The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-26
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
MESSAGE

MESSAGE
From the President cfhs United States ban'D,iiiins a
communication ssceen the Secretary Of STATE Of he
Uniisd States and Mr.. Paksahan relative 10 the re-
funding Of sreess n daiis', IL. ..
To The Senate and House Of Representatives
Qfhe Uniisd STATES;
l transmit, for your consideration, correspond
ence between the minister Of her Britannia majesty
in Washington and The Secretary OF STATE contain
ing an arrangement for the adjustment and payment
Of the claims of the respective governments upon
each other arising from the collection Of certain i'm
port duties in violation Of the second article Of the
Commercial convention Of Sd July, 1915, between
the two countres and respectfully submit to Con
gress the proprety Of making provision TO carry this
arrangement into effect.
The second article Of this convention provides
that ''no higher or other duties shall be imposed on
the importation into the United States Of any arti-
cles the growth, produce, or manufacture Of his
Bitannic msiesty's territories in Europe and no
higher or other duties shall be imposed on the i'm
portaion into the territories Of his Britannia majes-
~ in Europe OF any articles the growth, produce,
or manufacture of the United States, than are or
shall be payable on the like articles, being the
growth, produce, or manufacture OF any other for
egn country"
Previous to the act Of Parliament Of the 18Th Of
August, 1886, tho duty on foreign rough rice i'm
ported into Great Britain was two shilllngs and six
pence sterling per bushel BY this act the duty was
reduced one penny per quarter (of eight bushels
on the rough rice "imported from the west coast OF
Africa"
Upon the earnest and repeated circumstances ofour
ministers at London, in opposition to this dlscrmi-
| nation against American and in favor OF African
ice as violation Of the subssting convention, Par
lament, by the act of 9th July, 1872 again equal
ind the duty all foreign rough rice by fixing 1t
Gseven shlings per quarter. In the intervening
PROD, however, Of nearly six years, large impor-
| itions had been made into Great Britain Of Ameri-
| an rough rice, which was subjected to duty OF
wo shillings and sixpence per bushel; but the i'm
sorers knowing their rights under the convention,
laimed that il should be admitted at the rate OF
emmy per quarter, the duty imposed on African
is. This claim was resisted by the British gov
erument, and tho excess Of duty was paid, at the
hrst, under protest, and afterwards in consequence
Of an arrangement with the board Of customs by
the deposne of exchequer bills.
Ii seems to have been clear violation both Of the
letter and spirit Of the convention TO admit rough
rice, .the growth" Of Africa, at one penny per
quarter, whilst the very same article, "the growth"
of the United States was charged with duty of
two shilings and sxpence per bushel.
The claim Of Great Britain, under the same article
Of the convention, is founded on the tariff act Of
Both August, l642. It's 25'h section provides "thar
nothing in this act contained shall apply to goods
chip ed in weasel DO and any port of the United
States, actually having left her last port Of adIng
eastward Of the Cape of Gbod Hope, or beyond
Cane Horn, prior 10 the first day Of september,
l649 and all legal provisions and regulations exist
ing Immediately befofe the 3Dth day Of June. l842,
A shall be applied to importations which may be made
in vessels which have left such last port Of lading
eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, or beyond
1879" ''o'"' prior '''D "''' ''' % ''p''"'''
The British government contends that il was a vio-
aton Of the second article Of the convention for this
act require that "articss the growth, produce,
manufacturer of Great Britain when imported into
Al. TI.sta a.,hir had hail
port Of ading in Great Britain prior the first day
Of September ls42, should pay any "higher or
other duues" than imposed on "like articles -
'the gro With. produce, manufacture" of countries
beyond the Cane of Good Hope and Cape Horn.
Il Upon careful consideration OF the subject, ar
rived at the conclusion that this claim on the part
I of the British government well founded. deem
4 il unnecessary to state my reasons at length for
adopting this opinion, the whole subject being fully
explained in the letter Of the Secretary ofhe Treas
ury and the accompanying papers. r.
The amount necessary to satisfy the British claim
cannot at present be ascertaned with any degree OIL
Accuracy, no individual having yet presented his
case the government of the United States. II is
not apprehended that the amount will be large. AZ
ter such examination Of the subject it has been
in his power make, the Secretary Of the Treasu-
Try believes that il will not exceed 100000.
On the other hand, the claims Of the importers OF
rough rice into Great Britain have been already
ycertained the duties were paid either under pro-
test, in exchequer bills. Their amount is stated
by Mr.. Everett, our late minister at London, in q
despatch dated June l., 1843, To be fSS,SS6 les
10d. sterling, Of which 36 zoos 0s 4d. belong to
citizens of the United States.
As it may be long before the amount Of the Brit
ish claim be ascertained, and It would be
sonabc to postpone payment to the American claim.
ants until this be adjusted it has been proposed
to the British government Immediately to refund
the excess Of duties collected by il on American
rough rice. should entertain confident hope thai
this proposal would be accepted should the arrange
ent concluded be sanctioned by an act of Congress
making provision for the return Of the duties in
question. The claimants might then be paid as
they present their demands, properly authenticated
to the Secretary Of the Treasury
~ JAMES X. POLK.
wAsurseroN, March %, 1886.
Mr. Pakenham TO Mr.. Buchanan.