New-York daily tribune., 1843-07-01
VOL. EgH. NO. 12.
Reciprocity Treaties.

WrpsTEn's Baltimore Speech which assailed tho
principle Of Reciprocity in Commercial Treaties
The policy OF these treaties has recently been
questioned, and brief examination Of it may as.
sst the public in forming correct opinion about
it. The reciprocity for which they stpulatc re-
lateS to the navi CATION Of the country. They
provide that the American and the foreign vessel
shall be placed on footing Of equality as to all
charges, duties. &c, in the transportation OF
commodities and they abolish the foreign ton
mage which had been previously imposed in be-
half of American vessels.
Sometimes the reciprocity is limited, whilst in
other cases is perfect and comprehensive. The
convention negotiated with England in lol5-
the first in the series of trcatcs-s limited to the
European territories Of Great Britain, the Govern
mcnt of that country being unwilling TO extend
the principle to her colonial possessions. Be
tween the European territories of Great Britain
and the United States the navigation of both
countries is placed in an exactly equal condition,
no higher or other duties being levied in tier
respective ports upon the vessels of the one Power
than what are levied upon those of the other.
! the case Of the French treaty negotiated in
1922, some temporary determinations favorable
to French tonnage were stipulated, but these
have ceased by the lapse of time.
In other instances, with several Of the North
ern Powers of Europe. and most of the South
American States, treaties with the United States
have been concluded, which embrace the princi-
pie Of reciprocity in its greatest extent that is to
say, whatever can be imported into or exported
from the United States in a national vessel may
be eintroduccd or carried out in foreign vessel both
paying exactly the same, and no other charges or
,l,, homo n
American vessel in the foreign port Of the con-
tracing party Under this stipulation, navIga-
tion is not confined to The productions of the
countries of the contracting parties, but may
transport the productions of any other foreign
countries.
These treaties had their origin in acts Of Con-
gress, the first of which was passed about the
close of the last war with Great Britain; rather
the law itself had its origin IN the navigating in-
tcrcst of the United States. That interest had
suffered by unequal burdens imposed upon it by
the regulations OF forci gn powers. 1t naturally
sought to cast off these burdens. 1t contcnded
that, in a fair competition with foreign powers,
the enterprise of the United States in building
and cqupping and provisioning ships, and the
skill OF their scamcn III navigating them, were
competent, on equal terms to cope with the YES
scis Of any lorci gn nation. This was the convlc-
ton under which the law passed and the subsc-
quent treaties were negotiated.
The design was 10 establish Il system of free
and equal navigation, and to prevail upon all ma
tions to adoptit. The ctreatics actually concluded
were only parts Of that system. The design OIL
ginated under Mr. Madison's administration and
was persovcrcd in BY those of Mr. Monroe, Mr..
Adams and Cen. Jackson. 1t was fcrcscon that
in carving out the system II would operate Tor
the United States more cadvantagcously with some
powers than with others but 1t was hoped that
ii it bore hard upon the tonnage of the United
States with some minor powers, they would ind
an ample indemnity in their intercourse with
others And accordingly, whic we are COM
planning Of the operation of the principle IN our
navigation with the Hanscatic towns, France Is
complaining of It's injurious effects upon her ton
mage, and has more !han once ntimated that she
would terminate the treaty.
Most Of these reciprocity treaties were ncgo-
tiatcd by or under Mr. Adams, as Minister abroad,
as Secretary Of State. or as President Of the Uni
ted States; and the navigating interest has no
better friend than he is in tho whole nation.
In Judging of the system Of free and equal ma
vgation it should be examined as a whole and
not decided upon its operation with this or that
particular Power. The example oflhe falling off
OF our tonnage in our commerce with the Hansc
attic towns, and the increase of theirs, Is cited as
proof of the injury done TO our navigation. But,
in the first place, it should be remarked that the
vessels of these towns are not the carriers of their
own commerce, but that OF the greater part OF
Germany, and we believe that Our commerce,
since the general peace of Europe, has greatly III
creased with Germany. Then examples of the
opposite and favorable operation of the system, IN
our intercourse with other Powers. may be also
cited. Besides its effect with France, already no.
ticed in our trade with some of the new Powers
on this Continent we almost entirely cngross the
transportation. And if ii be desirable to make
the system general with al commercial States.
would 1t not add strength to our plea and mani
fest our liberaity by showing some instances
in which its operation was uniavorablc to Us
Or can We reasonably expect TO profit IN all the
treaties We make to the disadvantage of foreign
States
Taken as an entire system, and regarding It's
general operation upon our navigating interest, we
believe il has not been injurious. Oar tonnage,
in the aggregate, foreign and domestic, has been
constantly increasing. The navigating interest
has undoubtedly not always escaped the depres
sion and suffering which have afflicted all our
great national interests but 1t is believcd gencr
alyto have tluurished more and suffered less than
any of them.
it is worthy of observation, too that if the equal
competition with the henayigation OF certain foreign
Powers, stipulated IN the reciprocity treaties has
had the effect Of lowering ircights, the commerce
OF the country, in both Its import and export di-
rections, has derived the benefit of thus reduction
Before the system Of reciprocity is abandoned 1t
will be well TO inquire what the substitute is TO be-
:. Where are we to 90 p It's proposed that we
shall resort to legislation, and attempt by It's
agency TO secure in our own ports greater advan-
tages than those which may he allowed 10 foreign
vessels; in other words, to revive the foreign ton
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