Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-05
ma. JENrrER.s SPEECH.
Delivered t.fsrs ihs Tobacco COapsaiion.
.. ICoxcLupEp.1

Livingston held conference with him; when, n was
suggested by that Deputy that, IL the indemnity
could he brought about without rup;utc, mod-
hcston OF the tobacco duties should take place. MIR
Livingston, placing confidence in the French Gov
eminent, expresses the belief that favorable change
would be made; and II is 10 DO remarked, as evinc-
ing either disposition TO deceive as holding out
nm inducement to bring the indemnity question to
n friendly termination, that the regie was relaxed
from ten 10 FIVE years.
Listen to what MIR Livingston wrote home at that
time:
'.If the indemnity should be provided for, and our
usual intercourse re-cstnb.ished, l hatter myself
with the prospect OF being i'm opening
trade that will enable the planters of Kentucky to
take large share in the tobacco supply of this king.
dom, which Inns hitherto been confined almost en-
tircly to Virginia, which provided almost the whole
of the limited quantity hitherto imported. You
will at once the advantages of this in all its
bearings; but, in order TO effect it, must be author
lied to offer continuance of the discriminating
duty, as il now exists, on China silks; perhaps
extension Of the time to that established by the
treaty of 1881 on wines"
Thus il will be seen that the French Government
held out the indueement that for a consideration,
they would reduce the restrictions upon tobac-
CO; and yet, in the year 1885, when that indemnity
was provided for, the next step which the French
Government took was to lay additional res,ric-
ton upon this very article, and to extend the rcse
for the period Of twelve years.
But further. Our present Minister Gen. Cass.
has made this matter a subject OF complaint TO the
French Government, and has put in a memorial
there, urging our claims in the strongest language
We have, therefore, the benefit OF his experience
and counsel. And what does he say2 He refers
TO the fact that, when Mr. Jefferson was in France.
IN l7S5, he succeeded, by his arguments in inducing
the French Government To relax its restrictions or
American tobacco; and the consequence was, that
the quantity imported into France IN that year was
$4,000 hogsheads-and that, too, at n time when
their commerce was limited and when very few re-
cprocal privileges were granted; and yet the aver
nge number OF hogsheHds now annually introduced
into France Is 6,OOO and no more, Notwithstanding
all the privileges and advantages which we have
gwen, both 10y treaty and by legislation, TO the
French Government and People.
Again. What have we to ask of the French
Government, or what has the French Government
claim of u.s. that this state of things should con-
unuel Can that Government introduce a single
argument by which they can Justify or excuse the
continuation Of this regle for twelve years longer
they have done, and which will carry US into the
year 1887
Let me read TO you n single sentence from the
communications of Mr.. Jefferson with the French
Government in the year l7s5. At that time he
was in correspondence with the French Minister,
the Count de Nergennes, the subject of
commercial regulations generally. Mr.. Jefferson
had presented his remontrances, and had said that
the Government Of the United States would be
compellei 10 resort 10 countervaihng duties If the
French Government did not modify the burden.
And this isIhe language used by the Count de
Vergennes in reply to Mr.. Jefferson:
''lfa footing of reciprocal advantage is not main
tanned, the King will be under the necessity, con-
trary TO his wishes, to fall upon such means as will
tend to put matters upon perfect equality"
am very happy TO find that this language has
not been forgotten; and that in the very last COM
munication made by our Minister in France TO the
Duke OF Dalmata, who is now the Minister of For
eign Affairs, in calling the attention of the French
Government TO the extension Of the reggie monopoly
for twelve years, he reminds the Minister of the
language held in i7s5; and he takes the ground in
writing home, that the time had arrived when the
United States would find themselves compelled to
resort 10 the principles laid down by the French
Government ITSELF This is their own argument
aud yet, notwithstanding this language to MIR JEFF
ferson, they did modify the restrictions-in conse-
quence Of which double the quantity OF tobacco
admitted that had ever been admitted be-
fore.
What nex,l After all the correspondence which
had been held betewen our Minister and the French
Government and after he bad been invited TO put
IN his memoir, and assign his why these du-
ties should be changed. the French Chamber OF De-
puties took the into their consideration and
after long discussion, passed act without even
paying the decent respect Of noticing that we had
a Minister there demonstrating against It, The re-
sent law Of five years was about to expire and then
they re-enacted Titus extending ths monopoly
for IL years, and carrying it up as have said to
the year 1852.
No communication was made to our Minister in
relation TO 1t, but the fact first made known 10
cial paper. This the first official intimaton he
had received and in the concluding part oths COM
munication, he says:
al have nothing now to add, but that the matter
As beyond the reach Of ordinary diplomatic discus
sion, and that its solution depend the mea-
sures which the Executive and which Congress
may see proper to acopt. As long as France, in
carrying out the restrictive system she has adopted
can export to the United States twice as much as
che imports from there, without any fear OF change
OF measures part, long the present state of
things will continue exhibiting Of the most slrik-
ing examples of inequality 10 the trade between two
nations which Is 10 be found in the history o modern
commerce"
Here, then, is the last communication from our
Minister, stating that, so far France is concern
ed, negotiations have fai.ed and the Secretary Of
State, in his communication 10 the Senate, in the
report referred to, says:
1.-THE treaty of France differs from those of the
other Powers. IL contains no stipulation securing
10 the productions Of the u. States admission upon
the footing Of like articles from any other foreign
country. discrimination TO our prejudice be-
tween the duties levied upon cotton and the
like article coming from particular places, in fact
exists and has been made the subject Of friend Y
circumstances hitherto without effect.
This is the testimony Of our own Government
that the negotiations with France, not only with
reference 70 the tobacco, but TO the cotton and
other interests, put different footing from
what they are with other nations; and now, v hen
we are receiving from France nearly one hundred
millions IN value more than the amount Of articles
exported from the U. States, we are actually re.
ceiving two.thirds Of those articles free of duty
whist every article imported into France from the
". ). without exception, pays duty. The French
Government has even passed discriminating duties
and cotton imported into France from the u. States
pays duty TO per cent. higher than cot
ton imported there from other countries This
then, say, is not tobacco question alone-it is
cotton question also.
Again-All the Importations from France are
manufactured articles, giving no employment to
American citizens, whilst the articles exported to
France in their natural state most OF which af-
lord materials for Ffenh manufacture at least two
thirds Of which are Indispensable to them.
Export trade Of France in 1886 10
all the world 9Gl
Import trade COS
r., Million, q Francs.
Import from u. States 40
Difference in favor Of
Out Of more than 30 principal foreign nations
the Uped States are the largest consumers and ex.
port more than double The amo unit received by any
Other country, and consume about one-fourth the
whole amount Of her exports.
DO not gentlemen pTeceive, then, that the North
ard the South, the East and the West, are oil in
ieresied in this question: And II the cotton plant
ors are willing 70 permit heir staple TO pay a high.
~ duty than that Of other countries, The tobacco
planters, hope are not
come now, Mr.. President, 10 the point 10 which
wish more Immediately n call the notice Of the
COnvenuon that is 70 the importance Of our tobac.
90 Haoe' } md hat The exports Of the u. States