The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-16

neaVy discriminating tonnage duties. 1hlS
is neither equality nor reciprocity, and is in
violation of the arrangement concluded in
December, 1881, between the two coun-
tries. The Spanish government have made
repeated and earnest remonstl ances against
this inequality, and the favorable attention
of Congress has been several times invoked
to the subject by my predecessors. l recon-
mend, as an act Of justice TO Spain, that this
inequality be removed by Congress, and that
the discriminating duties which have been
levied under the act Of the thirteenth ofJuly,
1882, on Spanish vessels coming to the Unit
ed States from any other foreign country, be
refunded. This recommendation does not
embrace Spanish vessels arriving in the Unit
ed States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which
will still remain subject to the provision of
the act ofJune thirteenth, 1884, concerning
tonnage-duty on such vessels.
BY the act of the fourteenth of July, 1882,
coffee was exempted from duty altogether
This exemption was universal, without refer
ence 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 thirtieth of August, ls42, this exemp-
ton from duty was restricted to coffee inn
ported in American vessels from the place of
| its production; whilst coffee imported under
all other circumstances was subjected to
duty of twenty per cent. ad palorem. Under
this act, and our existing treaty with the
King of the Netherlands, Java coffee impor-
ted from the European ports Of that kingdom
into the United States, whether in Dutch or
American vessels, now pays this rate of du-
ty. The government of the Netherlands
complains that such discriminating duty
should have been imposed on coffee, the pro-
duction of one of its colonies, and which is
chiefly brought from Java to the ports of that
kingdom, and exported from thence to for
eign countries. Our trade with the Neither
lands is highly beneficial to boih countries,
and our relations with them have ever been
of the most friendly character. Under all the
circumstances es 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 eighth section Of the tariff act
of the thirtieth of August, 1s42, a duty of
fifteen cents per gallon was imposed on Port
wine in casks; while, on the red wines of
several other countries, when imported in
casks, duty of only six cents per gallon
was imposed. This discrimination, so far as
regarded the Port wine of Portugal, was
deemed violation of our treaty with that
Power, which provides, that "No higher or
other duties shall be imposed on the impor-
tation into the United States of America Of
any article the growth, produce, or manufac-
ture Of the kingdom and possessions ofPortu-
gal, than such as are or shall be payable on
the like article being the growth, produce,
or manufacture of any other foreign coun-
try" Accordingly, 10 give effect TO the
treaty, as we'll as TO the intention of Con-
gress, expressed in proviso to the tariff
act itself, that nothing therein contained
should be so construed as 10 interfere with
subsisting treaties with foreign nations,
of July, 1874, which, among other things,
declared the duty on the Port wine of Portu-
gal, in casks, under the existing laws and
treaty, to be six cents per gallon, and drec-
ted that the excess of duties which had been
collected on such wine should be refunded
BY virtue of another clause in the same Sec
ton of the act, it is provided that all imta-
tons of Port, or any other wines, ''shall be
subject TO the duty provided for the genuine
article" limitations of Port wine, the pro-
duction of France, are imported to some
extent into the United States; and the gov
eminent of that country now claims that, un-
der correct construction Of the act, these
limitations ought not to pay higher duty than
that imposed upon the original Port wine of
Portugal. 1t appears 10 me to be unequal
and unjust, that French limitations of Port
wine should be subjected to duty of fifteen
cents, while the more valuable article from
Portugal should pay duty of six cents only
per gallon. therefore recommend to Con
gress such legislation as may be necessary
to correct the inequality.
The late President, in his annual message
of December last recommended an appropr-
alton to satisfy the claims of that Texan
Government against the United States, of
which had been previously adjusted, so far
as the powers of the executive extend.-|
These claims arose out Of the act of disarm-
ing body of Texan troops under the COM
mand of Major Snively, by an officer in the
service Of the United States, acting under
the orders Of our Government; and the forci-
BILE entry into the custom-house at Byely's
landing, on Red river, by certain citizens of
the United States, and taking away therefrom
the goods seized by the collector of the Gus
toms as forfeited under the laws of Texas
This was liquidated debt, ascertained to be
due to Texas when an Independent state.
Her acceptance of the terms of annexation
proposed by the United States does not dis