Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11

ton they have assumed and maintain, are
henceforth not TO be Considered as subjects
| for future colonization BY any European
Power" This principle will apply with
greatly increased force, should any Euro
pean power attempt TO establish any new
colony in North America. In the exist
ing circumstances Of the world. the pre-
sent is deemed proper occasion TO rei'e-
rate and reafirm the principle ayowed by
Mr.. Monroe, and to state my cordial con-
currence 10 its wisdom and sound policy.
The reasser,ion ofthis principle, especially
in reference TO North America, 10 at this
day but the PRONUNCIATION of policy which
no European power should cherish the
disposition 10 resist. Existing rights OF
every European nation should be respect
ed but ii is due alike to our safety and
our interests, that the efficient protection
Of our laws should be extended over our
whole territorial limits, and that it should
be distinctly announced to the world as
our settled policy. that no future Euro
pean colony or dominion shall with our
consent, be planted or established on any
part Of the North American continent.
A question has recently arisen under
the tenth article of the subslsting treaty
between the United States and Prussia
By this article, the consuls of the two
countries have the right to sit asjudge and
arbitrator Tin such differences as may
arise between the captains and crews Of
the vessels belonging TO the nation whose
interests are committed TO their charge
without the interference of the local au.
thorties, unless the conduct of the crews
or Of the captain should disturb the order
or tranquility Of the country or the said
consuls should require their assistance ie
cause their decisions to be carried into eff.
feet or supported
The prussian consul at New Bedford
in June. 1874, applied to Mr.. Justice Story
to carry into effect decision made by him
between the captain and crew Of the Prus.
sian ship Borussia; but the request was
refused on the grounds that. without pre-.
yious legislation by Congress, the judiciary
did not possess the power TO give effect &c
this article of the treaty. The Prussiar
government, through their minister here
have complained Of this violation Of the
treaty, and have asked the government o
the United States to adopt the necessary
measures to prevent similar violations
hereafter. Good faith 10 Prussia, as well
as to other nations with whom we have
similar treaty stipulations. requires thai
these should be faithfully observed.
have deemed it proper. therefore. to lay
the subject before Congress, and to re,
commend such legislation as may be ne
cessary TO give effect to these treaty obi
cations.
By virtue of an arrangement made be-
tween the Spanish government and that o
the United States, in December, 1881
American vessels, since the twenty-nintf
fApril, 1882, have been admitted TO entry
in the ports of Spain, including those o
the Balearic and Canary islands, on pay.
ment of the same tonnage duty of five
cents per ton, as though they had been
Spanish vessels; and this, whether oul
vessels arrive in Spain directly from the
United States, or indirectly from any Other
country. When Congress. by the act o.
the thirteenth of July, 1882, gave effec
TO this arrangement between the two gov.
ernments, they confined the reduction o.
tonnage duty merely to Spanish vessels
looming from poit in Spain" leaving
the former discriminating duty TO remain
against such vessels coming from port in
any other country. II is manifestly un.
just that, whilst American vessels, arriv.
ing in the ports of Spain from other coun-
tries, pay no more duty than Spanish yes
sells, Spanish vessels arriving in the ports
of the United States from other countries
should be subjected to heavy discriminate
ing tonnage duties. This is neither
equality nor reciprocity and is in viola
ton of the arrangement concluded in De.
cember, 1881, between the two countries
The Spanish government have made re.
peated and earnest remonstrances agains
this inequality, and the favorable attention
Of Congress has been several times invok
ed to the subject by my predecessors.
recommend, as an act Of justice to Spain
that this inequality be removed by Con
gress, and that the discriminating dutie.
which have been levied under the act O
the thirteenth of July, 1882, on Spanish
vessels coming to the United States from
any other foreign country, be refunded
This recommendation does not embrace
Spanish vassels arriving in the United
States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which
will still remain subject TO the provision,
Of the act ofJune thirtieth, 1884, concern.
ing tonnage duty on such vessels.
By the act OF the fourteenth of July
1882, coffee was exempted from duty alto,
gether. This exemption was universal
without reference 10 the country where i
was produced, or the national character o.
the vessel in which it was imported. BY
the tariff act of the thir,ieth Of August
1912; this exemption from duty was re-
stricted 10 coffee imported in American
vessels from the place of its production
whilst coffee imported under all other cir
cumstances was subjected to a duty OIL
twenty per cent. ad ralorem. Under
this act, and our existing treaty with the
King of the Netherlands, Java coffee i'm.
ported from the European ports of tina,
kingdom into the United States, whether
in Dutch or American vessels, now pays
this rate Of duty. The government of the
Netherlands complains that such discri.
minating duty should have been imposed