The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-10-12
The Tobacco Trade or the United States
Its Importance and Restrictions.

This IS the second great exporting agricultural
staple OF this country, and several sections of the
Union are deeply interested in its cultivation and
consumption. Under all the restrictions which
have been placed upon its admission into foreign
countries, it stands only second to cotton, tar
as the annual value Of shipments are concerned
The English government, as well as most OF the
governments of Europe. have always derived a
large revenue from the enormous duty they have
placed upon tobacco, which is so excessive as to
lead TO extensive smuggling, as well as to the most
injurious adulteraton.
The government OF the United States have
from time to time, sent special agents to the diff
ferent governments of Europe, for the purpose of
forming more favorable treaties in relation to this
article; but, as yet, material progress has been
made in removing these many restrictions i'm
posed upon its admission into their limits. This
article appears to have been selected from all
others, for the purpose of providing revenue,
and it is no doubt from the fact that it is entirely
an article OF luxury, hat it has been from time
imulemora subjected to these restrictions, which
the cultivators OF this country find particularly
onerous
Amidst all the progress to unlimited free trade,
which Great Britain and some of the governments
of the Continent have made within the past five
years, not the most trifiing concession has been
made III favor OF tobacco. Notwithstanding the
failure of nearly ali the attempts which have been
made by our government all hope of still succeed
ing has not been abandoned. Our representa-
tves abroad have recently resolved instructions 10
draw the attention the governments near which
they reside to this question, and our minister
to Great Britain, Mr.. Bancroft. has special instruc
tons to that effect. In fact, this question will be
the principal fea ture in his mission, and we can.
not but pray that he may be more successful than
any his predecessors.
There is at present no political question at issue
between the government Of the United States and
that of Great Britain, and it WILL therefore be the
policy of both nations to remove all the restrc-
tons upon the commerce of each, consiste mt with
tn peculiar character OF their institutions. The
recent alterations in the tariff of Great Britain
have opened the ports of the United Kingdom to
many OF our agricultural products, upon very IA
vorablc terms, and the changes in the CONNER
cis system of the United States have opened mar
Ike for the manufactures of England, which
have heretofore been almost entirely closed
Mutual concessions have, therefore, been made,
10 an extent calculated to bind the two
countries more closely together than they ever
have been, but there is yet room for the removal
of restrictions. In our trade with Great Britain,
we have approached nearer free trade than she
has. Upon an importation of one article from
this country, valued at about three millions of
dollars, she derives greater revenue than we do
from an importation OF fifty milliors OF dol
Jars OF her manufactures and products. " here
is the reciprocity in this case
The immense income the treasury of Great
Britain derives from the duty upon this article
imported into that country, and the importance
of continuing the high duty for the purpose of re-
venue, will place obstacles in the way of its re-
moval, of the most difficult nature ; and we have
very great fears the success ofMr. Bancroft's
efforts in relation to the matter. He will be and
ed by several eminent British statesmen, who are
opposed to the almost prohbitory duty upon this
article, and he will settle the question in some
way, speedily that possible. 1t will be well to
know what we are to expect, SO as we can, in any
changes which may be made in our commercial
system, govern ourselves accordingly