The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-18
= From re National IaielIigsaess: -.

EE@N > ANtr a ACAN w AOAR4ANCOk A<AAN A%A@''
WEDNESDAY, Dec. rs, 1870.
The Convention was called to order at ii
o'cleck
The Hon. JAMES GARLAND appeared and
took his seat as Delegate from the State OF
Virginia.
j. S. SKINNER, Esq, from the committee ap
pointed yesterday to Inquire into and report
the amount necessary to "delray the expenses
olthe present Convention, and the means OF
providing said amount, as well as to deiray any
arrearages of expense incurred by the last Con-
vention," made areport, which concluded with
a resolution providing that each member pay
into the hands Of a Treasurer to be appointed
the sum of IS, TO be applied to the purposes
above stated.
| The report having hean accepted, the reso-
luton was adopted, and GEO. C. WASHINGTON
Esq. of Maryland, was elected Treasurer.
Hon. DANIEL JENIFER, from the Commit
tee OF thirteen members appointed yesterday
''to consider and recommend such measures as
may be deemed most expedient to be adopted
by this Convention" made the following Re-
port:
Mr., JENIFER, from the committe appointed
by the President to consider and recommend
such measures as may be most expedient 10 be
adopted TO accomplish the objects of this Con-
i
them has compelled the committee to confne
their report TO general review of the subject.
That since the adjournment Of the Tobacco
Convention which met in this city on the list Of
May last, there has been no change in the bur
dens and restrictions imposed upsn the tobacco
trade of the United States BY the nations of Flu
rope, except in some unimportant matters by on4
or two Kingdoms; and the facts stated by tbs
committee in their report to that Convention
arc now referred TO, and by US reasserted, and
their arguments and suggestions adopted. Since
the pubiication of the documents by Congress at
their last session, no correspondence has been
received at the Department of State on this sub
Ject, except few unimportant communications
from Sardinia and Belgium. No change has Ia
ken place with foreign Governments in regard
to this staple; and from what has already trans
PRED, we 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 scventy-two dollars and seventy-fve
cents per hundred pounds, or eight hundred per
cent on the prime cost OF this article of our pro-
duce, while we continue to receive the prnduct
OF the labor OF her citizens at an average duty
Of twelve and halt per cent.
France yet continues her still more odious
monopoly of reggie, retaining in the hands of her
King, or those to whom he sells the privilege,
the sole right to import, manufacture, and sell
American tobacco IN that Kingdom, by which
the quantity of American tobacco consumed in
France has been reduced TO six or seven thousand
hogsheads per annum, from which she derives a
revenue of ten millions of dollars.
Russia, Spain, Portugal. and some of the
minor Powers OF Europe adhere to their various
under different names, but all tend
ing TO the manifest oppression of this our staple
And the Germanic Powers included in the =0H
Uarien or commercial union of Germany have
not reduced any portion of their transit duties
OF abated in the slightest degree their CONNER
cial system, in which tobacco is the article most
heavily taxed, as it is indeed in every nation in
Europe, except Holland and Belgium. They
have met us in that spirit of equality and JUS
tice which should ever exist between nations
having friendly commercial relations; who have
a right to insist upOn and never should be salts
fed without free exchange of commerce on
equal and reciprocal footing.
Treaties with several of the European Gov
expire in few years, and Just regard
to the planting interest requires that they should
not be renewed unless the odous burdens and
restrictions imposed upon the staple Of tobacco
be modified.
The treaty with the Hanseatic Towns of Luz
bee, Bremen, and Hamburg, expired by limita-
ton in December, 1889, but continues in force
until twelve months shall have been given of
he intention TO terminate it, and fair opportu-
lity now presents itself to our Government to |
10 us Justice with these Powers
The American Ministers at the Court of |
Great Britais have for many years urged, with !
great ability, on that Government, the propriety |
OF diminishing the drty on tobacco as a matter I
Of justice to the United States on general prin-
ciples of policy and free trade between two
friendly nations; and have shown by arguments
which we think it would be difficult to answer
that, even as measure of revenue, these excess
sive duties on this article, to great extent, de,
feat their own object. But arguments have
proved unavailing, and Great Britain continues
her duty of 72l cents per pound on this product
Of our labor.
With equal ability our Ministers to France.
commencing with Mr.. Jefferson, in 1888, and
continued down to the present time by Gen Cass
have demonstrated against the French system of
as injurious to the American tobacco
growing interest and unjust by its departure
from that reciprocity and equality which the
French nation had insisted upon with some
'ternness, IN their communications with our
Minister in 1855, in all their commercial inter
course with the United States. Their renon.
'trances have met no other response than an act
u the French Chambers extending the law
,reating the monopoly OF Americ an tobacco to
he year 1852.
BY negotiation, therefore, nothing can be ca
,ected from her The last ray Of hope from
hat source has expired, and the American To
'acco Planters must look to that tribunal which
an alone afford them relief for the evils they
ndure-ts the Senate and House of Represen-
ativcs of the United States in Congress assem-
lied, we their constituents must appeal for a re-
ress of the grievances herein set forth. And
Se rejoice that this appeal has been most ably
ecsnded from other sources IN various States in
he Union
Amongst our agents abroad communications
rom Mr.. DODGE and Mr.. MILES have been re-
catedly received by our Government, which
vince great zeal and labor in the different
pheres in which they have acted.
We have seen with pleasure resolution IN
-oduced into the Senate OF Georgia to instruct [
neir Senators and request their Representatives
use their best efforts to have la~ passed by
Congress to tax all French wines, silks, and