Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-25

Page county | have been informed, however that
owing to slight wind from the West, the Little Gun
not heard at luray, distance OF some or W mrs
OF course, but little effect produced upon the Old
Tenth
CONVENTION OF TOBACCO PLANTERS.
This Convention assembled on the 18th December.
in the city of Washington, in the Chamber of the
Board of Aldermen. large number OF Delegates
was in attendance from the several tobacco-growng
States The Convention organized ny the election,
unanimously, Of Gov Sprigg of Maryland, us Presi.
dent, Ambrose c. Gordon, Esq, Of Kentucky, and
Robert w Bowie, Esq of Maryland, Vice Presidents;
John 5. Skinner, Esq, of Baltimore city, and John
Mercer, Esq, Of Anne Arundel county, Md, Sec!ea-
RES
W,dnfsday Dec. -.
The Convention met again Wednesday, and
after matters relative 10 paying the necessary ex
penses of the body,
Hon. Daniel Jenifer, from the committee of ,hr.
teen members appointed Yesterday TO "consder and re
commend such measures as may be deemed most eS-
pedent to he adopted by the Convention, made the
following Report
Mr. Jenifer from the committee appointed by the
President to consider and recommend such measures
as may be most expedent TO be adopted 10 accomplish
the objects of this Convention, reported that The
limited time allowed them has compelled the committee
TO conhne their report to general review on the SUP
lect.
That since the adjournment of the Tobacco Conven.
tion which met in this city the first of May last,
there has been change IN the b'rdens and resr'c
tons imposed upon the tobacco trade ot the rited
States by the nations Of Europe, except in some unlm
portant matters by two Kingdoms and the facts
stated by the Committee their report to the Conven
ton referred to- and by us reasserted and their
arguments and suggestions adopted. Since the publ
cation of the documentsby Congress at their last
sion no correspondence has been received at the De-
partmen of State on this subject, except few unIm
portant communications from Sardinia and Bcg ium.
No change has taken place with foreign Governments
in regard this staple; and from what has already
transprei, 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
seventytwo dollars and seyeniyve cents per hundred
pounds, eight hundred per cent on the prime cost OF
this article Of our produce while continue to receive
the product of the labor Of her citizens At average
duty of twelve and hall per cent.
I France vet continues her s more odious monopoly
or rege, retaining in the hands of her King, or those
whom he sells the privilege the sole right to import
manufac and sell American tobacco IN that King
DOM by which the quantity of American tobacco
sumed in France has been reduced 10 six seven thou
sand hogsheads per annuin, from which she derives
revenue Of ten million dollars.
Russia, Spain, Portugal, and some Of the minor Pow
ers of Europe adhere their various monopocs under
different Names but all tending 10 the manifest oppres
sion Of this staple. And the Germanc Powers IN.
cluded in the .o bdren, the comincrcia! union IL
GERMANY have reduced portion of their transit
duties or abated in the slightest degree their commercial
system in which tobacco the article most heavily tax
ed as indeed in every nation in Europe, except lfol-
land and Belgium. They have met US IN that spirit Of
equality and Justice which should ever exist between
nations having friendly commercial relations who have
RICH, to insist upon and should be satisfied with
free exchange ofcommerce on equal and reciprocal
footing.
Treaties with several Of the European Governments
expire in few years, and just regard to the planting
requires that they should not be renewed unless
the odious burdens and restrictions imposed upon the
staple of tobacco be modified
The treaty with the Hanseatic Towns of Lubec, Bre
men, and Hamburg xpired by limitation in December,
1899 but continues IN force until twelve months no.
tce shall have been gwen OF the intention TO terminate
it, and fair opportunity now presents itself to our Co.
vernment 10 do US justice with these Powers
The American Ministers at the Court Of Great Bri-
tain have for many years urged, with great ability, on
that Government the proprieiy Diminishing the duty
on tobacco as matter ct Justice TO the u : gene
raj principles Of policy and free trade between two
friendly nations and have shown by arguments winch
We think would be difficult to answer, that, even as
measure Of revenue, these excessive duties TO great
extent defeat their own object But arguments have
proved unavailng, and Great Britain continues her
duty of 72a cents per pound on this product OF our
labor.
With eunal ability, our Ministers to France, COM
mencing with MIR Jefferson, in 1888 and continued
down to the present time by Gen. Cass, have remon
sirated against the French system of monopoly as m
furious TO the American tobacco growing interest," and
unjust by its departure from tina; reciprocity and equal
s,ernness, in their communications with our MI
MISTER id 1855, in all their commercial intercourse with
the IT, S. Their circumstances have met no other res
ponse than an act of the French Chambers extending
the law creating the monopoly oil American TOBACCO 10
the year 1852
By negotiation, therefore, nothing can be expected
from her. The last ray Of hope from that source has
expired and The American Tobacco Planters must look
that tribunal, which can alone afford them relief Tor
the evils they endure-to the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States in Congress as
senbled, their constituents must appeal for re-
dress of the grievances herein set forth. And we re-
oice that this appeal has been most ably seconded
from other sources in various States in the Union
Amongst our agents abroad, communications from
Mr.. Dodge and Mr.. Miles have been repeatedly re-
ceived BY our Government which evnce great zeal
and labor in the different spheres in which they have
acted.
We have seen with pleasure resolution introduced
the Senate of Georgia to instruct their Senators
and request their Representatives to use their hest ef
forts to have law passed by Congress- 10 tax all French
Wines silks, and brandes, in proportion to the duty
which they lay upon tobacco in their ports The
Governor Of Virginia has called the attention OF the
legislature of that State to the subject IN his
10 them at their present session. and submitted whether
i, is not expedient through their Representatives in
Congress, enforce the just claims OF their tobacco
planters reduction Of the duties imposed
on tobacco by most European Governments /
And early as January, 1857, the Legislature OF
Marylan unanimously passed the following resolution
"Resored That the Senators and Representatives OF
this State in the Congress of the United States be re-
quested to take under their special care this highly I'M
portant and interest and that they be
requested oppose all and every ADJUST
ment of the present tariff without obtaining for The to-
bacco interest fair and equal participation IN the be-
nefits to be derived from such adjustment
In conclusion, your committee recommend to the
Convention the adoption of the following resolutions
Ist Resoiced That the only efectual remedy tor the
tl,a foba intere
duties imposed by Great Britain and the monopoles OF
France and other nations of Europe is to be found IN
The action of Congress- by counervaillng duties and
hat the Convention relies the wisdom of Congress
n discriminating between those Governments whicn
lar, and those which haze not manifested disposition
o abandon or modify their present oppressive duties
md restrictions imposed on tobacco from the United
States.