Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-11-26
TRADE WITH FRANCE.
From the Bal,imor. .3n,,r;c,,

Tho packet ships for Havre for some time
past have been taking quantities of specie
from TINS country to pay our debt to France.
Inc VILE de Lyon, which sailed from New
Il. 4 orS on Monday, took out SlOO, 900 in coin
me m New York Express in,irnates that three
laliiiohs Oh dollars have gone in this way du-
ring some few months past
1t is asked why this amour, Of specie is
mus drawn from the country, the answer will ,
ee-to pay for the French silks, wines. and |
other iuNuries consumed bv u.s. The cost of |
the Silks Imported into the United States du-
ring the year ending 30,h September. 1882, |
was nearly twenty three millions of dollars |
Most OF these came from France.
There are two considerations which present
themselves to the mind in view of our com
merciai intercourse with France One is the
unequal positions which the two countries
relatively occupy, indicating a total want of
reciprocity. French commodities are adj
united into our ports almost without du,ies.-
u naer this system the exports from France
10 this country have increased with astonisll-
ing rapldity. To this excessive liberality on
oar part there Is no corresponding liberality
on the part of France. The reverse is the
case. While the United States 20 to one ex-
tteme, France goes to the other. We admit
her commodities on the most favorable terms:
she imposes upon ours the most onerous re-
strictions. Her duties on American tobacco
range from five hundred to eight hundred per
cent-and In addition to this, no competition
OF buyers is allowed. The Government holds
the monopoly and is the exclusive purchaser.
Oar ministers have demonstrated agains,
this system Year after year and always in
vain Why Because they have been pro-
hieited from using the only argument that
can be available. 1t is useless to talk of re-
eiprocity-to complain of injustice--whle
The royal monopoly is profitable and the mar
het IN this country continues open to French
goods. The French Government beholds a
rich revenue flowing into its treasury from
their tobacco duties, and they witness grow
ing demand Tor French goods in the United
States-Why should change be desirable to
France?
Last January, in the Sanate of the United
States, MIR. Clay declared his conviction that
4 duty OF twenty per cent. ought to be laid
upon French silks. Mr. Buchanan intimatcd
the same thing. When the intelligence of
these suggestions-for they never reached a
ny other form, not being incorporated in q
resolution or referred TO a commttee-when
then the news of these casual intnaions
reached France, greater sensation was pro-
duced than had been caused by all
the Inconsistencies of our Ministers there
since the subject was brought forward by Mr.
kives. There was no little tluttering among
the journals of Paris, and some of them had
the candonr to declare tina; such step on the
part OF the United States would be NOTHING
more than proper Ieturn for the restrictive
course so long pursued by France 1t was
not the fault of Gen. Cass that the ilnprcs.
sion thus created was no, followed up and
made permanent by the conclusion Of some
agreement on On the basis of something like re-
ciprocity. Thu policy of the Administration
here at home was opposed TO any action on
the subject by our Government; the hands of
our minister were tied. lie might talk. bnt
ecould not feel warranted to act.
ihus, then, stand our relations with France.
we receive her silks and wines almost with.
out duty, and when in return we seek admit
lance for our tobacco, she refuses it except
under heavy restrictions. The consequence
10 that specie must GO from the country to
pay our French debt.
But are French silks and wines articles of
necessity which we cannot do without This
leads Us to the second consideration involved
In the subject: and in view Of it we may see
another reason why good policy would be
consulted IN laying duties upon these COM
nodltes of French production. Thew are
articles Of luxury; the burden Of the duties
On them would fall not on the poor but on the
wealthy, or on those who might choose.
through vanity or love of indulgence to make
use of them.
II II is important that the wines and silks
OF France should be made to bear duty for
'"e t"o io'u purpose, ETst, OF csunteractnr
restrictive foreign policy, and secondly be-
cause they constitute legitimate subjects for
revenue, there is another reason perhaps more
weighty than either, going to confirm the
same thing. We can raise both in our own
country. In restricting the importation of
these articles from abroad we shall give en-.
eouragemen to the production of them al,
home; and by SO doing the agricuAuvalinfer-
est will be fostered. The experiments which
have been made in the culture of silk in vari
Gus parts OF the United States show concIu-
sive!y that the article can be produced here.
OF good quality and in any abundance
which the wants of the country may cali for.
10 this sort Of self-depeDdence tho policy of
foreign nations is driving US. 1t will perhaps
be seen that our best interests point the same
way.
LITERARY FACTORY GiR1s.-A Magazine
published in Lowell, (A1ass) is sustained
exclusively by the contributions Of the pirls
employed in its different factories. Can anv
Manufacturing Town in Europe offer parai
IeI instance! What is to be expected Of the
bay State fifty years hence if lis daughters
thus engaged in the labors of the warp and
wool, weave also the fancifnl tissues of liter
':ture We have heard occasionally Of no.
'tical shoemakers IN Europe and In this coun-
try OF learned BlackSluihs but these were soI;-
gtarg in tho 6