long subsisting, eH-
tensiVe, and mutually ads abtegeous CONNER.
cal Intercourse has strengthened uie rcla.
tons Of friendship, could abnouDee To YOU
the restoration OF ITS int rnsl tranquility.
subsequently % the commencement of the
last session %! Congress, ibs hnal Instainichi
payable by Denmark. under tic Convention
81 ibe 2Sth Jay of March, 1850, was rceei-
we'd. The Commissioners for cN aniinihs the
claims have since terminated ueiT lsbors
aud their awards haye been paid II tie Urea.
sary % they have been c9lled Tor. lie iu.-
tico rendered "a Our citizens BY that GOsern-
uent - thus completed, aud pledge !.
thereby afforded iof the nhiuie nance OF that
friendly intoreoGFse bccomirg tae RELATIONS
'hAt tue Two HstiOns mutually bear 10 each
Other.
" - sat,sfseiory 80 inform you dat iio
Dznssh Government nave recently issued an
ordlnaoee D. whieh tho commerce With the
island 81 81 Cruix u placed on more liiie.
raj Footing than hereigforv. Tins change
eannotfa fail ~ prove bgneheisl 90 the trade b..
~ cen the Ualted States snd that eolo8y; and
The advantages likely 20 Aow from u may
lead ~ greater relaxatioas in tie colonial
systens Of ether natioas.
The ratiiicstions q the Convention with
The King Of the Two Sicifes have been duly
exchanged, and she Comsnissionefs appointed
Tor examining me claims under y have en-
tered upon the duties assigned % them by
law. The frieodship that ihe interest 81 ihe
two Nations require u thegn, being nov e.
tsbiisbod, u may be boped that each sih en-
Joy The benefits whieh = hbsral commerce
should yield 60 both.
A treaty ~ smity nd commerce between
the United states and Boixinh vas eo0ciu-