Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

coming to the United States from any
other foreign country be refunded. This
recommendation does not embrace Span.
lsh vessels arriving in the United States
from Cuba and Porto Rico which will
still remain subject to the provisions of
the act OF june 30th, 1884, concerning
tonnage duty of such vessels.
By the act Of the fourteenth of July,
1882, coffee was exempted from duty
altogether. This exemption was uni
versal, 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 3Oth
of August 1912, this exemption from
duty was restricted to coffee imported in
American vessels from the place Of its
productions whilst coffee imported under
all other circumstances was subjected
to duty of twenty per cent. ad valorsm
Under 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 American vessels,
now pays this rate of duty. The gov
eminent of the Netherlands complains
that such discriminating duty should
have been imposed on coffee, the pro-
ductions of one Of its colonies, and
which is chiefly brought from Java to
the ports of that kingdom. and exported
thence to foreign countries. Our trade
with the Netherlands is highly beneficial!
to both countries, and our relations
with them have ever been Of the most
friendly character. Under all the cir
cumstances of the case, | recommend
that this discrimination should be abol-
ished, and that the coffee efJava import
ed from the Netherlands be placed upon
the same footing with that imported di-
rectly from Brazil and other countries
where it is produced.
Under the eighth section Of the tariff
act Of the 30lh of August, 1912, 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, a duty cf only six
cents per gallon was imposed. This
discrimination, SO far as regarded the
Port wine of Portugal. was deemed a
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
manufacture of the kingdom and pos
sessions Of Portugal, than such as are or
shall be payable on the like article be,
ing the growth, produce, or manafac>
ture of any other foreign country. y
Accordingly to give effect to the treaty
as well as 10 the intention OF Congress,
expressed in a proviso to the tariff acs it.
SELF that nothing therein contained
should be so construed as to interfere
with subsisting treaties with -foreign ma
tions, treasury circular was issued on
the 10th of July, ls44, which, among
other things, declared the duty on the
Port wine Of Portugal, in casks, uRdel
the existing laws and treaty, to be s'
cents per gallon, and directed that the
excess of duties which had been collec-
ted on such wine should be refunded
By virtue Of another clause in the same
section of the act, it is provided that al
limitations of Port, or any other wines
"shall be subject to the duty provided
for the genuine article" limitations Of
Port wine, the prodactians of France,
are imported to some extent into the
United States: and the government Of
that country now claims, that, under q
correct construction Of the act, these I'm.
itations ought not to pay a higher duty
than that imposed upon the original Port
wine of Portugal. 1t appears to me te
be unequal, and unjust. that French i'm
ita,ions 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 Congress sucf
legislation as may be necessar y TO cor
rect the inequality.
The late President, in his annual mes
sage oc December last, recommended a,
appropriation to satisfy the claims of th'
Texan government against the Unite
OIAtcSs Which, Huu uCCu du
iusted, so far as the powers Of the Elk
ecutive extend. These claims arose ol
f ofthe act of disarming body Of Texa
: troops under tho command Of Maj
9 SniveIy. by an officer in the of the Uni
q ed States, acting under the orders of ou
T government; and the forcibIe entry int
Q the custom house at Bryary's landing
y on Red river, by certain citizens of tn
g L. States. and taking away therefor
: the goods seized by the collector of tn
o customs as forfeited under the laws {
n Texas This was liquidated debt. as
! certained to be due to lexas when an IL
. dependent state. Her acceptance Of tn
o terms of annexation proposed by the [
n nited States does not discharge OF lnva
y idate the claim. ] recommend that prt
: vision be made for its payment. =.
n The commissioners appointed to CHR
n during the special session of the Sena