The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-18

and aost friendly footing, and the fesu is that the
basis OF Conventional c0mmer cia arrangement has
just been agreed upon (and submitted for the consid
Grafton and action Of this Government between His
Majesty the King of Prussia, in behalf Of Prussia,
and all Tho States associated in the Customs Union,
and the Minister at Berlin, the part of the United
States which, if sanctioned by Congress, would eff
feet the loDgcherished object Of procuring the re-
duction of the present duty 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 by the
Customs Union
For these vast advantages the conditional arrange
ment proposes that the United States should give to
the Customs Union proper equivalents, by reducing
the heavy duties Of the present tariff upon silks look
ing-gass plates, wines, toys, linens, and such other
articles are not Of the growth or manufacture OF
the United States.
Mr.. Wheatons late despatch will fully explain the
whole course of his proceedings IN reference 10 this
interesting subject, and doubt not will be sasfacto-
ny to Congress should that body choose to call for
them. In the mean time lay before you the cores
pondence between Mr. Wheaton and the Baron Bn-
low, (A which gives the outline of the proposed ar
rangemcnt.
The reduction on tobacco proposed on the part of
the German Customs Union brings to our view, in o
strong light the unfortunate state of the trade with
England, France and Austria in that great staple Of
our country In England we have to complain of an
enormous duty Of three shings pound, or about
eight hundred per cent on its value at the place of
exportation at the same time it is permitted to sell
the article freely in that country
In France, however, although every Minister of
the United States from the year 1856 to the present
time, has earnestly pressed the subject upon that Go
vernment, no change has been effected The Gov
reggie, which stops up all the avenues TO that trade,
whilst the United States admit all the products of
French industry
In Austria the same plan Of monopoly or rege de-
stroys the prospect of any productive trade IN tobac
CO, and our Minister at that Court holds out no in
ducement to hope for any change for the better.
1t may be proper to remark that the proposed
treaty will not affect the provisions of existing trea-
ties with other foreign powers The stipulation is
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 cond
tlona that Isl that disadvantages of the new treaty
shall be given only on the same terms which they
are given to the party Of that treaty.
If they be given without equivalent they must also
be given to tn, Sc nations without equivalent if they
lie given in consideration Of equivalents, nation
can claim them, under the general stipulation above
mentioned without Offering like equivalent
The dutits imposed on the Importation of partic-
ular commodity may therefore with proprety be re-
one country which may, in consideration Of 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
ire same reductions as to its productions manufac-
lures unless such nation will come under the same
conditions. The treaty of 1892 with France is pre-
cedent in point.
Denmark has, by suherance continued to impose,
up to this day, most singular tax upon all goods
which pass in or out of the Sound on board Of every
chi hat D,1t
of nature.
Denmark cannot demand this toll upon any prin-
ciple of natural or public law, nor upon any other
ground than ancient usage, which finds no justihca-
ton in the existing state Of things She renders no
service for this exacton, and has not the claim
OF power 10 enforce it,
great and general dissatisfaction is felt by all ma
ons interested in the Baltic trade at this unnecessary
and humiliating exaction. respectfully suggest
that the time has arrived when the United States
may properly take some decisive step to relieve our
Baltic trade from this oppression
For full information upon this subject refer
to the report Of MIR. Webster, herenbefore alluded
to- No essential change has taken place since the
date of that report and vessels continue to lower
their topsails at the castle Of Cronberg and to pay
tribute 10 Denmark.
The condition Of our navigation and shipping in
erest demands at this time, particular attention from
the Government The great and constantly increas
ing amount OF foreign shipping in our ports shows The
necessity OF prompt legislation for the protection and
enlargement of our commercial marine. There is
to apprehend that, if the best advised mea-
be not promptly taken, American commerce
will soon be engrossed by the ships and seamen OF
Europe. There be no doubt that the cause of
this great evil is to be found in the stpulaons Of our
commercial treaties which place the shipping OF Tor
eign countries equality with that of the United
States, in the indirect as well as the direct trade
This necessarily operates to the advantage Of those
nations who can build and navigate their vessels, at
the least cost.
1t is we'll known that most Of the nations with
which we have concluded such treaties and especially
those OF the north Of Europe, have decided adyan
tage over us in both these particulars. Nearly all
the materials of ship-buildng much more costly
in the United States than in Europe. he wages we
pay TO nearly double, and the general
scale Of living shipboard is much better, and con-
sequently much more expensive. The consequence
of all this is that ship-owners, before they can
find employment for their vessels, obliged to wait
in their own ports until Swedish Danish, and Han
seattle shipping has taken of much freight as 1t can
carry and yet we persuade ourselves That our trea
ties with all these Powers have placed our commerce
upon footing Of perfect reciprocity!
The treaties at present existing with Denmark
Sweden, the Hanseatic Republic, Prussia, Austria,
and Russia have already extended beyond their origi
nal limitation, and subject to be discontinued at
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 their
duration approaches. The remedy IS consequently
in hands, and have only TO retrace our
steps and make known the determination of this Co
yernment to regulate It's foreign trrde in future, upon
such principles OF reciprocity shall not extend be
yond the direct importation trade in the produce and
manufactures Of the contracting parties.
BY the accompanying table, OBJ showing compa-
ratNe account of the domestic and foreign tonnage
employed in the foreign trade of the Uni ed States for
the last fifteen years 1t will be that the average
proportion of Amer 'can shipping to foreign shipping
was as follows
Table Of Shipping.