Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-02
Proportion per cent.

$50 that in a Tonnage which in lc:,S is nearly ire
BILE of what il was in 1876 having increased from
6s42 tons TO 22 6, the proportion which can be con
sidered the usual share allowed TO France by the
vention of 1892 is but y TO IL per cent that is, abou
ne-eghth Of the whole transportation the remnant
belonging almost entirely to the U. States.
"This convention has therefore made the situation o.
the French flag than it under the influence
of the law Of 1916, and than in the time oil
the reprisas though the object OF this convention
as it said in lis preamble to regulate The relations d
anil aogatioa Of The t,eo nations in manner
RECIrEocALLy adrantdg10uS anil satisfactory. But
this is the more worthy of consideration because The
sacrifices imposed by this treaty to French navigation
did not find any compensation that could be taken IN
account in the condition made to French products,
siucc this condition not consequence Of the
slpuatIons olc2 and was only, as II has been proved
before, the price of subsequent concessions, 1t least
equal to- merely the result of general taken
without regard for French interests.
"Ye there is another element of the question Of
vgaon which il is important not 10 neglect, in order
10 get Just estimate of the damages sustained by
France this respect it is the nature Of the products
entering into the mutual commerce, and the share that
10 be assigned from the capacity Of these pro-
ducts to each party, in the respective navgatlon not
wilhstandng the reciprocity which is the aim OF the
convention.
"Tlc Federal Government pretended that the ton
mage required for the transportation Of American pro-
ducts 10 France was four times greater than the ton
mage required for the transportation 10 America OF an
equal value Of French goods, including wine and
brandy. The French administration, convinced that
this estimate could not be correct and wishing to know
exactly the real difference existing this respect be-
tween the products of both countries, asceaned from
and decisive of information that the
difference for American products was IN the
proportion of23 10
I'm this supposition the relative encunbrance result
ing from the capacity of the French products requiring
but little less than third of the tonnage, VIZ about II >
per cent, the share Of France in the transportation
should not exceed the equivalent
"Therefore, even leaving the discussion on the
ground adopted by the Federal Government the heav
ness of the losses sustained by the French navy would
still be unquestionabe, for the share Of France in the
general movement of transportation hcng but from
II to l3 per cent, there would be still for her con-
slant loss Of from Is 10 ~ per cent on an equal ra-
iuc of rrcLanred producis To this loss should also be
added The portion Of the tonnage that ought TO be secur-
cd France for the surplus of value of her exports
over imports.
"From this we Judge of the spirit OF naccuracy
which characterizos the grievances OF the Federal
Government and the carecssness brought in the exa-
mnalon Of the facts by which supported these gre
But another thing quite as strange es the IL
mcntatons addressed TO France is the preexi given to
them, when based upon pretended encroachment on
the transportation by the flags of other nations, whose
share this transportation has not oureached las shown
in The above table, since - years the insignificant limit
Of per cent Moreover the cause assigned 10 ms en-
croachment correct than the asseron itseli,
and in this respect the Federal yet
taken when they think that the American vessels pay
50 confines in France than the vessels OF other
nations, English exceptcd) For, to the francs II
centmes of ordinary tonnage duties paid by other ma
tons must be added all the expenses for expedition,
permits, PASSPORTS pilots, &c, which exceed for To-
reign ships the sum required from French vessels or
from American ones both enjoy the same privileges
"fwe resume the sundry results which We have just
had to sale they bring US 10 the conclusions
which we have yet 10 offer:
"Is rs for Com,aercc-Durng the last II years,
from lS27 10 ISIS, the general movement OF mcrchan-
discs between the United States and France has been
equal TO 600 900 francs that is, an annual mean
Of l62, 900, 900