Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-20

it is due alike TO our safety and onr interests that
the efficient protection OF our laws should be ex.
tended over our whole territorial limits, and that
il should be distinctly announced to the world as
our settled policy, that no future European colo
ny or dominion shall with our consent be plant
ed or established on any part Of the North Amer.
lean continent.
question has recently arisen under the tenth
article Of the subsistng treaty between the U. 5.
and Prussia. By this article, the consuls Of the
two countries have the right 10 sit as judges and
aIbrators "in such differences as may arise be.
tween the captains and crews OF the vessels be.
longing to the nation whose interests are com
mitted TO their charge, without the interference
OF the local authorities, unless the conduct Of the
crews or Of the captains should disturb the order
Of tranquility OF the country; or the said consuIs
should require their assistance TO cause their
decision to be carried into effect or support"
The Prussian Consul at New Bedford, in
June, 1914, applied to Mr.. Justice Story 10
carry into effect decision made by him between
the captain and crew OF the Prussian ship Aorus.
ss; but the request was refused, on the ground
that, without previous legislation by Congress,
the Judiciary did not possess power TO give effect
10 This article OF the treaty. The Plussian gov.
eminent, through their Minister here, have com.
planned OF this violation Of the treaty, and have
asked the government Of the United States to
adopt the necessary measures TO prevent similar
violations hereafter. Good faith to Prussia, as
well as TO other nations with whom we have
treaty stipulations, requires that these should be
faithfully observed. | have deemed it proper,
therefore, to lay the subject before Congress,
and TO recommend such legislation as may be
necessary 10 give effect 70 these treaty obliga.
tons.
By virtue OF an arrangement made between
the Spanish government and that Of the United
States, in December 1881, American vessels,
since the twenty ninth Of April, 1882, have been
admitted to entry in the ports OF Spain, includ.
ing those OF the Balearic and Canary islands,
on payment Of the same tonnage duty Of five
cents per ton, as though they had been Spanish
vessels, and this, whether our vessels arrive in
Spain directly from the United States, or indi
rectly from any other country. When Con-
gress, by the act OF the thirteenth OF July, 1882
gave effect to this arrangement between the two
governments, they confined the reduction OF ton
mage duty merely to Spanish vessels "coming
from port in SPAIN" leaving the former dis
eliminating duty to remain against such vessels
coming from port in any other county. 1t is
manfestly unjust that, whilst American vessels,
arriving in the ports Of Spain from other coun.
tries, pay no more duty than Spanish vessels,
Spanish vessels arriving in the ports Of the Uni.
ted States from other countries should be sub.
iected 10 heavy discriminating tonnage duties.
This is neither equality nor reciprocity and is in
violation Of the arrangement concluded in De.
cember, 1881, between the two countries.
The Spanish government have made repeated
and earnest remonstrances against this inequality,
and the favorable attention OF Congress has been
several times invoked to the su bject by my prede
cessors. | recommend, as an act OF justice 10
Spain, that this inequality be removed by Con
gress, aud that the discriminating duties which
have been levied under the act OF the 30th oil
July, 1882, on Spanish vessels coming 10 the
United States from any olher foreign country
be refunded. This recommendation does mol
embrace Spanish vessels arriving in the United
States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which will
still remain subject to the provisions OF the ac
Of June 30h, 1884, conc erning our tonnage on
such vessels.
By the act Of the 18th Of July, 1882, coffee
was exempted from duty altogether This ex
emption was universal, without reference to the
country where it was produced, or the national
character OF the vessel in which it was imported
By the tariff act OF the 30th OF August, 1912
this exemption rom duty was restricted TO coffee
| imported in American vessels from the place oil
its production; whilst coffee imported under all
other circumstances was subj ected 10 duty oil
twenty per cent ad valorem. Under this act
and our existing treaty with the King Of the
Netherlands, Java coffee imported from the Euro.
pean ports Of that Kingdom into the United
States. whether in Dutch or American vessels
now pays this rate OF duty. The government o.
the Netherlands complains that such discrimina
ting duty should have been imposed on coffee
the production of one of its colonies and which
is chiefly brought from Java to the ports of thai
Kingdom, and exported from thence to foreign
countries. Our trade with the Netherlands is
highly beneficial 10 both countries, and our rea
tons with them have ever been Of the mos
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 Netherlands be placed upon
the same footing with that imported directly from
Brazil and other countries where it is produced.
Under the 9th section of the tariff act OF the
3Oth Aug. l642, duty Of Is cents per gallon
was imposed on port wine in casks; while or
the red wines Of several other countries, when
imported in casks, duty Of only cents pei
gallon was imposed. This discrimination, sc
far as regards the port wine Of Portugal, was
deemed violation of our treaty with that pow
err; which provides that no higher or other du,
ties shall be imposed On the importation into
the United States OF America Of any article the
growth, produce, or manufacture Of the king
dom and possessions of Portugal, than such as
are or shall be payable on the like article be
ing the growth, produce, or manufacture o.
any other foreign country" Accordingly, Il
Of a.