Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-08-23
FRENCH COMMERCE..

we have received the message Of the President
transmitting to Congress memorial presented e
fthe Secretary Of the Treasury, by the French Min
'ster, "seiating to tic and navigation will
France, under existing treaties"
The memorial Of the French Minister is an elab
crate document, protesting agains, any change il
the existing commercial relations between the two
countries, and combating the received notions here
that those relations operate unequSly and injuri-
ously to the commerce Of this country. 1t under
takes to prove that we enjoy all the privileges OF
the most favored nation, in our commerce with
h France, and with respeo, TO navigation have very
nearly monopoly-whieh more than supplies any
inequality the score Of commerce. Tabular
statements are presented to confirm this view of the
case.
With respect to articles of American production
|. nbout which most complaint is made here he OBJ.
( serves:
"Amons the special grievances expressed by the
United States against France, we have already mem
toned those against the duties levied cotton RICE
inseod, tea, indigo and tobacco.
1t IS easy TO reduce these determinations 10 ihe IL
proper value.
Coiion.-The difference of 5 francs in the duties,
which is complained OF by the Federal Government,
is but just compensation for the greater value OF
American cotton, compared with that of Turkey
and Egypt; this difference has not at all been cs-
tablshed with a view TO protect one kind more than
the other and the results show it.
Though submitted to higher duties, 1.-THE diffe-
renee being formerly Of 25 trancsl the importation
of American cotton has increased in fifteen years
(lSls to 1892 from 1853 400 kogrammos to a.
$4,000; and since the royal ordinance OF the 10Th
June, 1892, has reduced the difference TO francs
the amount OF the American cotton importation has
increased in six years 3 1896 600 kilosrammes that
is, OF more than one third, having gone up in 1888
~ AZ, 7S0, 900 kosrnmmes, while from 1926 TO 1888
the importation OF Egyptian cotton went down from
7,665,000 to 1862, LIS kiIogrammes.
But most important fact TO notice is, that the
difference Of duties in favor Of Egyptian cotton ex-
lists only when brought in French ships; and OF this
the Federal Government has right complain,
when the equality OF duties stipulated in the
venllon OF 1922, bears exclusively on the importa-
ton, under both flags, Of international products.
As TO tbs duties levied on Egyptian cotton when
imported in vessels Of other nations OF Egypt
ITSELF they established IN such way as TO con-
stitute premium of 1--WE francs IN favor o. the same
product from America when brought in American
ships.
1t must be said, also that certain circumstances
some permanent some temporary-Such as, on one
part the competition created by American planters
against each o,her the progress of cultivation and,
according Gen. Cas- the progressive dimnulon OF
prices which must he the consequence OF II; and,
the other, the unusual state OF Egypt and the want
of extension in the cultivation OF that country, para
lyzsd, Us il IS, by monopoly leaving no hope for
decrease the prices TO bc equivalent TO that which
must take place IN AmerlcH-alt these cItcumstan.
ces 1ry insure 10 the United States the
larses; share IN the supply OF for the French
market. The truth Of this is fully asceTtaIned by
the following results:
The proportion of American cotton used in
the French consumption Is estimated at
about 81.
That fsom the East al 10.
And that fom other countries, including
places of deposite, at ).
-
100
Ries-hs regards this article, the American COM
rluIltLa rnaL-L lncnnnrnh Le-thn Inrf hn.