Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-05


uncersland now that there is only one Ameri-
can snip IN The Bremen trade from Bal.imorc This,
ueh, say, II not entirely q tobacco question, but
equally commercial question; it IS an .faoi
cav quesuon; and thus II is that we enlist the in-
srests OF all classes OF our citizens.
Again. In Bremen we have not an American
merchant who can deal upon the same terms
Their citizens; whilst in the United States the latter
hsve tho same privileges granted to them Ameri-
can citizens. At this time in the city Of Baltimore
the whole tobacco trade is carried by foreigners
excepting only one single house. Yet SO far from
our citizins having these privileges in Bremer, Ii
censc must be taken out before one Of them can
,ranisei any business. Arc these the reciprocal
benefits of tradel
In Holland the duty on Maryland tobacco is
fourteen per cent. higher than tobacco coming
from any other State Of the Union. This, too, is
an anomaly. Yet Maryland has stood quicscen,
" you ship Maryland tobacco from the port OF
Norfolk as Maryland tobacco, the additional four
teen per cept. duty is levied in Holland; but if
Virginia or Ohio tobacco is brought to Baltimore,
and shipped from thence, they have the benefit OF
the reduced duty. IL is our Maryland tobacco on
which this increased duty Is levied and not tobacco
shipped from the ports Of MARYLAND il grown in
other States.
AS regards Belgium, a treaty has been made by
with.
Now, who that looks a,ien,iyelv into these mat
tiers does not that this is not tobacco interest
exclusively Ii is tobacco interest sp ccihcay
WIN reference 10 ourselves But il is an interest in
which all sections of the country are concerned be-
cause our other staples meet with similar burdens.
Let us look INTO this question, and whether il is
not the duty Of every to give his serious con-
slueraton TO II. Let cast eye over the stua-
ton OF our land from the North TO the extreme
south and West. No country possesses many
and so various advantages. You find we have al.
most every climate, where almost every produc.
tion can he raised. You cannot now offer sufficient
Inducements TO men 10 come into the cultivation Of
TOBACCO; but, the moment you remove these bur
dens you will enable those sections OF our country
IN winch tobacco can be raised 10 be brought into
cultivation. How are we situated7 From the
Gull OF Mexico to about the'lattude of 81 deg. we
have what is called the sugar region. From % deg
10 50 deg embracing portions Of the other also n
nave what IS known as the cotton region. From
80 degrees TO about the dividing line between
Maryland and Pennsylvania, we have what is en-
phaucally called the tobacco REGION emb racing the
States OF Tennessee, Kentucky, Virgins Mary
and, and part of North Carolina ana Georgia, on
the eastern side OF the Misss ippi and Ohio rivers:
and, on the other side, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio
In this region, tobacco be raised TO the hes, adj
vantage where cotton cannot; as in the other region
before specified, cotton can be raised where tobacco
cannot: so that the region cannot come in con.
hict with the other-each having its appropriate
sphere OF production. When you 60 further North.
embracing also some of these regions, il NAV be
called sraln-growins country, as in parts of Ohio.
Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, sc. which
The question then comes, If the duties abroad
should DC reduced, and the demand should We in
creased, can we SUPPLY NJ Can the most skepti-
cal casting his eye over the range Of country which
have designated, doubt its capabiity 10 produce
an abundance to supply the whole of Eunone7
We are willing TO tske the risk. Give us the benefit
OF the supply, and we will run the risk OF coming
IN competition with all the products from the other
parts of the world
MIR. President, have now closed the statement
Sirel 10 mn Fa I I.,s l.,
view of calling forth the sentiments of gentlemen
who may I've better acquainted with the details of
the subject than am; that, in any action which
the committee may recommend or the Convention
TAKE, we may be as nearly unanimous as possible.
!, therefore, submit the following resolution:
ReSelred That committee be appointed by the
President TO consider and recommend such measures
as may be deemed most expedient to be adopted
by this Convention.
Whereupon, committee Of thirteen members
was appointed, which made the following Report;
which, after elaborate discussion. was adop,ed by
the Convention.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1870
Mr. JEHiFER, from the committee appointed by
the president TO consider and recommend such mea-
sures as may be most eNpedient to be adopted TO
accomplish the objects of this convention report
ed:
That the limited time allowed them has compeu-
ed the committee to conne their report to general
review of the subject.
That, since the adjournment of the tobacco con
venton which met in this city on the LIST OF Nav
last, there has been no change in the burdens and
restrictions imposed upon the tobacco-trade Of the
United States by the nations of Europe, except in
some unlmportant matters by one or two king
doms and the facts stated by the committee in their
report to that convention are now referred 10, and
by us reasserted, and their arguments and sugses-
tons adopted. Since the publication OF the docu-
ments by Congress at their last session. no cores
pondence has been received ut the Department of
farv
communications from Sardinia and Belgium. No
change has taken place with fOreigp Governments
IN regard 10 this staple and, from what has already
transplreJ, we have no hopes of favorable action
on their part until the Congress of the u. States
shall adopt measures commensurate with the OBJ
jeeL
Great Britain still continues her excessive duty of
S72 IS per hundred pounds, or 500 per cent on the
prime cost OF this article Of our produce while we
continue TO receive the product OF the labor Of her
citizens at an average duty of 1871 per cent
France yet continues her sill more odious mono
poly, or Tegie, retaining IN the hands of her X nc
or those TO whom lie sells the privilege, the sole
right 10 import manufacture, and sell American to-
bacco IN that Kingdom; by which the quantity OF
American tobacco consumed in France has been re-
duced 10 SIX or seven thousand hogsheads per an.
mum, 'Gom which she derives a revenue OF $40 Co.,
900
Russia, Spain, Portugal, and some Of the minor
powers OF Europe, adhere to their varo us monoDo.
manifest oppression Of this our staple. And the
Germanic Powers included IN the soHpeTtin or
commercial union of GeTmany, have not reduced
any portion OF their transit duties or abated in the
slightest degree their commercial system in which
tobacco IS the article heavily taxed las il is
indeed by almost every Gov, rnment in Europe)
notwithstanding our minister 90 Prussia has con.
inued with unremiited Efforts To urge upon them
the justice OF our claims, and the benefits they
would derive from modification of those dutes
Holland and Belgium present an exception to the
general system Of high duties and restrictions. They
have met us ~ that spirit Of equality and Justice
which should ever exist between nations having
friendly commercial relations; who have a right TO
insist upon, and never should he satisfied without.
a Tree exchange OF commerce on equal and recipro
cal footing. Amongst our agents abroad, commu-
nIcauOns from Mr. Dodge and Mr. Niles, have been
repeatedly received by our Government, which
evnce great zeal and abor in the different spheres
10 which they have acted.
Treaties with several of the European Govern.
ments expire IN few years, and Just regard TO
the planting interest requires that they should not
he renewed, unless the odIous burdens and restric-
tons imposed upon the staple Of tobacco be mod.
fed
The treaty with the Hanseatc towns Of Lubee.
Bremen and Hamburg, expired by limitation, in
December, 1889, but continues in force until twelve
months notice shall have been given of the intention
10 terminate u; and fair opportunity now presents
itself TO our Government 70 DO justice With these
Powers.
The American ministers At The Court Of Great
Britain have for many years urged, with great adj.
Ity, on that Government the propriety OF diminish
ing the duty on tobacco, n matter Of Justice 10
The United states, on general principles Of policy
ard Tree trade between two friendly nations; and
have shown by arguments, which we think It would