The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-19
THE TOBACCO CONVENTION.

THE TOBACCO CONVENTION.
The Convention of Tobacco Planters alluded TO in
our last re- assembled Wednesday in the City Hall
Of this CITY, when the Hon DANIEL JENFER, from the
committee of thirteen members appointed yesterday
"to consider and recommend such may
be deemed most expedent to be adopted by this Com
ventlon," made the following Report;
Mr. JENIrEa, from the committee appointed by the
President to consider and recommend such measures
us may be expedent to be adopted to accomplish
the objects of this Convention reported that the limit
ed time allowed them has compelled the committee
TO conine their report TO general review OF the sub
| ject
venon which in this city the LIST of May last,
there has been change in the burdens and Testrc-
| tons imposed upon the tobacco trade of the United
States by the nations of Europe except IN some unl-
poltant matters by or two Kingdoms and the facts
stated by the committee in their report TO that Conyen-
| ton are now referred to- and by us reasserted, and
their arguments and suggestions adopted Since tho
publication of the documents by Congress al their last
session. correspondence has been received at the
Department OF Stale on the subject, except few I'M
! important communications from Sardinia and Belgium.
No change has taken place with foreign Governments
in regard to this staple; and from what has already
transpred, have no hopes OF favorable action on
| their part until the Congress of the United States
| shall adopt measures commensurate with the object
Great Britain still continues her excessive duty OF
sevenytwo dollars and seventy five cents per hun
drcd pounds or eight hundred per cent. the prime
cost OF this article of produce, while we continue
to receive the product Of the labor of her citizens at
| an average duty Of twelve and half per cent
France yet continues her still more odous monopoly
or regie retaining in the hands Of her King those
whom he sells the privilege, the sole right 10 import
manufacture, and sell American tobacco in that lAhg-
dom, by which the quantity of American tobacco con
| sumed in France has been reduced to SIX or seven
thousand hogsheads per annum, from which she de-
rives revenue OF ten millions of dollars.
Russia, Spain, Portugal, and some of the minor
Powers of Europe adhere to their various monopoes
under different Names but all tending to the manifest
oppression of this our staple And the Germanic
Powers included in the coll rdrien or commercial
union of Germany have not reduced any portion of
their transit duties abated in the slightest degree
their commercial system in which tobacco is the arti
Gle most heavily taxed is indeed in every nation
in Europe, except Holland and Belgium. They have
met in that spirit of equality and Justice which
should ever exist between nations having friendly
commercial relations; who have right to insist upon
and never should be sat fed without free exchange
of commerce on equal and reciprocal footing.
Treaties with several of the European Governments
expire in few years, and just regard to the plant
ing interest requires that they should not he renewed
unless the odious burdens and restrictions imposed
upon the staple Of tobacco be modified.
The treaty with the Hanseate Towns Of Lubec,
Bremen, and Hamburg expired by limitation in De
cember, 1889, but continues in force until twelve
months notice shall have been given of the intention to
terminate it, and fair opportunity presents itself
To our Government TO do us justice with these
Powers
The American Ministers at the Court of Great
Britain have for many years urged with great ability
on that Government, the proprety Of diminishing the
duty on tobacco matter of justice to the United
States, general principles Of policy and free trade
between two friendly nations; and have shown by
guments which think it would be difficult to
swer, that even measure Of revenue, these excu-
sve duties this article to great extent defeat their
own object. But arguments have proved unavang
and Great Britain continues her duty of 70 cents
per pound on this product of our labor.
With equal ability, Ministers to France com
mencing with Mr.. Jefferson, in 1888, and continued
down to the present time by Gen. Cass have remon-
strated against the French system CT monopoly in
furious to the American tobacco growing interest and
unjust by its departure from that reciprocity and equal
ity which the French nation had insisted upon with
some sternness, in their communications with our
Minister in 1885, in all their commercial intercourse
with the United States. Their circumstances have
met other response than act the French Cham
bers extending the law creating the monopoly of Amer
lean tobacco to the year 1852
BY negotiation, therefore, nothing can be expected
from hcl The last ray OF hope from that source has
| expired, and the American Tobacco Planters must
look to that tribunal which alone afford them relief
for the evils they endureto the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the United States in Congress
sembcd we their constituents must appeal for redress
of the grievances herein set forth. And rejoice
that this appeal has been most ably seconded from
| 0tncf sources Ill various states IN the Union.
Among our agents abroad, communications from
| Mr. DODGE and Mr. MILES have been repeatedly re-
| ceivcd by our Government, which cvincc great zeal
and labor in the different spheres in which they have
acted.
We have seen with pleasure resolution introduced
into the Senate of Georgia to instruct their Senators
and request their Representatives use their best eff
forts to make law passed by Congress to tax al
French wines silks, and brandes in proportion to tho
duty which they lay upon tobacco in their ports
The VIrpinia has called the N
the Legislature Of that State TO the subject in his
sage to them at their present session, and submitted
whether is not expedeni, through their representa-
ves in Congress, TO enforce the just claims of then
tobacco planters TO reduction of the enormous duties
imposed on tobacco by most European Governments
And as early January, 1887, the Legislature oil
Maryland unanimously passed the following reso-
luton
Resoired, That the Senators and Representatives
of this State in the Congress of the United States be
requested TO take under their especial this highly
important and much neglected interest and that they
be particularly requested to oppose all and every adj
jusment of the present tariff without obtaining for
the tobacco interest fair and equal participation
the benefits to be derived rom such adjustment
| In conclusion, your committee recommend to the
Convention the adoption of the following resolutions
| LIST Resoired, That the only cIectual remedy for
The evils the tobacco interest labors under from the
| high duties imposed by Great Britain and the mono
pocs OF France and other Nations of Europe to be
found IN the action of Congress, by countervailing
duties and that the Convention relies on the wisdom
OF Congress IN discriminating between those Govern
ments which hare and those which hare not manifest
cd disposition TO abandon aud modify their present
oppressive duties and restrictions imposed on tobacco
from the United States
I'd Resoired, That il be recommended TO the Co
vernment of the United States that the treaties now
IN existence with foreign countries which contain no
s,pulat,ons or reciprocity duties their respective
products be not renewed
ID Resoired, That the Governors Of the several
States OF this Union engaged in the cultivation Of to-