The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-19


ocrac party but when Mr. Webster was at the head Of
the cabinet in 1912, different construction adopted
This new construction embraced in circular nstruc
lions from the Treasury Department, dated the 9th Of
July Of that year. Il was resisted as illegal aud
oyeruled in the case OF the United States the Ship
Recorder and Cargo" Then Mr.. Walker. by treasury
circular, dated November s. s47 properly restored the
construction which had prevailed from the passage OF
the law in 1877 to the 9th Of July, ls42. Mr. Walkers
circular is as follows
TREASURY DEPARrMssr,
November o, 1877.
In consideration of the views recently expressed BY the
OF New York. in its opinion given in the Of the United
States the British ship Recorder and cargo poceed
1917 concerning The navigation Of the United States
which views conflict with those expressed by ale Auo
lion proviso contained in the first section OF the aioe-
said embodied in the circular issued by
ed proper under these circumstances TO modify said in.
srcon as TO conform the operation Of said proviso oil
same by the department. from the passage Of The law up
to The date Of tue Instructions Of the 9Th July 1872
long series Of years. up the issuing Of the instructions
mentioned undistnrbed by any adverse Legislative or judi
mind that the former and practice under the
law best satisfies the design and spritof the act deem
it both expedent and proper, ut this me to revive and
conform antecedent and practical opera
lions OF It's provisions
LIST March, 1917 in accord with the practical
before referred TO- coupled with the recognised fact that
revenue law Of the United States the indirect
trade the part of foreign vessels would obvious
that neither by the spirit OF the enactng clause OIL
the first section designed to confer privilege already
enjoyed Under former laws but merely the
regulation restriction OF the indirect trade in the mode
therein prescribed The proyiso therefore, restraints the
regulation prohibition so as to exempt from the penalties
OF The III of the the vessels and OF any
nation not having adopted "a similar regulation" pro
hibon against the vessels and cargoes Of the United
II consequently follows that where Is satisfactorily
shown that any foreign nation allows American vessels la
den with goods Of the growth produce, manufacture Of
any county Of the United States freely enter and
,es saa IF p e pass
origin from ports Of the United States The penalties Of
the vessels Of such naon bringing like goods either
the country Of production from the ports OF the country to
'es ~ 70 any sopd and
chsndise the importation Of which in American or Tor
must be subjected to the additional duties imposed BY the
lh section Of the OF 3h August, 1872, with the fur
exception that such additional du,ie. he
the case OF any foreign vessels ened by treaty
any acts of Congress TO be entered In the s
oflhe United Sates payment the duties
shall then be paid on goods wares merchandise import
ed in'ships or vessels Of the United States
r. j. WALKER, Secretary Of the Treasury.
Until the late repeal of the British navigation laws
British vessels could not come into ports with
goes from other natoas than Great Britain, because
American vessels were not allowed the reciprocal priv
lege of carrying into English ports cargoes other than OF
the production Of the United States But the British
gaon laws having that effect have been repealed and
the repeating them goes into operation the first Of
January next Then, by the terms of act Of 1917,
reciprocity will be in full force 1t has been contended
by that the poviso to the act OF 1877 applied
only to the vessels OF such nations as had moi, al
the time Of the passage Of the lav-to ii.: the LIST day
Of March, lsl7-paced prohibory regulations on
American commerce; and that the proviso must re.
main forever imperative in the case of Great Brit
ain, because the navigation laws of that nation were in
full force the first of March, 1877; and il never could
be said that Great Britain could be numbered with the
nations which .had no' forbidden ships 10 enter
their ports with the products OF other nations This
principle Of construction is novel; and, with all due
Difference. must term it ridiculous Yet under
stand it is insisted by Mr. Webster, and by those who
follow him in his efforts place burdens commerce
for the benefit Of the "ords Of the LOOM" Under the
system which has heretofore prevailed American
chant could not send cargo OF American -four 10 Liver
pool by Swedish ship. He must send it by an Amer.
can or a British ship. Nor could an English merchant
send cargo of French growth production in British
ship. To illustrate the operation Of this cumbrous sys-
TEN English officer carried with him from China a
package of teas in American ship. They could moi
be landed, because of the navigation laws; and al.
though his property within his reach. he advised
by his merchant that the most expeditions manner Of get
ting his package would be 10 send il to the United States
by an American vessel, pay the duties al New York,
and reship the package from New York to Liverpool in
British ship. when the duties paid at New York would
be refunded to him. And he was told at the same time
that the cheapest plan OF obtaining his teas would be 10
reship the package to China, and order il TO be SEM
from thence TO England in British vessel Mr. Web.
ser and the proeconsts wish preserve this cumbous
system, because they wish TO make commercial inter.
course expensive possible They desire protection
and they therefore bitterly opposed to commercial re-
cprociy There can be no doubt that the presen, cabi
net is also bitterly opposed to reciprocity and that il
had been allowed any voice in the matter the offer Of
Great Britain advantageous 10 our agricultural in.
terests would have been rejected But the law OF 1871
foresaled the administration and being seexecuing
Mr. Meredith was forced reluctantly to acknowledge lie
force and authority We understood, some days ago. thai
merchants and shippers were very anxious to know
what course the Treasury Department would pursue and
that many letters had been addressed to Washington re-
questng that commercial interests might be informed
by treasury circular Of the construction placed by Mr.
Meredith the Of 1877 Many complaints have been
made at the delay to issue such circuardelay which
was caused. no doubt, by the anxiety Of the ad-
mnisration TO give such construction to the law az
would justify refusal to open ports to British ships
and keep the British ports closed TO American ships
DE-, -. IA ,