The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09
affirm the principle avowed bv Mr. Mon

roe, and to state my cordial concurrence
in its wisdom and sound policy. The re-
assertion of this principle, especially in
reference TO North America, is at this day
but the promulgatiou of policy which
no European power should cherish the
disposition to resist. Existing rights OF
every European nation should be respec-
ted; but it is due alike to our safety and
our interests, that the efficient protection
of our laws should be extended over our
whole territorial limits, and that it should
be distinctly announced TO the world as
our settled policy, that no future Europe
an colony or dominion shall, with our
consent, be planted or established on any
part of the North American continent.
A question has recently arisen under
the tenth article of the subsisting treaty
between the United States and Prussia
Bv this article the consuls of the two
countries have the right to sit as judges
and arbitrators sin such differences as may
arise between the captains and crews of
the vessels belonging TO the nations whose
interest are committed to their charge,
without the interference of the local au-
tho.ites, unless the conduct Of the crews
or of the captain should disturb the order
or tranquility Of the country; or the said
consuls should require their assistance to
cause their decisions to be carried into eff
feet or supported.
The Prussian consul at New Bedford,
in June, 1874, applied to Mr.. Justice sto-
ry to carry into effect decision made be-
tween the captain and crew Of the Prus-
sian ship Borussia; but the request was
refused on the ground that, without previ
Gus Legislation by Congress, the Judiciary
did not possess the power to give effect
to this article of the treaty. The Prus-
sian government, through their minister
here, have complained of this violation of
the treaty, and have asked the govern
ment of the United States to adopt the
necessary measures TO prevent similar Vi
olations hereafter. Good faith to Prussia,
as well as TO other nations with whom
we have similar treaty stipulations, re-
quires that these should be faithfully OBJ
served. have deemed it proper, there
fore, to lay the subject before Congress,
and to recommend such legislation as
may be necessary to give effect to these
treaty obligations.
By virtue of an arrangement made be-
tween the Spanish government and that of
the United States, in December, 1881, A
merican vessels, since the twenty-ninth
of April, 1882, have been admitted to en-
try in the ports of Spain, including those
of the Balearic and Canary islands, on
payment of the same tonnage duty of 5
cents per ton, as though they had been
Spanish vessels; and this, whether our
vessels arrive in Spain directly from the
United States, or indirectly from any 9TH
er country. When Congress, by the act
of the thirteenth Of July, 1892, gave eff
feet to his arrangement between the two
governments, they confined the reduction
OF tonnage duty merely TO Spanish YES
sells "coming from port in Spain" lea
wing the former discriminating duty to re-
main against such vessels coming from a
port in any other country. 1t is mani
festly unjust that, whilst American yes
sells, arriving in the ports Of Spain, from
other countries, pay no more duty than
Spanish vessels, Spanish vessels arriving
in the United States from other countries
should be subjected to heavy discrimina-
ting tonnage duties. This is neither E.
quality nor RECIPROCITY, and is in violation
of the arrangement concluded IN Decem-
Der, 1881, between the two countries
The Spanish government have made re-
peated and earnest remonstrances against
this inequality, and the favorable attention
of Congress has been several times invo-
ked to the subject by my predecessors. |
recommend, as an act of justice to Spain,
that this inequality be removed by Con-
gress, and that the discriminating duties
which have been levied under the act OF
the thirteenth of July, 1882, on Spanish
vessels coming to the United States from
any other country, be refundedt This
recommendation does not embrace Spa
nish vessels arriving in the United States
from Cuba and Porto Rico, which wifi
still remain subject to the provisions ol
the act of June thirtieth, 1894, concern
ing the tonnage-dutv on such vessels.
By The act of the fourteenth of July,
1899, coffee was exempted from duty
altogether. This exemption was uni
versal, without reference TO the country
where il was produced. or the national
character Of the vessel in which it was
imported. BY the tariff act Of tho thlr-
iielh of August, l842, this exemption
from duty was restricted to coffee i'm
ported in American vessels from the
place of lis production; whilst coffee i'm.
ported under all other circumstances was
subjected to duty Of twenty per cent.
ad ualorem. Under this act, and our
existing treaty with the King OF the
Netherlands, Java coffee imported from
the European ports o: that kingdom