The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-31
coMMERcIAL RECIPROCITY.

presentation, by Mr.. Davis, OF memorial from IN
habitants Of Newburypor praying for the repeai OF
modification of the ACT Of 29ih May, 1910 regulating
commercial intercourse between the United States
and certain American Colonies of Great Britain.
MIR, DAVIS explained the object Of the memorial
isis He called the attention Of the Senate TO the
fact that while all the ports Of the United States are
open British vessels, only few selected ports OF
the American Colonies Of Great Britain are open TO
American vessels. By the existing arrangements, he
said the commercial and navigating interests OF this
country have been much injured and, indeed so far
from there being any thing like reciprocity in the mat
ter advantage has been and is altogether on The side
Of foreigners Mr. DAVIS moved the reference Of the
memorial TO the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Mr. WEBSTER had not been aware that his col
league was about to present memorial on This most
important subject; but he desired to say that Il It
should 20 TO the Committee Foreign Relations, he
hoped the committee would consider thoroughly and
carefully the whole extent and all the consequences
of that system OF policy which they had been for
years in the habit Of calling the reciprocity system
He Mr.. Wehser) was not then prepared TO express
any opinion whether, when the reciprocity treaty ea-
pred II should be renewed nor on other matters IN
connection Herewith but he did hope the Committee
on Foreign Relations would come To no hasty con
cuson this question: lie perfectly satisfied
that the subject should take the direction proposed (
committee would make large survey not only OF this
particular relation but of all the consequence of those
treaties, which have been IN existence for the last
fifteen or twenty, IT not twenty-five years, many OF
which entirely destitute of all the essential
principles OF reciprocity.
Mr.. DA Wis had looked at this subject for
time one which entitled to all the consldera-
| ton which his colleague thought il descr,ed-for
some years he had the de,elopement of facts OF
a striking character. But few years ago memorials
" eDrpsp in nlprc han of
Baltimore, setting forth the unequal advantages which
they enjoyed IN the transhipment of tobacco To Ger
many, result of treaty, 10 which he
crred sample othe treaties of reciprocity, which
instead of aordng reciprocal advantages, drove the
Baltimore merchants entirely out of the trade de
could point out many such results in the opera
ton OF these treaties to show the necessity of an ex-
animation of a system, suggested by his colleague,
which Of very doubtful policy, al regarded the in
terests of this country.
At the request Of Mr. CALHOUN, the memorial
was read
| Mr.. BUCHANAN then said, certainly this was
very important subject it was request to change
that policy of the country which they had been
deayorng carry into effect with all foreign nations
since the year 1878 That il was disastrous in some
respects, particularly in regard to commerce with
some of the Hanse Towns there could be doubt ,
but why refer it to the Committee Foreign Rea-
tons II was subject peculiarly relating to the
Commerce and navigation OF the country and the
question was how have these treaties OF reciprocity
operated on those TWO great interests, Whlch IN that
| body were exclusively committed to the Committee on
| Commerce IL not a subject connected with
their foreign relations, except incidentally; and he
moved therefore that ii be referred To the Committee
on Commerce which was its appropriate reference.
/ Mr.. DAVIS had moved its reference to the Com
mttce on Foreign Relations because it referred a
conventional agreement of the treaty making power
between the British Colonies and the United States,
If however, il would more appropriately 90 to the
Committee on Commerce. he was willing that it should
90 there,
| MIR. CALHOUN said it appeared to him that, in
the first instance it should be referred to the Com
mttee on Commerce, and after that committee had
reported might be proper TO refer their report to the
Committee Foreign Relations. This the old
subject, which the Government had SO long found ii
difficult to manage satisfactorily, and he apprehended
II never would be managed satisfactorily II the dit
icultit could be overcome, he should rejoice for
There was man that floor who took deeper in
teres than he did in the prosperity, avlgaton and
commerce of the country.
Mr.. DAVIS was satisfied to withdraw his motion,
and let il 60 to the Committee on Commerce
Mr.. MERRICK made some remarks on the impor-
tance fthe questions presented by the memorial and
stated some facts illustrating the unequal operation OF
some OF the conventional arrangements EXISTING now
between the United States and foreign nations. This
had been particularly exempile ~ the case OF the car
rying trade between Baltimore and some OF the Ianse
Towns which once gave emp oyment To fifty sixty
American vessels but is now almost entirely in the
hands of foreigners only sir American vessels being
engaged IN that trade
Mr. KNIGHT said whatever committee this me
mortal might be referred TO- he hoped the attention Of
the committee would be drawn to the operation OF
these Treaties, and particularly to the arrangement in
regard to the West India trade and the effect the
trade and navigation of the country So far rs he
informed this arrangement had been favorable To
the British navigation, and injurious TO our own He
believed 1t to he fact now ascerained that the Br
tIsh tonnage had greatly increased and that ton
mage in this trade OF the Colonies had diminished In
w IN nal ali
gar, and other commodities, from the Vest Indies IN
own vessels but under the arrangement, large
quantities of these Articles brought in British
sells, and much from the Northern colonies where they
not grown manu- featured, clearly giving to the
Brit sh an advantage which we do not possess He
wished the committee also to inquire whether the ex-
sting arrangement Is reciprocal it's provisions and
operations. tie understood that the British vessels
are not allowed to carry certain goods, wares, and
merchandise from this country to the West Indies
which ours not permitted TO carry and in this par
tlcular decided preference is given to the British
vgator over our own. These some OF the points
which II Is desirable should be investigated by the
nmittce. Discriminating duties also IN favor OF
the Colonies should not escape the attention of the
committee.
Mr. KING said he would greatly prefer that il
should 20 to the Committee on Foreign Relations cs-
peclally II the Committee on Commerce was To he
merely conduit through which il should pass TO the
Committee on Foreign Relations He not un
willing to take any labor that might be necessarily
imposed upon HIN IN the public service the Char
man of the Committee on Commerce; but as our for
eign relations rcqn red reexaminatlon, it would hc
better that this subject should 90 10 the commit
tee to which it must ultimately 90
Mr. BUCHANAN trusted that ii would not 20 to
the Committee on Foreign Relations, The question
was, whether 1t was advisable to renew our treaty
with Great Britain whether, when this treaty shall
expire, it shall be renewed again These Newbury-
port merchants say il ought not their opinion and
who was TO decide that question II would be neces
say to take general and broad view OF the effect Of
this treaty on the commerce of the country and 10