Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-20
SPEECH OF ION. II. A. WISE.
TcoxrIsuEp.l

But, Sir, wish to examine a moment the sub
jeot Of duties on French wines and silks especial,
lyss connected with our staples Of tobacco and cot
ton.
On this subject, Sir, am for "e,ting well enough
alone" 1 do not know how it is with the pipe and
cigar tobacco of Maryland-tho kitc-foot OF my
friend, (Mr yenifer) but the old James River weed,
the chewing tobacco OF Virginia, am told, was nc
yer doing better. IL never, upon the whole, bore a
better price as compared with other articles OF ex-
port and our planters are doing too we'll TO enter
upon war ofcontervailing duties, which never yet
ended in any thing else but recrmination, making
bad, even where there was any bad, worse. want
more light, MIR Chairman, than the Tobacco Con.
vention has yet beamed upon this subject. Mary
land may have cause to complain, though am told
there are more than &c million Of cigars imported
into this country, and the most of them are not
only manufactured OF tobacco, but are actually
manufactured here and exported TO get the Ha-
vana stamp before they are sod-that the enhanced
value Of the cigars will Justify the expo tation FOR I'M
putation again. However this may be, and do not
vouch for 1t, have iull survey OF our whole trade
with France, which ought TO be well understood be-
fore tampsr with the delicate subject OF confer
vaiing duties. Look to 1t, Sir, or you may loose
in way, and various ways, more than you gain
in another. | hold in my hand full statistical and
historical view of our commercial relations with
France to which beg leave 10 call the attention Of
ths Committee.
Here Mr. Trip,ett, of Kentucky, rose and inqur-
ed 10y whom the statements were made'l
Me Wise. am not the author OF the statement.
but adopt the international confirms, and rely up
on it as my own, until some gentleman shall point
out an error in H. will read II.
.The commercial relations between France and
the u. S. are based upon the terms Of the conven-
ton of the 9Th of June 1922, which does not reg
ulate the general duties upon merchandise, but
ly the descrmin ,tng taxes that affect both
sides TO the benefit of the national flag, the shipping
of the adverse party In relation TO the respective
products, international stpulations provide for
their rates of entry expectation, and has always
been referred to the general legislation of both
lions.
"From these, however, are excepted French |
wines on one paIt, and American long staple cot
ton on the olher-concessons having been recipro-
caly made in their favor by the treaty of the 4Ih
OF July, 1881.
Excepting, then, these two articles the situation
as regards the commercial stipulations consists |
purely in the repeal of the discriminating duties i'm
posed upon the rival flags, caused by the direct
of goods, and in the perfect equality
OF tonnage duties, mutually established al the denti-
cal rates OF 5 francs on one side ana "a cents on
the other.
ain Washington rs we'll as in Paris, the srie-
vlnces expressed by the Federal Government, d.
rectly or through its diplomatic agents, have a
double character.
"Some rest on a system of general recrimina,ion
against the French legislation Of customs, and on
comparison OF the advantages derived by both coun-
tries the course Of their commercial relations.
Others relate to certain number of designated
articles, such cotton, rice, liuseed, tea, indigo,
and tobacco.
"Tbe United States participate in the general
movement Of France in the following
proportion;
.9noUs:s expressed in millions Of francs.