The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-03-14

supports the views, winch MT Ellis ProeC"ss -" "'~
letter to Mr. Manrique, and infer from this fact
| that MIR. Ellis will be successful in his efforts.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Caracas, Jan. l6, lS45
| To the Hon. J. NJ JNanrique
Minister Of Foreign .4tors:
SiR-The undersigned, Charge dAhaires OF me
| United States this Government, embraces the
occasion of an approaching session OF the National
Congress of Venezuela respectfully and briefly TO
present to this Government the views entertained 0y
the Government of the United States in regard to the
present tariff of duties charged upon the productions
ofhe United States in the potts Of Venezuela with inc
ca nest hope and confident belief that this subject
will be considered and acted by the proper auiho-
| rites and that such changes will be made therein as
Of justice the part of this Government may
prompt, and may correspond with those principles
| Of reciprocity and liberaity which the existing
| treaty between Venezuela and the United States is
| protessedly based.
The undersigned is far form intending or wishing
TO interfere with the national domestic policy Of VEN
ezueia and SO far the policy OF "honse protection
| may have influenced this Government in adjusting
The existing Tart the undersigned has complaint
to prefer; holding be the unquestiOned right OF oil
be governedby their own views OF the pre-
priety, Gas we'll OF the mode of protecting their
agriculture, manufactures, Dmerce IN establish
ing their tariff r. gula IONS Yet it is be sup
posed that this Government would be slow 10 perceive
or TO initiate the changes which mark the progress OF
gradual enlightenment IN other Dat,ons In relation 70
prosperity Of the inhabitants Of those nations respec
| lively.
| Neither can it be believed for moment that ma
ton whose soil aud climate adapted TO all the I'M
portant tropical productions, and which furnishes 9th
er nations with the valuable articles Of coffee indigo,
cocoa, &C., &C., would to any extent abandon the
culture Of such articles in pursuit of the fan
ciful theory of " entire independence ( In
! Ibis rtspecD of all other countries The I'M
dersgned may be INDUCED in the suggestion, that the
| of Ia knnu we val Ir
present staple PRODUCES and how readily these can
command the products of other climes, in exchange,
substitute for their culture the less profitable pro-
ducts of he North American States, to which the un-
dersyned herein makes reference.
The undersigned may therefore safely assume the
position that those articles of North American pro-
duction which made to bear the heaviest burden
of duty, by the tariff laws of Venezuela and IN rea-
ton to which, thus communication is more especially
made are not such would now, or hereafter, fall
within the principle of "homs protection" even were
it avowed, that this government had adopted this po-
Icy their basis: in the adjustment of their general
tariff of duties
The articles of North American production, TO
which the undersigned particularly refers, are Flour,
(of wheat Lard Goldfish, Soap, HUNS, Butter, Cheese
and Candles. A few other articles might perhaps be
added. The foregoing however, are the principal
articles of North American production imported IN
to Venezuela and upon which, IN the opinion OF the
undersigned, Onerous duties are imposed Inc duty
upon Flour amounts to than eighty per cent.
upon its COST in any of the ports OF the United States
The average price Of this article for three years past
in the ports OF the United States, may be estimated
at SIS so cents, Venezuela currency, whilst the du
ties charged upon it, in the ports of this country
| amount TO $4 81 cents per barrel! The average du-
ties upon other articles above enumerated, amount to
than sixty per cent upon their cos, 1t Is re-
specttully submitted that, these articles do not
come in competition with the productions of Venezu-
ella, )nor they articles of luxury, but rather Of
necessity, of comfort) there is substantial rea
to be given, for burdening them with the present
unequal duties.
1t is not necessary TO present an argument to show
the advantages which would result to the people OF
this country generally, from an increase in the con-
sumption of the North American products referred
to- to prove that with onefOurh the present rate
of duties upon them, an equal amount Of revenue
might be derived The reflections OF every enlight
ened mind will lead it to proper conclusion on
| these points.
An ad-yaorem Cor speci6c) duty averaging that
charged upon the productions OF other nations, would
be complained of by the government of the United
States although there strong, and indeed rresis
| tibe arguments, which might be urged in favor of
still greater reduction of duties upon the productions
| Of the United States.
| That Nation land that only admits into its ports
free Of duty, the main staple product of Venezuela
(coee) whilst upon Indigo and Hides the other prin
cipal exports from Venezuela the duty charged by
that government, is only equal to about six per cent
| Venezuela currency 1t is thus shown (strange
though it must seem) that whilst the United States
admit free of duiy the most valuable and important
staple production of Venezuela, and impose upon her
other exported productions, duty not exceeding sir
per cent Venezuela exacts duties averaging more than
siry per cent upon the most valuable productions OF
the United States and such as do not come into com
petition with those Of this country Great Britain
imposes duty upon the coffee Of Venezuela equal to
800 per cent upon its cost, and yet the productions OF
Great Britain, admitted into the ports OF this
country at much Oioe rates Of duty than are the Prln-
| cipal productions of the United States! An exami-
nation of the official Reports (oi this goverDmeDt) OF
the Imports and Exports of Venezuela, and the duties
paid on the former for the last four years. exhibits
the injustice done TO the United States this respect
and shows under what disadvantages the people OF
the United States continue their trade with this coun
try. The Undersigned respectfully invites the atten-
ton Of Mr. Manrque to the statistics IN these Reports
support of the views, which are here briefly pre-
| scented.
The comparative value 10 This country, OF the trade
with the United States may also be SEEM al once, 10y
reference the statistical Reports referred TO.
will be there found, that during the year ending lst
July, I84I, Venezuela imported from Great Britain,
| goods to the value Of s22l1,0OO
| And only exported to Great Britain, of
| Venezuela productions, the value of l,l5l000
| Leaving balance against Venezuela, in
| favor of Great Britain of 096OO0
| In the same year ending LIST July, lStl,
Venezuela imported products OF The
United States to the value only, of I,l9O 900
| And exported to the United States OF We
| nezuea products the value OF l,1590OO
Leaving balance in favor of this country
| and against the Unued States Of $4,000 |
| In the year ending LIST july 1872 Vene-
| zuela imported from Great Britain,
goods to the value oil 52l 600
And exported of her products to Great
Britain, the amount of $4,000
| Leaving balance against Venezuela and
| in favor of Great Britain Of $4,000
In The same year ending ist July, 1912,
Venezuela impor ed from The United
II States the value Of only ,053 900
| Ard exported of her products to the Uni
/ ted 81 stes, the value of 96l 900 !
! Leaving a balance in favor of Venezuela
/ against the United States OF 90S 600 |
| In the year ending LIST July 1913 this
| country imported from Great Britain