The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-18

U I
and most friendly footing and the result is that inc
basis OF a conventional commercial arrangement has
Just been agreed upon land submitted Tor the consul
GRAFTON and action Of this Gosernmentl between is
Majesty ,Se King Of Prussia, in behalf al rrussia'
and all The Staiesslssooiated la the Customs Union
and the Minister al Berlin, the part OF the United
States which, il sanctioned by Congress, would ei-
feet the loDg-cherished object OF procuring The re-
duction Of the present duty our tobacco, secure
the continued admission of cotton free Of all du-
ties and prevent the imposition OF any higher duty
on rice than that which is AT present imPosed--that
article, is already known, having already, at or
request been reduced to its present low rate py the
Customs Union
For these vast advantages the conditional arrange
ment proposes that the United States should give 10
the Customs Union proper equivalents, by reducing
the heavy duties OF the present tarn upon SILKS loon
ing-glass plates wines, toys, linens, and such other
articles as are not Of the growth manufacture OF
the United States.
Mr. Wheaton's late despatch will fully explain The
whole of his proceedings in reference TO ths
interesting subject and doubt not will be satisiacto-
nv TO Congress should that body choose to call Tor
them. In the time lay before you the cores
pondence between Mr.. Wheaton and the Baron Bn-
low a. which gives the outline OF the proposed ar
raegement.
The reduction on tobacco proposed on the part oil
the German Customs Union brings to our view, IN
strong light the unfortunate state of the trade with
England, France, and Austria In that great staple oil
our country In England we have 10 complain OF an
enormous duty oil three siillIngs pOunu OF doout
eight hundred per cent. its value at the place OF
exportate at the same time il l. permitted 10 sell
the article freely in that country.
In France however, although every Minister oil
the United States from the year 1856 to The present
time has earnestly pressed the subject upon that 20
| yernment no change has been effected The Gov
ernmen, Of France still continues the monopoly or
regie, which stops up all the avenues to that trade
whilst the United States admit all the products oil
| French industry.
In Austria the same pIan of monopoly or reggie de-
sroys the prospect OF any productive trade m tobac
co. and Minister at that Court holds out no M
ducement to hope for any change for the better
1t may be proper to remark that the proposed
treaty will not ufec, the provisions of existing trea-
ties with other foreign pssers The stipulation ~
found in many Of them that, if the United States
grant more favorable terms to any other nation
those terms should be considered extending to the
nations parties to these treaties.
But this stipulation is always understood as condi
oaa that is, that Disadvantages Of the new treaty
shall be given only the terms which they
are given to the party Of that treaty.
IL they be given without equivalent they must also
be given to Tics nations without equivalent; II they
! lie given in consideration Of equivalents, no nation
can claim them, urder the general stipulation above
mentioned without offering ike equivalent
The duties imposed on the importation OF partic-
ular commodity may therefore with propriety be re-
duced, 10 articles the produce or manufacture oil
one country, which may in consideration oil such re-
ducton, reduce its duties staple productions,
without giving to any other nation with which we
may have such treaty stipulation right to require
tie reductions as TO its productions or manufac-
lures unless such nation will come under the SINE
conditions The treaty Of 1882 with France IS pre-
/ cedeDt in point.
| Denmark has, by suGerance, continued to impose,
up to this day, most singular tax HPon all goods
which pass in or of the Sound on board OF every
ship that enters or leaves the Baltic by this highway
! of nature.
Denmark cannot demand this toll upon any prin-
| ali nf ,lar liz law
ground than ancient usage which finds no Justihca-
ton in the existing state Of things. She rerdeis no
service for This exaction ard has not even the claim
4 OF power TO enforce II.
4 great and general dissatisfaction is felt by all na-
tons interested the Baltic trade at this unnecessary
and humiIIating eXacton. / respectfully suggest
that the time has arrived when the United States
may properly take decisive step to relieve our
| Baltic trade from this oppression
For more full information upon this subject, refer
TO the report of MIR Webster, hereinbeiore alluded
to. No essential change has taken place since The
date of that report and or vessels continue 10 lower
their opsails al the castle Of CronbeTg and 10 pay
tribute TO Denmark.
The condition OF our navigation and shipping IN
tertst demands al this time, particular attention from
the Government The great and constantly mcreas-
ing amount OF foreign shipping IN cur ports shows The
necessity of prompt legislation for The protection and
enlargement of commercial marine. There u
reason to apprehend that, If the best advised mea-
surts be not promptly taken, American commerce
will be engro, sed by the shiI and sesmen OF
Europe. There can be no doubt that the cause oil
this great evil be found in the sipulatons OF our
CONNIE rcal treaties which place the shipping OF Tor
eisn countries an equality with That oil The ,niteu
States IN the indirect as well a. the dlreeiirade
Thi. necessarily operates 10 the advantage OF tose
nations who can build and navigate ueir Nesse's d.
the least cost
IL is well known that most OF the nations with
which we have concluded such treaties, and epeciay
those OF the north Of Europe, have decided ad'an
I,..- In, 10Th ti.,sa rita
tie materials OF shp-buildng are much more cosby
in the United States than in Europe he wages we
nav 10 our seamen nearly double aud The general
scale Of living ShipbUard much better, and con-
seauenlly much more expensive. The consequent
Of ell this Is that sbip-owners, before they can
find employ for their vessels, obliged TO wait
IN their own ports until Swedish, Danish, and Han
seattle shipping has taken CT as much freight as II can
carry; and YET we persuade ourselves that our rea
ties with all these Pow have placed our commerce
upon footing Of perfect reciprocity
The treaties at present existing with Denmark
Sweden, the Hanseatc Republic, Prussia, Austria,
and Russia, have already extended beyond their orig
nal limitation, and are subject to be discontinued at
one years notice.
The remaining treaties in which the reciprocity
principle Is adopted on the broadest scale, may be
made the subject Of consideration the term Of then
duration approaches. The remedy is consequently
in our own hands, and have only 10 retrace ouI
steps and make known the determination Of this Go
yernmen to regulate its foreign rrde in future upor
such principles OF RECIPROCITY a. shal bot cNteho VIC
yond the direct importation trade in the produce ant
manufactures ofThe contracting parties
BY the accompanying table, (B,) showing compa
rat,e account OF the domestic and foreign tonnage
employed in the foreign trade Of the Uui ed States 70
the last fifteen years II will he seen that the average
proportion Of American shipping TO foreign shipping
was as follows
Table Of Shipping
Proportion per cent.