Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-04

II
much valuable Information on the commerce Of Ii
| onited States,l you will find that the principle
laid down by MIR. Jefferson were acted upon in N
year 1915; for the Secretary Of State goes on ,
say:
"The first act on the statute boo. Of the Unite
States holding out Inducements TO foreign nation
TO relax their restrictive systems with regard to on
commerce and navigation, is that OF the I'd of March
1915, which repeals so much ofthe preceding acts
imposes discriminating duty on the tonnage OF 70
reign vessels and on their cargoes being the produc
fthc country to which they belong, take effect
favour OF any foreign nation whenever the Pre-
s'dent shall be satisfied that the discriminating
countervailing duties Of such foreign nation, 70
as they operate to the disadvantage Of the u. States
have been abolished"
There Continued MIR. J) is the remedy propo
sed by MIR. Jefferson, and there is the remed,
adopted as early as the year 1915 by the Congress
Of the u. States.
II necessary, l could advert still further TO IN,
opinions of Mr.. Jefferson, hut my friend from Ken
lucky, (Mr. Trpett,) in an address to the tobacco
planters Of the United States, issued by the com
mttec appointed by the last convention, and oil
which committee he was chairman, makes reference
ms the Secretary OF State in the report to which
have alluded had also done, to the grounds assumed
by Mr.. Jefferson, and which in fact. the only
grounds on which we hope TO act effectively,
Will read from that address the following extract
| "Mr. Jefferson, who was Secretary of State,
| lGen. Washington then President of the United
Sates,) in report which he made TO Congress on
the l6th day of December, 1898, ON the subject OF
commercial privileges and restrictions on our COM
| merce by various nations, says:
such being the restrictions on the commerce
and navigation of the United States, the question
IS, IN what way they may best be removed, modif-
ed, or counteracted2
AS to commerce, two methods occur: first, by
friendly arrangements with the several nations
with whom these restrictions exist; or, second by
the separate act of Legislature tor counteryai.
ing their effects. There can be no doubt of these
two friendly arrangements the most elisihler &c
And, after arguing the benefits OF navigation
and commerce recprocally free with all nations, he
says
But, should any nation, contrary to our wishes
suppose II may better find its advantage by con.
tInuIns Its system of prohibitions, duties and regu-
Iatons, 1t behooves us TO protect citizens their
commerce and navigation, by counter prohibitions
duties and regulations al; o. Free commerce and
navigation are not to be given in exchange for re-
sirictions and vexatlons; they likely TO pro-
duee relaxation oithem."
"And, again, in another part OF the same report.
he says. f''
"The following principles being founded in re-
ciprocity, appear perfectly just, and to offer no
cause OF complaint 10 any nation
FIRST. When n nation imposes hisb duties IN
our productions, or prohibits them altogether, il
may be proper for us TO do The same b. iheirsr &c
have referred TO this high authority of Mr. Jeff
ierson and 10 the legislative acts of Congress for
the purpose OF showing that find in them a
which we believe will have the desired effect
shonld be too tedious If were TO enter speci6.
eally into a statement Of the grievances of which
we nave a just right TO complain The part Of the
several governments abroad. These are matters
which the committee will no doubt take into ron
slderaton, and upon which it will become the dutv
oil this convention TO act. Let me here remark.
however, that we begin to find ourselves cbeered
and encouraged from sources where we had almost
feared we should have met with no support. Our
npnir.
TO Virginia and Georgia. Virginia has com. ON,
and spoken language which hope will he heard
not only on this SIDE of the Atlantic but in every
tobacco port in Europe. The Governor of thai
S'atc' IN his recent message TO the Legislature,
holds the following energetic language:
81 would call your attention to the onpressivr
and une1ampied burdens to which one Of cur prin-
cipal staples has been long subjected, and submit
whether is not expedlent for you, through our re-
presentation in Congress, enforce the lust claims
OF our tobacco planters TO a reduction OF the enor-
nous duties imposed on tobacco by most Euronean
Governments In some Instances these duties eY
coed one thousand dollars on the hosshead while
idkuries from the countries imposing them are ad.
mtted into the u s. duty free and no article Of COM
merce Is subjected TO any thing like the same tar
IL 10 difficult TO conceive why an article which
ranks second ia the exports of the u. States and
which enters so largely into the consumpuon of
civilized and savage men, should have been select
ed as the subject of such system of taxation ~
why the injurious effects OF these duties have NO,
been urged IN more emphatic manner on The con-
sderalion OF foreign Governments. IL has been
stated by those who were wei. ACQUAINTED viii
the subJec', that the different European Govern
ments interested land many OF them deeply in the
tobacco trade, derive an annual revenue by means
OF imposts on American tobacco, larger than the
whole current revenue of the u States The hen
ehclal consequences of reduction OF these duties
would soon De ie't IN an increased demand and bet
terprices Tor this valuable product of our soil.n
then. continued I \
by another high authority, and is to be remarked
that these sentiments are bGt the echo of opinons
expressed by the people of Virginia. through their
Conventons Such also is the fact in relation
70 kentucky. We Ind also IN this message Of the
Governor of Va. an answer TO al least one of The
inquiries which have been made through be Columns
OF different papers ofthe U. S. and TO which il is all
important that correct answer should be given The
question has been asked, hrst whether the reduction
OF the duties abroad would result in an ;ncTs,scd
mand for the artice7 and secondly. WIN, ,ras d.
capacity OF the United States to supply that
cd demand, I'D case the reduction should take plaee
MIR. President, need refer TO the extent of ibe To-
6acco growing region of the United states7 Need
refer 10 the valley OF the Mississippi above die COZ
ton-growlng region, and indeed in some instances
below It Need refer TO Kentucky, Tennessee
Missouri, Maryland Virginia, North Carolina and
Georgia, to show what the extent of our capacItv n
supply the demand actually isl am sure il cannot
be necessary,
D"I 80 'NSiIthtt " - not alone 10y the Cover
nor OF virginia that the attention Of the country has
been called TO this subject. We are sustained bv
similar move on the part Of the Legislature, M
Georgia. Resolutions have been introduced into
that body, though not yet acted upon, so far as we
have any lniormatlon instructing the Senators and
requesting the Representatives Of that State in Con-
greSs ITO use their best efforts to have Law nassed
at the ensuing session Of Congress- to tax all French
vines, silks and brandes ia proportion 20 the dnt,,
which they lay upon our tobacco in their pous.Z
Here, then, are some of our Southern friends nh,
are NOT near as much interested in the product of
TOBACCO as we are, going even little beyond thu
mark; gong, say, esen further than MANY M ne
who are most Interested in the staple desire IN 90
ia order 70 remedy the evils under which &c ,,e;
What has been done in the State of NarvI,nd
Notonly have her conventions spoken their cninion
put resolutions o. ms rucons have emanated from
her Legislatures; aud 50 far back as the session NJ
lsj6-'37, the following, among other resolutions
was passed by believe, unanimous vote
"ResoLUed, That the Senators and Represrn,o.
tves OF this State in the Congress OF the United
states be requested TO take under their esnecial
care this highly important and much neglected ME
rest and that :bey be particularly requested TO on
pose all and every adjustment Of the present tariff
without obtaining for the tobacco interest fair and
equal participation in the benefits 10 he derived from
such an adjustment"
This continued Mr.. j. is the language NJ nl,n
ters and OF treemen. This il the unanimous ian.
guage OF the Legislature Of Maryland; and no "
when we are thus invited by our sister States 10 act
with energy-whcn The whole tobncco.growinO re-
gion IS uniting m support OF its own lust claims
Will any gentleman say that the divisions which
nave heretofore existed IN our ranks or that the no.