The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-12-10

whilst American vessels, arriving in the ports Of
Spain from other countries, pay no more duty
than Spanish vessels, Spanish vessels arriving in
the ports of the United States from other cOun-
tries should be subjected 10 heavy discriminating
tonnage duties. This is neither equality nor re-
cprosity, and it is in violation the arrangement
concluded in December, 1881, between The two
countries. The Spanish government have made
repeated and earnest remonstrances against this
inequality, and the favorable attention OF Con-
gress has been severaltim invoked TO the sub
ject by my predecessors. | recommend, as an
act of justice TO Spain, that this inequality be re-
moved by Congress, and that the discriminating
duies which have been levied under the act efthe
18th of July, 1892, on Spanish vessels coming
to the United States from any other foreign coun-
try, be refunded. This recommendation does
not embrace Spanish vessels arriving in the U.
States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which will still
remain subject to the provisions of the act of
June thirteenth, 1884, concerning tonnage-duty
ON such vessels.
By the act of the fourteenth of July, 1892,
coffee was exempted from duty altogether This
exemption was universal, without reference to
the country where it was produced, or the nation
al character Of the vessel in which it was i'm
ported. BY the tariff act of the thirtieth OF Aug
ust, lS42 this exemption from duty was restrict
ed 10 coffee imported in American vessels from
The place of its production; whilst coffee inn
ported under all other circumstances was subject
to duty of twenty per cent ad UaLorcm. Un-
der this act, and our existing treaty with the
King Of the Netherlands, Java coffee imported
from the European ports of that kingdom into
the United States, whether in Dutch or Ameri-
can vessels, now pays this rate of duty. The
government of the Netherlands complains that
such discriminating duty should have been i'm
posed on coffee, the production fone of its col
onies, and which is chiefly brought from Java TO
the ports of that kingdom, and exported from
thence to foreign countries. Our trade with the
Netherlands is highly beneficial 10 both coun-
tries, and our relations with them have ever been
of the most friendly character. Under all the
circumstances of the case, ] recommend that
this discrimination should be abolished, and that
the coffee of Java imported from the Neither
lands be placed upon the same footing with that
imported directly from Brazil and other countries
where il is produced.
Under the eighth section of The tariff act Of
the thirteth of August, 1912, duty of fifteen
cents per gallon was imposed OH Port wine in
casks while on the red wine of several other
countries, when imported in casks, a duty of only
six cents per gallon was imposed. This discri-
minaton, SO far as regarded the Port Wine Of
Portugal, YVES deemed violation of our treaty
with that Power, which provides that "No higher
or other duties shall be imposed on the importa.
tion INTO the United States Of America of any
article the growth, produce, or manufacture of
any other foreign country" Accordingly, tc
give effect TO the treaty, as well as to the inten-
ton OF Congress, expressed in provision TO the
tariff act ITSELF that nothing therein contained
should be so construed as to interfere with sub
ssting treaties with foreign nations, treasury
circular was issued on the sixteenth of July, 1874
which, among other things, declared the duty on
the Port Wine Of Portugal, in casks, under the
existing laws and treaty, TO be six cents per gal
Ion, and directed that the excess of duties which
had been collected on such wine should be re-
funded. BY virtue of another clause in the same
section of the act, il is provided that all mia
tions of Port, or any other wines, "shall be sub
ject 10 the duty provided for the genuine article
limitations of Port wine the production of France
are imported to some extent into the United
States; and The government of that country now
claims that, under a correct construction OF the
act, these limitations ought not TO pay higher
duty than that imposed upon the original Port
wine of Portugal II appears TO me to be nne
quail and unjust, that French limitations Of Port
wine should be subjected 10 duty of fifteen
cents, while the more valuable article from Por-
tugal should pay duty of SIX cents only pei
gallon. | therefore recommend to Congress
such legislation as may be necessary to correct
the inequality.
The late President, in his annual message oil
December last, recomm ended an appropriation to
satisfy the claims of the Texan Government
against the United States, which had been prevl-
ously adjusted, so far as the powers OF The exec
uive extend These claims arose out OF the act
of the act of disarming body OF the Texan
troops under the command Of Major Snivey, by
an officer in the service of the United States, act
ing under the orders Of our Government; and
the forcibe entry into the custom house at Bry-
arIy's landing, ON Red river by certain citizens
of the United States, and takiug away therefrom
the goods seized by the collector of the Gus
toms as forfeited under the laws of Texas. This
was liquidated debt, ascertained 10 be due tc
Texas when an independent state. Her accep
tance Of the terms of annexation proposed by the
United States does not discharge OF invalidale
the claim. recommend that provision be made
for this payment.
The commissioner appointed TO China during
the special session of the Senate in March last,
shortly afterwards set out on his mission in the
United States ship Columbus On arriving al
Rio de Janeiro on his passage, the state of his
health had become 80 critical, that, by the ad-
vice of his medical attendants, he returned to
the United States early in the month of October
last. Commodore BiddIe, commanding the East
India squadron, proceeded on his voyage in the
Columbus, and was charged by the commission
er with the duty Of exchanging with the proper
authorities the ratification of the treaty lately
concluded with the Emperor Of China. Since
the return of the commissioners TO the United
States, his health has been much improved, and
he eneTtans the confident belief that he will