The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-25
TOBACCO AND FRENCH TONNAGE.


We have received letter from correspondent
in Richmond, enclosing us two communications, one
from the enquirer, under the signature of"ChirP,
and another from the Richmond Republican" sign.
ed "Fayette" relating to the same subject. We
confne ourselves to the republication Of the first
named article, being sufficient to explain the sub
Jet to which they both refer.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
We respectfully invite the attention of the Sec
rotary Of State to the following very important sug
gestions. They are from source worthy Of the
highest consideration. Government should do
everything in its power to strengthen the hand OF
commerce:
"To the Editors Of The Enquirer:
"Mons. Simeon, the chief director of the admins.
traton of tobacco in France, under instructions re-
ceiyed by him, no doubt, from his superors, Mons.
Guizot and Mons. La Playe, the one the minister OF
foreign affairs the other the minister Of finance has
introduced the present year new condition IN the
Cahier DIES Charges, which regulates the submissions
for the contract of United States tobacco at the late
adjudication; and as this condition is in my opin-
ion opposed to the letter and spirit Of the treaties
existing between France and this country, respect
fully call the attention of our government TO the con-
sideration of the question. This new condition de-
clares that the government Of France will receive
no Virginia, Kentucky, or Maryland tobacco from
the contractors, unless the same shall arrive in
France by French vessels consequently the ves-
sells Of the United States are entirely excluded
from all participation in this trade. You will
perceive that if these conditions perseyered
in, the injury to our commercial marine will pres
emily be sensibly felt and hence il becomes a
subject of grave importance. Hitherto, almost all
of the tobacco purchased in country for France,
has gone forward under the American flag, notwth-
standing the French government lately required the
contractors to give in all cases, the preference to the
II r l. =
could always be obtained at 49, per cent less than
by French vessels, these latter with all the advan-
tage of preference, were obliged TO YIELD being I'M
able to compete with vessels in this trade.
"Ifthe French government made the purchase Of
tobacco directly through their consuls they some
times do, perhaps they would not violate any treaty
stipulation by the exclusive employment Of their
own vessels in its transportation. The tobacco be-
ing their own they could convey il home they
pleased; but when contracted for il is, think DIFF
erent question: for the tobacco IL not the govern
ment's until it not only arrives in France, but has
been examined and passed by the adjudicataires,
and received by the administration of tobacco The
shipping interest OF the United States at this time is
anguishing and needs all the fostering of the
government. 1t is depressed now in conseq uence
Of the ignorance and negligence Of our legislation in
regard to it, and our government should not tacitly
acquesce in regulations imposed by foreign govern.
ments tending to paralyze the right arm Of our
prosperity and independence. CHlRP."
We have ascertained that the Secretary of State
had anticipated the object of this call, and that the
whole matter is arranged He is informed by our
minister in Paris, that an application has been made
to the French minister who stated that his govern
ment had been under the impression, that as the to,
bacco contracted for was for the of the govern.
ment ITSELF it did not conceive itself to have VIC.
lated the letter spirit Of the treaty to confne its
transportation to the French tonnage; but for the
future it would dispense with the exclusive use o.
French vessels, and throw open the transportation
to vessels Of the United States, &c. The contracts
being made for the present year, objection will b.
made to their fulflment for the present season.