Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-10

| arrangements, not more IN our own Coun-
try than in others, but in ALL We have
dealt too much in generaities in the terms
Of our treates-as when we speak of
placing a nation on terms of the most
favored nation In my opinion, whatever
treaty stipulation we should enter into, it
is always best that it should be specific,
indisputable, precise. In making a treaty
with another nation we say that we will
place her upon the same footing with the
most favored nations. What does that
mean? 1t has no practical meaning to it,
because it becomes necessary to deal with
all sorts of generallty-there is no common
standard. We make treaty with Russia,
for example, and stipulate that the duty on
a ton Of iron shall be so much and no
more; that the duty on hundred of hemp
shall be so much. Well, we 90 to make a
treaty with the Celestial Empire, that deals
only in silks and teas. We tell her she
shall be placed on footing with the most
favored nations How shall we give a
tariff for Russia which shall have any appli-
cation to the case of China! All history
shows that these generalsinn treaties arc
productive of nothing but discord and
confusion. We have treaties with France,
Portugal and Belgium; and the moment
Congress passes an act laying duty, we
have complaints from one or all Of these
States, of infractions of their treaty; and
these complaints arc not always easily an
swered or reconciled. In all such cases the
stipulations should be specific
| will add that it does not follow that
because one nation enters into stipulations
with another it becomes the duty of any
to associate in league against the nterestof
other States. Mutual stpulations may GER
tainIy be made without doing injury to
other States. For example: put the case
not as one in which ! should choose to
make a practical experiment; but simply
as an illustration Of the general principle.
Let us advert TO the state Of trade between
this country and Brazil; to see if the inter-
ests of both countries would not require
or Justify some stipulation for the mutual
advantage of the two. What is the state
Of trade between Brazil and the United
States? ought to take shame to myself
for assuming to speak of such a subject
here, before gentlemen most of whom
know more of it than do. But | use it
to illustrate the general character of all
such treaties.
There is no more unequal trade in the
world than that between the United State.
, and Brazil. 1t is altogether on one side
, The United States take some five million:
q believe a tritle more,) of Brazilian pro
ducts untared; and half a million slightly
taxed-l mean her sugar. And what do
they receive from US untaxed! Nothing Al
all Their taxes on commodities from the
United States are excessively high. They
tax the products of the labor and land OF
the country and sea 30 40, and As per
cent! We take five millions uutaxed and
half million slightly taxed,
How did they stand with England under
the late treaty between that country and
England! Her stipulation by treaty
which still exists-was that English com
moditics should not be taxed more than -
per cent. English cotton, clothing, &c,
is taxed only - per cent. and ours from
80 to 80 per cent Yet England taxes them
100 per cent. on some commodities. We
take Brazil coffee free. and England taxes il
to IL cents per h. Is that an equal
treaty? According to the English inter-
probation, the treaty between England and
Brazil does not terminate till lSl1. Brazil
insists that it expired in 1912. OF course
Brazil is DESTROYS to get rid Of it, But she
was forced to yield to the English con
struction, SO that the treaty was declared
to remain in force ill 1911. Meantime a
distinguished person was sent from Eng
land 10 renew the treaty; and must say
that think the Brazilian Government man.
Tested not little address on that occasion
Brazil insisted that the treaty expired in
ISi2--England that it lasted till lStl-
Brazil yields, and then says TO the English
Minister, sent to renew the treaty--"If the
treaty last till 1871, az YOU say, and we
submit to what you say--wc will take Ill
lS4i to consider what new treaty we will
make You viii take it for granted that
our government is not so ina;icntive 10 the
interests of the country as not to see that
in proper time treaty may be concluded
between the United States and Brazil.
We have great advantage over Eng
land--that we have no Colonial interest tc
protect, This is an advantage Of our sit.
uatiOn 10 which VIC are fully entitled
The British Government SAYS, too, 1t i
true the United States take good dca
Of Brazilian coffee; we take as much ol
more, and pay, too, not only for our owr
but good deal of what they take. There
is something approaching TO arrogance il
this. Ii is true we do import from BraAl
merchandise 10 a greater amount than /
paid by our expectations; and the differ
encc We pay usually by bills Of exchange
drawn from other sources Of our industry
;; Now if we entered the Brazilian markets