Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-26
ORR TREATY WITH the HANsE TOWNS.

In 1-29, the u. s. concluded treaty of commerce
and navigation with the Hanse Towns principles OF
perfect reciprocity The Hanse Towns contracted for
themselves and the States Of the German tariff league,
10 admit American produce on the terms OF The most
favored na,ions and the Il. s.. in turn, admitted the
Ships and goods Of the Ilanseatc merchants on the
Same terms if the latter had been imported in their
own bottoms THIS treaty, at the time of lis concu-
son was based on the idea that Bremen, Hamburg and
Lubec, the three Hanse Towns, were regular ports oil
entry for Germany, and that the u s., securing Tor
themselves the privilege Of trading thither had virtu
ally the whole German market opened to them The
facts however, directly the reverse; though Baron
Reenne the Prussan Minister at Washington IN Q let
ter addressed 10 Mr.. Jeni.er, and published IN The
National In,eluencer of FEBRUARY J. l-42 stou,ly
maintained that the IIanse Towns bore the rea
ton to the rest Of Germany, which New York or
Philadelphia bore 10 the United States. The Baron
letter we find re.publshed and strongly nnlmadveried
against in the last number of the German Qusrery,
published under the supervision of his Govern
ment, ind the circumstance bitterly complained OF,
that league, with population already larger than that
of the United States, should not conclude direct
Treaty with America, instead of allowing the Hanse
Towns TO &C, as brokers between the two natons.-
The position Of Germany, her power, influence, and
wealth, seem 20 be iite understood in the United
States that cursory view of the subect-more than
that our space VIII not permt-may no be altogether
undressing IN nnr readers.
Austria, Prussia, and the States forming, proper!?
4
population Of more than fifty-scven millions, large
portion oil which Is em,nen,ly Industrious and eompe-
ting now successfully, with the manufactures OF
France and Great Britain These States are divided
into several pFincipaes and kingdoms, having, not
withsta ndIng, political and commercial ties which
unite them. The political union is that of the Con
federation, which them against the attack of
foreign enemy, and manalns peace at home amongst
themselves; the commercial union is that of the ar
league, comprising We: but little more than eighteen
I - L,,t. nd
civilized among them Al the head Of The Confe deralion
as political union, stands Austria, the most powerful
OF all the States: al the head nf the commerc,a league
stands Prussia. The Hanse Towns hu We no connection
'ehatercr with the latter but stands separately three
distinct petty Republics, numbering in all nc,
,ten 100000 inhabitants.
This promised, it will readily be understood that the
f'anse Towns, in treating with the u have right
whatever TO compound for Germany except that they
have an interest 10 obtain The admission Of German
goods into the U. S. the best possible ,erms having
been Tor years in the habit of earning least the freight
on these goods, and shipping American produce to all
ports ct Europe. Thus Tobacco, which forms The sta
pie article Of trade between this country and Bremen
IS not merely imported into Ge1mdnY in the vessels of
that town, but from Bremen and Hamburg (ony Is
miles distant from anolher) all the ports of the
Bal;ic-Russ,a, Denwark and Sweden The Ilanse
!ownS, therefore, merely serve as Dtpos; in case
are they able 10 conclude treaty of recrroeg with
country like the United States. As we'll might the in
trcay with England in behalf Of the United Sia,es
as the Hanse Towns treaty between Germany and
America
"A miles distance from those cities commences
ne OF Custom l1orses Of Hanover and Meckienburg
and immediately beyond these another line of Custom
Houses that of the German tariff league which takes
no cognzance of any treaty the Hanse Towns or Hano
yer may have concluded with the U. States; and
only after passing these lines that goods and produce
may be said 10 be fairly in the German market The
Hanse Towns, therefore, have merely the carrying
trade between Germany and the U. S in which they
have decidedly TIE advantage; their ships being built
cheaper, and sailed for ile than half of The
cost Of cur The number OF American vessels
which, previous TO the conclusion Of The treaty With The
Hanse Towns, arrived annually in Bremen alone, was
between so and 90 The trade between the two coun-
tries has since doubled, but the number Of American
vessels has decreased TO between 90 and 80 while that
OF the Hanse ships has increased nearly four.fod.
Another thing which shows the absurd:y Of our
Treaty with the Hanse Towns is the fact, that there
is no Custom House in any of those towns, and that
their municipal laws put the goods of all nations on
The same footing, whether Treaty be made 10 tina, eff
feet or not-and this stands 10 reason For the Hanse